Yada, Yada, Yada
What does “yada” mean to you?
Certain generations of us remember the 1997 “The Yada” episode of the Seinfeld sitcom. “Yada, yada, yada” was the replacement for an explanation. Instead of giving details, just skip over them by saying yada, yada, yada.
But the real meaning of yada?
It’s actually the exact opposite.
Instead of keeping someone in the dark with skimpy details, the Hebrew word yada used in the Old Testament primarily means “to know.”
- yada = to know
Yada first appears in the Bible in a quote from the serpent in Genesis 3:5, “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Does this real definition of yada (knowing) make us anxious?
God Knows You
Are you comfortable with God knowing every detail about you? We know it can be ugly in there.
- Do I really want anyone to know the bad parenting decisions I’ve made?
- To know the judgmental thoughts I’ve had of friends?
- To know the words I’d like to say in an argument (even if I won’t say them)?
Like it or not, God knows us. We’re to feel good about that?
And You Know God?
And when we think about us knowing God, that, too, can feel troublesome.
(1) We may grow arrogant, proud that we “know” God because we know facts about Him. We’ve all seen (and perhaps been) that person who has much head knowledge about God but who isn’t godly.
Or (2) we may be fearful of knowing God better. Relationships are hard enough with people, but with God? Wouldn’t it be easier to keep Him at arms’ length so we won’t be called on to do anything challenging or uncertain? His standards are so high.
A Healthy View of Yada
But here’s a different way to think about yada.
(1) Being known by God is a gift of grace.
On a busy Saturday last weekend, I was feeling overwhelmed between events, wondering how I would have the energy for the last appearance of the night. But because my husband knows me, he encouraged me to take a break on the final drive, even from talking with him, and just read a book and recharge. It worked.
Being known is a blessing.
“O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.”
Psalm 139:1-2
Because God knows our every strength AND our every weakness, He knows how to work best in our lives. Just as we benefit when our doctor understands our bodies and illnesses, so we also benefit when God knows all about us. He never takes advantage of our vulnerabilities.
- It’s good that God knows what we can bear and what we can’t.
- It’s good that He knows when we need a gentle push and when we need a restful break.
- It’s good that He knows the gifts we need and those we couldn’t handle.
Because He knows us inside and out—and loves us anyway—we can rest in His provision and His healing.
“By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.”
Psalm 41:11
We need to be known by God. Be grateful for it. Discover peace through it.
(2) Our knowing God brings freedom.
What advantages come from our knowing God?
The more we know God, the more we can trust and love God. Knowing God opens us up to an improved relationship with Him.
“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
Psalm 9:10
Often we learn more about God through study. We think, then feel, then do.
But knowing God doesn’t come only through head knowledge (although we definitely need that). Often the most profound ways we know other people are by doing things with them. We also need to do with God. Live life together, not just study Him from a distance.
So occasionally reverse the process. Do, feel, think.
- Do something fresh and daring with God.
- Discover that it makes you feel more trustful.
- Then think about and thank God that you are knowing Him more fully as a result.
“[King Josiah] judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the LORD.”
Jeremiah 22:16
Take a step of faith.
Engage in an unfamiliar situation.
Love someone different from you.
Open Invitation to Know
Being known by God and knowing God are what we are made for, how we are designed. It opens us up to receiving all the grace He longs to give us.
Instead of being dangerous, knowing God allows us to live with more security, more satisfaction, more hope.
Truly knowing and experiencing God is our open invitation to the greatest freedom imaginable.
Unlike George Costanza in Seinfeld, let’s not use yada, yada, yada to skim over our lives. Instead, let’s yada God to go deeper.
Are you comfortable with God knowing everything about you? How do you get to know God better? We want to hear your thoughts.
See all the words in our Hebrew series here.
Love this thought provoking post Linda. Thank you for sharing the knowledge. The sentence that jumped of the page to me is, “being known is a blessing.” I can not think of anyone better to know me than my Savior, Jesus Christ. Being known by Him gives me peace. I know that regardless of the situation, He wants what is best for me. Honestly, I love getting to know Him better as I spend time in His word. I want to live a life so that He is glorified. I’m so thankful for the gift of His word He has given me. Thank you again for sharing these insights friend. Your post here today has been an encouragement to me. Have a fantastic weekend and may God continue to bless you and yours.
Thanks, Horace. I so appreciate you sharing such a beautiful testimony here. This sums it up so well: “Being known by Him gives me peace. I know that regardless of the situation, He wants what is best for me.” Amen. You are glorifying Him, friend!
Good morning, Lisa! I really like how you merged vocabulary and spiritual lessons. For me, understanding God knows me in and out is comforting because I also know He loves me anyway. Knowing me also makes God the best accountability partner ever. Knowing Him? A lifelong journey until we wake up in His sweet embrace.
I love hearing how your faith in His knowledge is comforting. I had to grow into that feeling. As a child, we used to sing a hymn “There’s An All-Seeing Eye Watching You” and I absorbed it negatively instead of positively. Fortunately, as an adult I reframed it and now understand it too to be a blessing instead of a curse! :) Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Alice. You add much to the conversation.
Thanks for this, Lisa! I don’t think I have ever heard this word explained, that I remember, though I’ve often heard the distinction between “head knowledge” and experiential knowledge.
Grace makes such a difference in feeling comforted being fully known vs. feeling uncomfortable and afraid of it. I’m so thankful we can trust God with that knowledge and rest in it.
Yes, grace. Once again the grace of God makes all the difference. Thanks for highlighting that, Barbara. Grace was a confusing piece of the puzzle for the first few years of my Christian life, but once I finally accepted it, it illuminated everything and set me free. I am very thankful as well that we can trust God knowing all.
I figure that God doesn’t see past; He sees potential.
God definitely sees potential; I’m glad of that. Thanks, Andrew. God’s now is also far bigger and more truthful than my now. That makes me happy, too. He can handle knowing everything; I cannot.
“Our knowing God brings freedom.” Because I know He loves me without fail no matter what, all the time. He is always good, kind, faithful. There isn’t one negative word associated with who God is. And that is freeing.
Definitely freeing. This is so good, Debbie: “There isn’t one negative word associated with who God is.” That’s a truth we can all hold on to, especially in times when we doubt his goodness.
Great article, Lisa. “know, know, know” means something wholly different now. Thanks for greater understanding, friend. ((hug))
Yes, we definitely use yada now in a different way than it was originally used in the Hebrew language. I imagine many of our words have changed more than they’ve stayed the same. Keeps us on our toes, huh? :) Appreciate you stopping by, Brenda.
Great post, Lisa and good information. I knew that word from studies, but never put it together with the common use of it in our culture.
To know our Father is the only real peace we’ll have this side of heaven. It’s amazing that He would give so much to be able to “know” and even look on us in our fallen state. That’s a good thing to ponder. Humbling.
Thanks, Lisa.
I agree, Floyd. It is quite amazing indeed that we are able to know Him at all with our tiny minds and His greatness! It’s just more testament to His wisdom. We are blessed.
So much good here, but what grabbed me most was the suggestion to “do, feel, think.” I lead with my head so often that I can talk myself out of something before I’ve even given my heart a chance to engage. And the fact that I am known and loved by God is such a great foundation for allowing myself to be known by others.
Thanks, Lisa, for scholarship and heart in one great post!
I can be a head person too, Michele, so the advice of “do, feel, think” is counterintuitive for me as well. But when I do it, I’m always amazed at how much I discover. God can really surprise us when we get out of our comfort zones!
Oh, I love the wisdom you shared here, Lisa! I’m still wrapping my head around ‘knowing God’ and being ‘known by Him’. It’s all at once scary and refreshingly freeing. Thanks for a great post and for your suggestion to live life with God, not just study Him from a distance.
I totally understand what you’re saying, Carlie. Both the scary and freeing feelings are ones that I’m familiar with as well. :) Thankfully the freeing ones are outweighing the scary ones more and more.
Lisa,
I just love word studies. They so often bring new meaning to light as yours did for me. Thanks for taking the time to dig in a little deeper.
Be Blessed & Refreshed Today!
~Sherry Stahl
xoxo
I love word studies, too, Sherry. They can bring us fresh insights to a familiar passage that we’ve read over and over without any new thoughts. Thanks for stopping in today!
“Being known is a blessing.” God knows what I need and how I need it. This is a huge blessing because I don’t need to strive and worry. He knows what I need and directs my day to fill me with what I need.
Wow, that’s amazing, Lisa!
Visiting from #GraceMoments
Thanks, Julie. Yes, God is so amazing that even His knowledge is for our good! Sometimes I find it hard to believe how blessed we are.
Being known is a blessing, indeed! I absolutely love this post, Lisa!
Thanks, June. Sometimes there are parts of me that I don’t want to know, but in the end, you are right that being known is a blessing! We can’t surprise God anyway; He made us. :)
Such a great post, Lisa. I had no idea about the real yada origins. It amazes and humbles me to think that God knows me THAT intimately, and yet He loves me so deeply. Grace! Thanks for sharing :) Stopping by from #MomentsofHope
It humbles me, too, Laura. Not even our closest friend or spouse knows us like God does, yet He still loves us? Grace is truly amazing. :)