Understanding γνωρίζω (gnōrizō) Strong’s G1107: The Divine Revelation that Makes Known God’s Mysteries and Transforms Hearts

Pronunciation Guide: gnoh-RID-zoh (with a rolled ‘r’ and emphasis on the second syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1107: γνωρίζω (gnōrizō) refers to the act of making known, declaring, or revealing something previously unknown. It describes the process by which knowledge is imparted from one to another, often implying a personal disclosure or revelation. In biblical contexts, it frequently describes God’s action of revealing His truth, will, or mysteries to humanity through direct revelation, the Scriptures, or the person of His Son.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Verb
• Root Word: Derived from γνῶσις (gnōsis, “knowledge”) and ultimately from γινώσκω (ginōskō, “to know”)
• Language Origin: Koine Greek
• Primary Usage: Found predominantly in epistolary literature (especially Pauline epistles), also appears in narrative sections of Luke and Acts
• Voice: Often used in active voice when God or apostles are the subject, making known divine truths

γνωρίζω Morphology:

• γνωρίζω (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I make known
• γνωρίζεις (present active indicative, 2nd person singular) – you make known
• γνωρίζει (present active indicative, 3rd person singular) – he/she/it makes known
• γνωρίζομεν (present active indicative, 1st person plural) – we make known
• γνωρίσω (aorist active subjunctive, 1st person singular) – I might make known
• ἐγνώρισα (aorist active indicative, 1st person singular) – I made known
• γνωρίσαι (aorist active infinitive) – to make known
• γνωρισθῇ (aorist passive subjunctive, 3rd person singular) – it might be made known

Origin & History

γνωρίζω emerges from classical Greek where it held the straightforward meaning of “to make known” or “to become acquainted with.” In Xenophon’s “Anabasis” (400-350 BCE), the term appears when describing how soldiers would make themselves known to allies. The verb gained greater significance in the Septuagint (LXX), where it was used to translate Hebrew terms related to God revealing His ways to Israel.

The term underwent an important theological development in Hellenistic Jewish literature. In the wisdom literature of the LXX, particularly in the Book of Wisdom and Sirach, γνωρίζω began to take on connotations of divine revelation – God making His wisdom known to those who seek Him. This theological richness was then carried forward into New Testament usage, where it became a key term for describing God’s revelation of previously hidden spiritual truths, particularly in the Pauline corpus. Clement of Rome later employed the term in his First Epistle (c. 96 CE) when referring to how God had made His will known through the Messiah.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Making something known through direct communication or declaration
• Revealing something previously hidden or mysterious
• Causing someone to understand or recognize a truth
• Informing someone officially or formally
• Bringing to light information that transforms the recipient’s understanding

γνωρίζω Translation Options:

• Make known – Emphasizes the transmission of information from one party to another; captures the basic meaning but sometimes misses the revelatory aspect
• Reveal – Highlights the uncovering of something previously hidden; especially appropriate when God is the subject revealing divine truths
• Declare – Emphasizes the formal or authoritative nature of the communication; suitable for contexts of apostolic teaching
• Disclose – Captures the sense of intentionally sharing previously private or secret information; useful for Pauline contexts discussing divine mysteries
• Enlighten – Highlights the transformative effect of the knowledge being imparted; appropriate when the context emphasizes spiritual understanding

Biblical Usage

γνωρίζω appears approximately 25 times in the New Testament, with its highest concentration in the Pauline epistles where it carries significant theological weight. In Luke-Acts, it often relates to proclaiming or making known factual information, while Paul elevates the term to describe the divine revelation of God’s previously hidden mysteries now made accessible through the Messiah. Ephesians features the term prominently, where Paul uses it to describe how God is making known the mystery of His will through Messiah Jesus and through the Church.

In the Septuagint, γνωρίζω appears in Psalms where it describes God making His ways known to His people (Psalm 103:7 LXX). This continuity between God’s revelation in the Tanakh and the fuller revelation in the Messiah forms an important theological bridge, showing God’s consistent pattern of self-disclosure throughout redemptive history.

• “And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known [ἐγνώρισεν] unto us.” Luke 2:15
• “But now is made known [γνωρισθέντος] to all nations for the obedience of faith.” Romans 16:26
• “Having made known [γνωρίσας] unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself.” Ephesians 1:9
• “By revelation he made known [ἐγνώρισεν] unto me the mystery; as I wrote afore in few words.” Ephesians 3:3
• “To whom God would make known [γνωρίσαι] what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27
• “All things that I have heard of my Father I have made known [ἐγνώρισα] unto you.” John 15:15
• “Brethren, I make known [γνωρίζω] to you the gospel which I preached to you.” 1 Corinthians 15:1

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, knowledge was often considered privileged information, accessible only to social elites or those initiated into mystery religions. The concept of “making known” divine truths would have resonated powerfully within this cultural context. While Greek mystery cults jealously guarded their secrets, revealing them only to initiates through elaborate ceremonies, the early Messianic community boldly proclaimed that God was “making known” His mysteries to all people regardless of social status, ethnicity, or education.

The Jewish concept of revelation also provides important background for understanding γνωρίζω. In rabbinic thought, God’s revelation at Sinai (מַתַּן תּוֹרָה, mattan Torah) was the paradigmatic moment of divine disclosure. Jewish tradition held that God revealed not only the Written Torah but also explanatory Oral Torah to Moses. Paul’s use of γνωρίζω extends this concept, arguing that the Messiah has now “made known” God’s redemptive purposes more fully than ever before. This created significant tension with non-Messianic Jewish communities who rejected the claim that new divine revelation had come through Jesus of Nazareth.

Theological Significance

γνωρίζω illuminates the profound reality that God actively desires to communicate with humanity. Unlike deistic conceptions of a distant creator, the biblical portrayal is of a God who intentionally “makes known” His character, will, and purposes. This divine self-disclosure reaches its climax in the incarnation, where Yahweh makes Himself known in the person of the Messiah Jesus. As John’s Gospel declares, “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:18).

The Pauline usage of γνωρίζω also emphasizes that God’s revelation is both gracious and purposeful. When Paul speaks of God “making known the mystery of His will” (Ephesians 1:9), he underscores that divine revelation comes not because humans have earned this knowledge, but because God has chosen to disclose it. Furthermore, this revelation is not merely informational but transformational; God makes Himself known so that people might enter into relationship with Him and be conformed to the image of His Son. The ultimate purpose of all that God has made known is to bring glory to Himself as people respond in faith and obedience to His revealed truth.

Personal Application

When we truly grasp the meaning of γνωρίζω, we realize that our knowledge of God doesn’t originate in human wisdom or religious striving, but in His gracious self-disclosure. This humbling truth should prompt profound gratitude – that the Creator of the universe has chosen to make Himself known to us. Rather than assuming we must climb our way to heaven through intellectual effort or moral performance, we can rejoice that Yahweh has descended to us, making known His love and purposes.

This understanding also carries significant implications for how we view Scripture and share our faith. When we open the Bible, we’re not merely analyzing religious literature; we’re receiving what God has intentionally made known about Himself. And when we share the good news with others, we participate in God’s ongoing work of revelation – making known what He has already revealed in the Messiah Jesus. We can approach both Bible study and evangelism with confidence, knowing we’re handling and sharing divine self-disclosure, not merely human opinions about God.

Related Words

• γινώσκω (ginōskō) [gih-NO-sko] – to know, perceive, understand. While γνωρίζω focuses on the act of making something known, γινώσκω emphasizes the state of knowing or the process of coming to know. γινώσκω often implies experiential or relational knowledge rather than mere intellectual awareness. See G1097
• ἀποκαλύπτω (apokalyptō) [ah-po-kah-LIP-toh] – to uncover, reveal, disclose. This term has a stronger emphasis on unveiling something previously hidden, often with dramatic or eschatological connotations. Unlike γνωρίζω, ἀποκαλύπτω frequently suggests the removal of obstacles to perception. See G601
• φανερόω (phaneroō) [fah-neh-RO-oh] – to make manifest, visible, or known. While similar to γνωρίζω, φανερόω emphasizes making something apparent to the senses or bringing it into visible manifestation, rather than simply communicating information. See G5319
• διδάσκω (didaskō) [di-DAS-ko] – to teach, instruct. This term focuses on the systematic impartation of knowledge, typically in a formal setting. Unlike γνωρίζω, διδάσκω emphasizes the pedagogical process rather than the act of disclosure. See G1321
• ἀναγγέλλω (anangellō) [ah-nan-GEL-lo] – to announce, report, bring back word. While γνωρίζω emphasizes making known something not previously known, ἀναγγέλλω often involves bringing news or reporting information from one location to another. See G312

Did you Know?

• Did you know that γνωρίζω appears prominently in what scholars call the “mystery passages” of Paul’s letters? These sections reveal that God’s plan of including Gentiles as full and equal members of His covenant people was a “mystery” (μυστήριον, mystērion) previously hidden but now “made known” through apostolic proclamation. This revelation fundamentally reshaped the early Messianic community’s understanding of God’s redemptive purposes, breaking down the wall of separation between Jewish and Gentile believers in ways that were culturally revolutionary.
• Did you know that the concept behind γνωρίζω was so important in early Christian thought that the second-century apologist Justin Martyr developed an entire theological framework around God’s self-revelation? In his “Dialogue with Trypho,” Justin argues that the pre-incarnate Messiah was the one who appeared to the patriarchs in the Tanakh, serving as Yahweh’s agent of revelation throughout redemptive history. For Justin and other early Church Fathers, God’s pattern of “making Himself known” forms a continuous thread from creation through Israel’s history to the incarnation.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, γνωρίζω has evolved to commonly mean “to be acquainted with” or “to know someone personally”? This semantic shift highlights how language changes over time while preserving connections to original meanings. The modern usage still carries echoes of the relational knowledge implied in New Testament contexts, where God doesn’t merely transmit information but makes Himself known in ways that establish personal relationship.

Remember This

γνωρίζω reminds us that our God is not silent or distant but has purposefully revealed Himself, making known His character and redemptive plan so that we might know Him intimately and make Him known boldly to others.