Knowing God

"To know God" is the primary term which the Bible uses to describe a human being's right relationship to God. Often this phrase is misunderstood, because under Greek influence many people define "know" as an intellectual activity of the mind. But biblically, "know" is a relationship term which involves the whole person, not merely the mind. To "know" God in the Bible is the equivalent of "trusting in" God in all circumstances.

Jeremiah 10:25 relates this prayer to God:
"Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not KNOW you,
and on the peoples that do not CALL ON YOUR NAME."
The synonymous parallelism in this passage defines "knowing God" as "calling on the name of God," that is, seeking his help in times of trouble because one deeply trusts in him.

Jeremiah 22:15-16 contain this address to King Jehoiakim of Judah, who was using his power and position to harm well-meaning Judeans in his kingdom who built a palace for him.
"Are you a king because you compete in cedar?
Did not your father [Josiah] eat and drink
and do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
then it was well.
Is not this to KNOW me? says the Lord."
According to this text, "knowing God" means to have a right relationship to him, which naturally leads a person to love and care for the poor and needy and oppressed and disadvantaged.

Hosea 6:6 is very instructive on the meaning of "knowing God":
"For I [God] desire STEADFAST LOVE and not sacrifice,
the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD rather than burnt offerings."
The synonymous parallelism here defines "knowing God" as "loving God steadfastly."

Knowledge of God is experience of the reality of God as a living person [not a machine or a robot or a thing], not ascribing intellectually to certain propositions about God.