Acquaint; Acquaintance

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a -kwānt ´, a -kwān´tans ( γνωστοί , gnostoı́ ): Terms referring to various degrees of knowledge, but implying more or less detailed information; applied to God's omniscience ( Psalm 139:3 ), to the grief of the Suffering Servant of Yahweh ( Isaiah 53:3 ), and to the knowledge which man should have of God. The noun in the concrete, unless limited by a qualifying term, means more than one who has been known simply in passing, and implies a degree of intimacy, as may be seen in Luke 2:44  ; Luke 23:49  ; 2 Kings 12:5 .