Knowing God deeply is a lifelong journey, and the Bible shows us how we can draw closer to Him. Today, we’ll explore how Scripture encourages us to know and understand God’s love and character.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About The Enemy
What Does The Bible Say About Knowing God
Jeremiah 9:23-24
“This is what the Lord says: ‘Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,’ declares the Lord.”
This passage emphasizes that true knowledge is not found in worldly wisdom, strength, or riches, but in knowing God and His character. Knowing God means understanding His kindness, justice, and righteousness, which are qualities that bring delight to the Lord. It reminds us that our ultimate goal should not be to boast about our own accomplishments, but to seek a deep and intimate relationship with God.
John 17:3
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”
Jesus Himself defines eternal life as knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ, whom He sent. It highlights the importance of a personal and experiential relationship with God through Jesus. This verse reminds us that our eternal destiny is not just about heavenly existence, but about knowing and being known by the true God.
Philippians 3:10
“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
The apostle Paul expresses a deep desire to know Christ intimately, not just in a theoretical or intellectual sense, but also through experiencing the power of His resurrection and being willing to share in His sufferings. This verse highlights that knowing Christ involves a willingness to identify with Him in His death and resurrection, embracing both the joy and the pain that come with following Him.
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
In the midst of chaos and uncertainty, this verse reminds us to be still and recognize that God is sovereign. It calls us to a place of quietness and trust, allowing us to truly know and experience God’s power and presence. When we surrender our worries and anxieties, we can fully grasp the magnitude of His majesty and find peace in knowing that He is in control.
Hosea 6:3
“Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
This verse encourages us to pursue a deep and intimate knowledge of the Lord. It is an invitation to actively seek His presence and acknowledge Him in our lives. Just as surely as the sun rises and the rain falls, God will reveal Himself to those who earnestly seek Him. It is a reminder that God desires to be known by His people and is always ready to meet us when we come to Him.
Psalm 139:1-4
“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.”
In this psalm, David acknowledges God’s intimate knowledge of him. It is a reminder that God knows every aspect of our lives, from our actions and thoughts to our words and habits. This verse reveals that God’s knowledge of us is so comprehensive and detailed that He knows us better than we know ourselves. It invites us to embrace the comforting truth that we are fully known and understood by our heavenly Father.
Colossians 1:9-10
“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”
The apostle Paul prays for the Colossian believers, asking God to fill them with the knowledge of His will. This emphasizes the importance of seeking God’s wisdom and understanding through the Holy Spirit. The goal of knowing God’s will is not merely for intellectual satisfaction, but to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and bears fruit in every good work. It highlights that knowing God is not a static state, but a continual process of growing and deepening our relationship with Him.
Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
This proverb teaches that true wisdom starts with a healthy reverence and awe of the Lord. When we fear and respect God, recognizing His holiness and authority, we gain understanding and knowledge. It emphasizes that our pursuit of knowledge should ultimately be grounded in a relationship with God and a deepening understanding of His character and ways.
Psalm 25:14
“The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.”
In this psalm, David reveals the intimate relationship between the Lord and those who fear Him. When we approach God with reverence and humility, He shares His secrets and makes His covenant known to us. This verse highlights that knowing God involves receiving divine revelation and privileged insights into His plans and purposes for our lives.
John 14:7
“If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
Jesus declares that knowing Him is inseparable from knowing the Father. To truly know Jesus is to have knowledge of the Father and to experience His presence. This verse emphasizes the divine unity and interconnectedness of the Father and the Son, highlighting that a deep and genuine knowledge of Jesus leads us into an intimate knowledge of God Himself.
Psalm 27:8
“My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
This psalm portrays David’s heart’s desire to seek the face of the Lord. It reflects a deep longing to intimately know God and to be in His presence. David’s commitment to seeking the face of God serves as a reminder for us to prioritize knowing God above all else, as it is in His presence that we find true fulfillment and joy.
1 Kings 3:9
“So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
King Solomon’s prayer for wisdom in governing God’s people demonstrates his desire to know God’s ways and make decisions that align with His will. It illustrates that knowing God involves seeking His wisdom and discernment in all areas of life, acknowledging our need for His guidance and understanding. This verse reminds us that true knowledge of God leads us to make decisions that are consistent with His character and purposes.
Psalm 119:18
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
This psalmist prayerfully asks God to open his eyes so that he may behold the wonders within God’s law. It acknowledges that true understanding and knowledge of God’s Word comes through divine illumination. This verse encourages us to approach Scripture humbly and ask for God’s revelation to gain deeper insights into His truths and to encounter the wonders of His Word.
2 Peter 3:18
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
As believers, we are called to continually grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. This verse reminds us that knowing God is not a one-time event, but a lifelong journey of deepening our understanding of His grace and character. It also acknowledges that the ultimate purpose of knowing God is to give Him glory both in the present and for all eternity.
James 4:8
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
By drawing near to God, He promises to draw near to us. This verse emphasizes the importance of cultivating a close and intimate relationship with God through repentance and a sincere desire to have pure hearts. It calls us to examine our lives, confess our sins, and surrender our divided loyalties, in order to experience the closeness and intimacy that comes from truly knowing God.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
“However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’—the things God has prepared for those who love him—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.”
This passage highlights the limitations of human understanding and the incomprehensible nature of God’s plans and purposes. Only through the work of the Holy Spirit can the deep things of God be revealed to us. It reminds us that knowing God goes far beyond what our natural senses are capable of perceiving and that the Spirit enables us to grasp unseen truths and divine revelations.
2 Timothy 2:15
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of diligent study and understanding of God’s Word. It instructs us to handle the truth of Scripture rightly, so that we may be approved by God and equipped to live as faithful workers in His kingdom. It reminds us that knowing God requires a commitment to the study and application of His truth.
Proverbs 2:5-6
“Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
This proverb attributes true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to the Lord. It affirms that these qualities are found in seeking and knowing God. The fear of the Lord is the gateway to true knowledge, and it is God who imparts wisdom and understanding. This verse encourages us to turn to God as the ultimate source of knowledge and wisdom.
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”
In this psalm, the psalmist affirms that God’s Word serves as a guide and a source of illumination. It metaphorically compares God’s Word to a lamp that illuminates our path, providing direction and clarity in our journey of knowing and walking with Him. This verse reminds us that the Word of God is essential for knowing God and navigating life according to His will.
Isaiah 55:8-9
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
This passage highlights the vast difference between human understanding and God’s wisdom. It emphasizes that God’s ways and thoughts are far superior and higher than our own. It humbles us and reminds us that true knowledge of God requires recognizing our finite understanding and submitting to His infinite wisdom and understanding.
Ephesians 1:17
“I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”
The apostle Paul prays for the Ephesian believers to receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation as they seek to know God better. It underscores the role of the Holy Spirit in deepening our knowledge of God and illuminating the truth. This verse encourages us to seek the Spirit’s guidance and allow Him to reveal more of God’s character and purposes to us.
John 10:14
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.”
Jesus declares Himself as the good shepherd who intimately knows His sheep. It illustrates the reciprocal nature of knowing God, as His people recognize and respond to His voice. This verse emphasizes the depth of relationship and mutual knowledge that exists between Jesus and His followers.
Psalm 9:10
“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”
This psalm proclaims the faithfulness of God to those who know and trust in His name. It emphasizes that knowing God leads to a deep trust in Him, as we recognize His unwavering commitment to His people. This verse reminds us that our knowledge of God is not in vain, for He will always be faithful to those who earnestly seek Him.
Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Jesus warns that mere verbal acknowledgment of Him as Lord is insufficient for entering the kingdom of heaven. True knowledge of God involves not just intellectual assent, but a life that aligns with the will of the Father. This verse challenges us to evaluate the authenticity of our knowledge of God by examining the fruit of our actions and obedience to His commands.