דֵּעָה

From the study of Isaiah 28:9

Range of meaning

Knowledge or understanding. It is a rarer feminine form of da'at. In the prophets it often means knowing God: recognising him and acknowledging him in loyalty and practice.

Against the English

"Knowledge" is accurate. The only nuance English may miss is that Hebrew "knowing" includes acknowledging and responding, not just holding facts.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isa 11:9, "the earth shall be full of the knowledge (de'ah) of the LORD"; Jer 3:15, shepherds who "feed you with knowledge (de'ah) and understanding"; Ps 73:11; Job 36:3. Compare Hos 4:6: "my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge... because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest."

From the study of Isaiah 11:9

Range of meaning

From the root yādaʿ, 'to know.' The root covers knowing by experience, recognising, acknowledging, being intimately acquainted with, and in covenant settings recognising someone's authority and keeping faith with them. Dēʿâ is a rare, poetic sister-form of the common daʿat ('knowledge'). It appears only a handful of times (e.g. 1 Sam 2:3; Job 36:3; Ps 73:11; Isa 28:9; Jer 3:15), and in Exod 2:4 the same form works as the verb-noun 'to know.' Here it takes a direct object ('et YHWH'), so it behaves like a verb: 'knowing YHWH.'

Against the English

English 'knowledge' leans toward information, facts held in the head, or awareness that something is so. 'The knowledge of the LORD' can sound like correct doctrine or general religious awareness spread widely. The Hebrew phrase means being in right relationship with YHWH and acknowledging him in practice.

How it drifted

English 'knowledge' became mainly intellectual (knowledge as information, science, learning). In Hebrew usage, knowing a person, and above all knowing God, meant recognition and loyalty shown in conduct.

Used elsewhere in the period

Within the prophets 'knowing YHWH' goes with covenant faithfulness and justice. In Hos 4:1–2, 'no faithfulness, no steadfast love, no knowledge of God in the land' is followed directly by a list of violence: swearing, lying, murder, stealing, adultery, 'bloodshed follows bloodshed.' In Hos 6:6 'knowledge of God' stands in parallel with ḥesed (loyal love). In Jer 22:16 God says of King Josiah, 'He judged the cause of the poor and needy… Is not this to know me?' In Jer 31:34 everyone, 'from the least to the greatest,' will know YHWH. In ANE treaty language, 'to know' a sovereign meant to recognise him as your rightful overlord (H. B. Huffmon, BASOR 181, 1966). Inside Isaiah, 1:3 complains that 'the ox knows its owner… but Israel does not know.' Then 11:2 says the coming king will have 'the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of YHWH,' and 11:9 spreads that knowledge across the whole land.

From the study of Jeremiah 3:15

Range of meaning

Knowledge or understanding. It is a rare form (about six occurrences: Job 32:6, 10, 17; 36:3; Ps 73:11; Isa 11:9; 28:9; Jer 3:15) of the common noun daʿat. Like the verb yādaʿ, it means knowing by experience and relationship, not just holding information.

Against the English

English 'knowledge' tends to mean information or learning. In Jeremiah, knowing YHWH means covenant loyalty put into practice: 'He judged the cause of the poor and needy… Is not this to know me?' (Jer 22:16).

Used elsewhere in the period

Isa 11:9 ('the earth will be full of the knowledge of YHWH') stands in a passage about an ideal Davidic ruler, a close conceptual parallel. Isa 28:9 uses dēʿâ for what is taught. Hosea 4:1, 6 grounds Israel's ruin in a lack of 'knowledge of God' (daʿat ʾelōhîm). Jer 2:8: 'those who handle the law did not know me; the shepherds rebelled against me.'