verb
agnoamō
Strong’sG50
I do not know, am ignorant of
stem agno-22 times in the New Testamentin 11 of 27 books13 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Not to know, be ignorant of, or be unaware of something — used both without an object (simply "to be ignorant") and with an object naming what is not known 1234. Strong's notes that the ignorance can also be willful, amounting to ignoring something through unwillingness to recognize it rather than mere lack of information 2. LSJ also records a moral extension of this sense, where the word describes ignorantly going wrong or acting amiss because one does not know what is right 3.
Not to understand — failing to grasp the meaning of something said, as when a statement or saying is not understood 13.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ἀγνοέω, -ῶ (> ἁγνίζω),
[in LXX for שׁגה, שׁגג, אשׁם, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G50 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidag-no-eh'-o
not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication, to ignore (through disinclination)
Fromfrom G1 (as a negative particle) and G3539;
King James(be) ignorant(-ly), not know, not understand, unknown.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Epic dialect ἀγνοι-, 3rd.pers.singular subjunctive ἀγνοιῇσιRefs 8th c.BC+: imperfect ἠγνόουνRefs 5th c.BC+: future ἀγνοήσωRefs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἠγνόησαRefs 5th c.BC+; Epic dialect ἠγνοίησαRefs 8th c.BC+, Epic dialect contraction 3rd.pers.singular ἀγνώσασκεRefs 8th c.BC+: perfect ἠγνόηκαRefs 5th c.BC+ —passive, future (of middle form) ἀγνοήσομαιRefs 4th c.BC+; ἀγνοηθήσομαι variant in Refs 2nd c.AD+aorist ἠγνοήθην, see below: perfect ἠγνόημαιRefs 5th c.BC+:—not to perceive or recognize; Refs 8th c.BC+ ost always in aorist, ἄνδρ᾽ ἀγνοιήσασ᾽ ὑλάειRefs 8th c.BC+; mostly with negative, οὐκ ἠγνοίησεν he perceived or knew well, Refs 8th c.BC+—Mostly with accusative, to be ignorant of, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἑαυτοὺς ἀ. forget their former selves, Refs 4th c.BC+; τὴν πόλιν ἀ. not to discern the temper of the city, Refs 2nd c.AD+; fail to understand, τὸ ῥῆμαNT+5th c.BC+: dependent clauses in participle, τίς.. ἀ. τὸν ἐκεῖθεν πόλεμον δεῦρο ἥξοντ;Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, not to be known, recognized, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἠγνοῆσθαι ξύμπασιν ὅτι.. Refs 4th c.BC+; καιρὸν οὐ παρεθέντα οὐδ᾽ ἀγνοηθέντα Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ ἠγνοημένα unknown parts, Refs 2nd c.AD+
II absolutely, go wrong, make a false step, first in Refs 5th c.BC+; participle ἀγνοῶν ignorantly, by mistake, Refs 5th c.BC+: in moral sense, to be ignorant of what is right, act amiss, NT+2nd c.BC+:—middle, fail to recognize, Refs 2nd c.AD+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| agnoatōἀγνοεῖ | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | not recognize | 1× |
| agnoanōἀγνοοῦμεν | happening now · wepresent active indicative 1st person plural | ignorant | 1× |
| agnoavōἀγνοεῖτε | happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural | not know | 2× |
| agnoalōἀγνοοῦσιν | happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural | not understand | 1× |
| agnootōἀγνοεῖται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | ignored | 1× |
| agnoaleἠγνόουν | was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural | not understand | 2× |
| agnoarōἀγνοεῖν | happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive | ignorant | 6× |
| agnoarōntosἀγνοῶν | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | ignorantly | 2× |
| agnoarōntoisἀγνοοῦντες | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine | unknown | 2× |
| agnoarōntoiἀγνοοῦσι | happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative plural masculine | ignorant | 1× |
| agnoorōntosἀγνοούμενος | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | unknown | 1× |
| agnoorōntoisἀγνοούμενοι | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine | unknown | 1× |
| agnoarantoisἀγνοήσαντες | happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine | not recognize | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 140, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 8 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | agnoamō | agnoame | agnoami | agnoama | agnoamē | agnoamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | agnoasō | agnoase | agnoasi | agnoasa | agnoasē | agnoaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | agnoatō1×ἀγνοεῖ | agnoate | agnoati | agnoata | agnoatē | agnoatelē |
| we 1st person plural | agnoanō1×ἀγνοοῦμεν | agnoane | agnoani | agnoana | agnoanē | agnoanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | agnoavō2×ἀγνοεῖτε | agnoave | agnoavi | agnoava | agnoavē | agnoavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | agnoalō1×ἀγνοοῦσιν | agnoale2×ἠγνόουν | agnoali | agnoala | agnoalē | agnoalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | agnoomō | agnoome | agnoomē | agnoomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | agnoosō | agnoose | agnoosē | agnooselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | agnootō1×ἀγνοεῖται | agnoote | agnootē | agnootelē |
| we 1st person plural | agnoonō | agnoone | agnoonē | agnoonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | agnoovō | agnoove | agnoovē | agnoovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | agnoolō | agnoole | agnoolē | agnoolelē |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | agnoameiō | agnoameia | agnoameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | agnoaseiō | agnoaseia | agnoaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | agnoateiō | agnoateia | agnoateiē |
| we 1st person plural | agnoaneiō | agnoaneia | agnoaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | agnoaveiō | agnoaveia | agnoaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | agnoaleiō | agnoaleia | agnoaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | agnoomeiō | agnoomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | agnooseiō | agnooseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | agnooteiō | agnooteiē |
| we 1st person plural | agnooneiō | agnooneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | agnooveiō | agnooveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | agnooleiō | agnooleiē |
Commands — imperative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | agnoasōr | agnoasar | agnoasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | agnoatōr | agnoatar | agnoatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | agnoavōr | agnoavar | agnoavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | agnoalōr | agnoalar | agnoalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | agnoosōr | agnoosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | agnootōr | agnootēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | agnoovōr | agnoovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | agnoolōr | agnoolēr |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | agnoamoiō | agnoamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | agnoasoiō | agnoasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | agnoatoiō | agnoatoia |
| we 1st person plural | agnoanoiō | agnoanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | agnoavoiō | agnoavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | agnoaloiō | agnoaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | agnoomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | agnoosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | agnootoiō |
| we 1st person plural | agnoonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | agnoovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | agnooloiō |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 6 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | agnoarō6×ἀγνοεῖν | agnoari | agnoara | agnoarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | agnoorō | agnoorē |
Used as an adjective — participle, 8 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | agnoarōntos5×ἀγνοῶν | agnoarintos | agnoarantos1× | agnoarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | agnoorōntos2×ἀγνοούμενος | agnoorēntos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
agno is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
22 occurrences, every one of them listed
agnoatō“not recognize”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
1 Corinthians 14:38“not recognize”ei de tinos agnoatō, agnootō.But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
agnoanō“ignorant”happening now · wepresent active indicative 1st person plural1×
2 Corinthians 2:11“ignorant”… Satanou, ouk gar autou teim noēmeim agnoanō.… order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
agnoavō“not know”happening now · yepresent active indicative 2nd person plural2×
Romans 6:3“not know”ē agnoavō hoti hosois baptizina eis Christon Iēsun …Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized …
Romans 7:1Ē agnoavō, adelfoir, gnōskarōntoi gar nomon lalamō, hoti …Do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to …
agnoalō“not understand”happening now · theypresent active indicative 3rd person plural1×
2 Peter 2:12… eis halōsian kai fthoran, en hei agnoalō blasfēmarōntois, en ta fthora autoiu kai …… They blaspheme in matters they do not understand, and like such creatures, they too …
agnootō“ignored”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
1 Corinthians 14:38ei de tinos agnoatō, agnootō.… ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
agnoale“not understand”was happening · theyimperfect active indicative 3rd person plural2×
Mark 9:32tois de agnoale tem rēmem, kai fobole auton eperōtara.But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid …
Luke 9:45tois de agnoale tem rēmem houtem, kai ate parakaluptorēntem …But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from …
agnoarō“ignorant”happening now · the “to …” formpresent active infinitive6×
Romans 1:13ouk thelamō de vin agnoarō, adelfoir, hoti pollakis protithema erchara pros …… do not want you to be unaware, brothers, how often I planned to …
Romans 11:25Ouk gar thelamō vin agnoarō, adelfoir, tem mustēriem houtem, hina mē …… do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that …
1 Corinthians 10:1Ouk thelamō gar vin agnoarō, adelfoir, hoti tois patrois nu pantois …… do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all …
1 Corinthians 12:1“ignorant”… teiu pneumatikeiu, adelfoir, ouk thelamō vin agnoarō.Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be …
2 Corinthians 1:8“ignorant”Ouk gar thelanō vin agnoarō, adelfoir, huper tau thlipsiau nu tau …We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the hardships we encountered in the province of Asia. We were under a burden far beyond our ability to …
1 Thessalonians 4:13Ouk thelanō de vin agnoarō, adelfoir, peri toiu koimorōntoiu, hina mē …… do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death …
agnoarōntos“ignorantly”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine2×
Romans 2:4“not knowing”… tau anochau kai tau makrothumiau katafronasō, agnoarōntos hoti tem chrēstem tou theou eis …… you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance?
1 Timothy 1:13“ignorantly”… diōkton kai hubriston; alla elēima, hoti agnoarōntos poiama en apistia,… blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was …
agnoarōntois“unknown”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative plural masculine2×
Acts 17:23… ho epigrafotelē; Agnōsto theo. hem oun agnoarōntois eusebavō, houtem mis katangelamō vi.… Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.
Romans 10:3agnoarōntois gar tan tou theou dikaiosunan, kai …Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to …
agnoarōntoi“ignorant”happening now · to, forpresent active participle dative plural masculine1×
Hebrews 5:2metriopatharō dunorōntos toi agnoarōntoi kai planorōntoi epei kai autos perikeiotō …… deal gently with those who are ignorant and misguided, since he himself is …
agnoorōntos“unknown”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine1×
Galatians 1:22ome de agnoorōntos te prosōpe tai ekklēsai tau Ioudaiau …I was personally unknown, however, to the churches of Judea …
agnoorōntois“unknown”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine1×
2 Corinthians 6:9hōs agnoorōntois kai epignōskorōntois, hōs apothnēskarōntois kai idou …unknown, yet well-known; dying, and yet we …
agnoarantois“not recognize”happened · subjectaorist active participle nominative plural masculine1×
Acts 13:27… Ierousalēm kai tois archontois autoiu houton agnoarantois kai tain fōnain toiu profētoiu tain …… of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning Him they …