THE FULL ARTICLE — from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), general editor James Orr — public domain, printed whole.

a-kwant', a-kwan'-tans (gnostoi): Terms referring to various degrees of knowledge, but implying more or less detailed information; applied to God's omniscience (Ps 139:3), to the grief of the Suffering Servant of Yahweh (Isa 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 Lu 2:44; 23:49; 2Ki 12:5.

H. E. Jacobs