"Yada"

I have recently learned that the Hebrew word yada means “to know.” We see this word used in Genesis 4:25 (“Adam knew his wife”), Psalm 1:6 (“the Lord knows the way of the righteous”), and Amos 3:2 (“You only have I known of all the families of the earth”). In these example, the “knowledge” that is professed is much more than simple facts—it is a knowledge that also embodies passion, affection, and intimacy. In fact, when the Bible states that “Adam knew Eve and she bore a son named Seth,” it is not talking about Adam reading Eve’s blog!

So what’s the point of all this? Simply this—when the Bible states that God knows us, we can be sure that he really knows us. Those who are called to be the children of God are the “apple of his eye.” And his greatest gift to his beloved is that his beloved knows him in his infinite glory, holiness, beauty, and joy. In Psalm 16:11 we read, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

(RANDOM THOUGHT: I was also wondering if the phrase “Yada, Yada, Yada” comes from Hebrew, and therefore might be translated “I know, I know, I know” Just wondering... random neurons in my brain are firing off again.)