Meaning of Knowing a Wife in Biblical Context

The Hebrew verb יָדַע (yada') appears 246 times in the Hebrew Bible, and one of its senses is "to know" a wife or husband in a sexual sense. This idiom is used to describe intimate relations between spouses, as seen in Genesis 4:1, where it is written, "And Adam knew Eve his wife" ^[5].

In biblical contexts, "knowing" a wife implies a deep, intimate connection that goes beyond mere acquaintance. The phrase is often used to describe the initial act of sexual intercourse between a couple, as in the case of Adam and Eve. However, it can also refer to ongoing marital relations ^[11].

The use of יָדַע (yada') for sexual knowledge is not limited to Genesis. It appears throughout the Hebrew Bible, including in passages like 1 Kings 14:2, where Jeroboam instructs his wife to disguise herself ^[6]. The verb is also used in other contexts, such as in Hosea 2:20, where it is written, "You will know Yahweh" ^[2].

The biblical concept of "knowing" a wife is closely tied to the institution of marriage. In the Hebrew Bible, marriage is understood as a covenant between a man and a woman, with the wife being considered a partner and helper to her husband. The wife's role is not merely subservient; she is seen as a vital part of the household, with her own rights and responsibilities ^[3].

The rabbinic tradition interprets the concept of "knowing" a wife in various ways. For example, the Babylonian Talmud discusses the importance of a good wife and the negative consequences of having a bad wife, citing Proverbs 18:22 and Ecclesiastes 7:26 ^[7]. Rashi, a medieval Jewish commentator, interprets the phrase "לאשתו" (to his wife) in Genesis 26:7 as meaning "concerning his wife," highlighting the importance of the wife's role in the narrative ^[8].

In the New Testament, the concept of "knowing" a wife is also present, although the Greek verb γινώσκω (ginosko) is used instead of יָדַע (yada'). The New Testament writers, such as Matthew, use this verb to describe the intimate relations between Joseph and Mary, with Matthew 1:25 stating that Joseph "knew her not" until she gave birth to Jesus ^[9].

The early Church Fathers, such as Augustine, also discussed the concept of "knowing" a wife in their writings. Augustine's homilies on the Gospels touch on the topic, emphasizing the importance of understanding the biblical text in its historical and cultural context ^[10].

The biblical concept of "knowing" a wife highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of marital relations in ancient Israelite and early Christian societies. It underscores the significance of intimacy, partnership, and mutual understanding within the marital bond.

The various traditions represented in the sources — Protestant academic, Jewish (Rabbinic), Patristic, Baptist/Reformed, and Presbyterian — all contribute to a nuanced understanding of the concept. While there may be differences in interpretation, the core idea of "knowing" a wife as a euphemism for intimate relations remains a common thread throughout ^{[1, 4, 12]}.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Concubine — In the Bible denotes a female conjugally united to a man, but in a relation inferior to that of a wife. Among the early Jews, from various causes, the difference between a wife and a concubine was less marked than it would be amongst us. The concubine was a wife of secondary rank. There are various laws recorded providing for their protection (Ex. 21:7; Deut. 21:10-14), and setting limits to the relation they sustained to the household to which they belonged (Gen. 21:14; 25:6). They had no authority in the family, nor could they share in the household gov”
Hosea “Hosea 2:20 (LEB) — ⌞I will take you as my wife⌟ in faithfulness, and you will know Yahweh.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Wife — The ordinance of marriage was sanctioned in Paradise (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6). Monogamy was the original law under which man lived, but polygamy early commenced (Gen. 4:19), and continued to prevail all down through Jewish history. The law of Moses regulated but did not prohibit polygamy. A man might have a plurality of wives, but a wife could have only one husband. A wife's legal rights (Ex. 21:10) and her duties (Prov. 31:10-31; 1 Tim. 5:14) are specified. She could be divorced in special cases (Deut. 22:13-21), but could not divorce her husband. Divorce wa”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Concubine — The difference between wife and concubine was less marked among the Hebrews than among us, owing to the absence of moral stigma. The difference probably lay in the absence of the right of the bill of divorce, without which the wife could not be repudiated. With regard to the children of wife and of concubine, there was no such difference as our illegitimacy implies. The latter were a supplementary family to the former; their names occur in the patriarchal genealogies, (Genesis 22:24; 1 Chronicles 1:22) and their position and provision would depend on the f”
MACULA Hebrew “Genesis 4:1 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: וְ הָ֣ אָדָ֔ם יָדַ֖ע אֶת חַוָּ֣ה אִשְׁתּ֑ וֹ וַ תַּ֨הַר֙ וַ תֵּ֣לֶד אֶת קַ֔יִן וַ תֹּ֕אמֶר קָנִ֥יתִי אִ֖ישׁ אֶת יְהוָֽה Word-by-word: וְ (wə) = "and" [2050b] C; הָ֣ (hā) = "the" [1886a] Td; אָדָ֔ם (ʾāḏām) = "man" [0120] Ncmsa; יָדַ֖ע (yāḏaʿ) = "knew" [3045] Vqp3ms; אֶת (ʾeṯ-) = "(et)" [0853] To; חַוָּ֣ה (ḥawwāh) = "Eve" [2332] Np; אִשְׁתּ֑ = "wife" [0802] Ncfsc; וֹ = "his" [2050c] Sp3ms; וַ (wa) = "and" [2050b] C; תַּ֨הַר֙ (tahar) = "conceived" [2029] Vqw3fs; וַ (wa) = "and" [2050b] C; תֵּ֣לֶד (tēleḏ) = "gave birth to" [3205] Vqw3fs; אֶת”
MACULA Hebrew “1 Kings 14:2 — Hebrew linguistic analysis (MACULA): Text: וַ יֹּ֨אמֶר יָרָבְעָ֜ם לְ אִשְׁתּ֗ וֹ ק֤וּמִי נָא֙ וְ הִשְׁתַּנִּ֔ית וְ לֹ֣א יֵֽדְע֔וּ כִּי אַ֖תְּ אֵ֣שֶׁת יָרָבְעָ֑ם וְ הָלַ֣כְתְּ שִׁלֹ֗ה הִנֵּה שָׁם֙ אֲחִיָּ֣ה הַ נָּבִ֔יא הֽוּא דִבֶּ֥ר עָלַ֛ י לְ מֶ֖לֶךְ עַל הָ עָ֥ם הַ זֶּֽה Word-by-word: וַ (wa) = "and" [2050b] C; יֹּ֨אמֶר (yyōʾmer) = "said" [0559] Vqw3ms; יָרָבְעָ֜ם (yārāḇʿām) = "Jeroboam" [3379] Np; לְ (lə) = "to" [3807a] R; אִשְׁתּ֗ = "wife" [0802] Ncfsc; וֹ = "his" [2050c] Sp3ms; ק֤וּמִי (qûmî) = "go" [6965] Vqv2fs; נָא֙ (nāʾ) = "please" [4994] Te; וְ (wə) = "and" [2050b] C; הִ”
Babylonian Talmud (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Babylonian Talmud, Yevamot 63b.6: And Rava said: Come and see how good a good wife is and how bad a bad wife is. How good is a good wife? As it is written: Whoever finds a wife finds good. If the verse speaks of her, a wife, this demonstrates how good a good wife is, as the Bible praises her. If the verse speaks metaphorically of the Torah, it nevertheless indicates how good a good wife is, as the Torah is compared to her. Conversely, how bad is a bad wife? As it is written: “And I find more bitter than death the woman.” If the verse speaks of her, this demonstrates how bad a bad wife is, as t”
Sefaria (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) on Genesis 26:7: לאשתו means CONCERNING HIS WIFE, just as (20:13) “Say about me (לי), He is my brother”.”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 1:25: And knew her not,.... Or "but he knew her not", answering to the Hebrew that is, had carnal knowledge of her, or copulation with her, though his wife. The words are an euphemism, or a modest way of expressing the conjugal act, and is a very ancient one, see Gen 4:1 and what has been used in nations and languages. And this conduct of his was necessary, till she had brought forth her firstborn; that it might be manifest not only that she conceived, being a virgin, but also that she brought forth, being a virgin: for both are signified in the prophecy before related, ”
Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XXVIII.--OF THE RAISING OF THE DAUGHTER OF THE RULER OF THE SYNAGOGUE, AND OF THE WOMAN WHO TOUCHED THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT; OF THE QUESTION, ALSO, AS TO (part 5): to which the words ought to be subservient; and further, that we should not suppose one to be giving an incorrect statement, if he happens to convey in different words what the person really meant whose words he fails to reproduce literally. And we ought not to let the wretched cavillers at words fancy that truth must be tied somehow or other to the jots and tittles of letters;”
Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 4:1: 4:1 had sexual relations (literally knew): In certain contexts, the Hebrew term meaning “to know” is an idiom for sexual knowledge of another person (4:17; 19:33, 35). It is never used of animals, which mate by instinct. • With the Lord’s help:: Eve fulfilled her God-given role of procreation despite the negative effects of the Fall (see 3:16, 20). • I have produced: Cain (Hebrew qayin) sounds like a Hebrew term (qanah) that can mean “produce” or “acquire.””
Genesis (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Genesis 4:1: And Adam knew Eve his wife,.... An euphemism, or modest expression of the act of coition. Jarchi interprets it, "had known", even before he sinned, and was drove out of the garden; and so other Jewish writers, who think he otherwise would not have observed the command, "be fruitful and multiply": but if Adam had begotten children in a state of innocence, they would have been free from sin, and not tainted with the corruption of nature after contracted; but others more probably think it was some considerable time after; according to Mer Thudiusi, or Theodosius (t), it ”

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