The Bible says "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7). God values knowledge, warning "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge" (Hosea 4:6), but the knowledge He desires most is knowing Him: "the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings" (Hosea 6:6). Knowledge must be held with love, because "Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth" (1 Corinthians 8:1).
Students, teachers, readers and anyone starting a new term or a new year of learning search for what the Bible says about knowledge. Scripture is not against learning; Daniel and his friends excelled at it (Daniel 1:17). But the Bible puts knowledge in its proper place: it starts with reverence for God, its highest goal is knowing Him personally, and it must be balanced with humility and love. These twelve King James verses explore all three. For wisdom, see wisdom; for students and exams, see studying.
Why knowledge matters
1. Colossians 2:3
"In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ. Paul wrote this against teachers who claimed secret knowledge. Real knowledge is not locked away from ordinary believers; it is found in Jesus.
2. Proverbs 8:10
"Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold."
Wisdom speaks in Proverbs 8 and asks us to choose knowledge rather than choice gold. Education, reading and learning God's word are investments that outlast money.
3. Proverbs 19:2
"Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth."
It is not good for the soul to be without knowledge, and hasty feet go wrong. Rushing into decisions without the facts often leads to mistakes. Learn first, then act. See decisions.
4. Proverbs 24:5
"A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength."
A man of knowledge increaseth strength. Knowledge gives stability and skill, whether you are fixing an engine, raising children or leading a team.
The knowledge of God
5. Hosea 6:6
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."
God told Israel He wanted mercy and the knowledge of God more than sacrifices. Jesus quoted the first half twice (Matthew 9:13; 12:7). Religious routine cannot replace a real relationship. See relationship with God.
6. Hosea 4:6
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Hosea says the problem was not that knowledge was unavailable but that it was rejected. Neglecting God's word has real consequences for a family and a nation.
7. Philippians 3:8
"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,"
Paul had an elite education (Acts 22:3), yet he counted everything loss compared with the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord. Knowing Jesus outranks every degree and title.
8. Colossians 1:9-10
"For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"
Paul prayed that believers would be filled with the knowledge of God's will and keep increasing in the knowledge of God. This is a good prayer to pray for students, children and yourself.
Knowledge with humility
9. 1 Corinthians 8:1
"Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."
Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. The Corinthians knew idols were nothing, but they used that knowledge to look down on weaker believers. Knowledge without love becomes pride. See humility.
10. Romans 11:33
"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"
After eleven chapters of deep teaching, Paul breaks into praise at the depth of the riches of God's wisdom and knowledge. The more we learn about God, the more we realise how much is beyond us.
11. Psalms 139:6
"Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."
David reflects on how completely God knows him and says such knowledge is too wonderful for him. Humility is the right response to the limits of what we can understand. See fearfully and wonderfully made.
12. 2 Peter 1:5-6
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;"
Peter lists qualities to add to faith with all diligence: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience and godliness. Knowledge is one link in the chain, meant to lead to self-control and a godly life, not to sit alone.
A short prayer
Lord, You are a God of knowledge. Give me a teachable heart that loves learning, and fill me with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom. Above all, help me to know You, and to count everything else as loss compared with knowing Christ. Keep me humble, and let all I learn make me more loving, not more proud. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Start the free One-Year Bible Reading Plan · Get our free January 2027 Scripture Writing Plan · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about knowledge?
The Bible says knowledge begins with reverence for God (Proverbs 1:7) and comes from Him: "out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6). It values learning (Proverbs 8:10) but warns that "Knowledge puffeth up" (1 Corinthians 8:1) without love. The highest knowledge is knowing God through Jesus Christ (John 17:3).
What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom in the Bible?
Knowledge is knowing what is true; wisdom is knowing how to live by it. Scripture often pairs them, and Isaiah calls wisdom and knowledge the "stability of thy times" (Isaiah 33:6). Someone can have a lot of knowledge and little wisdom, which is why James tells us to ask God for wisdom (James 1:5). See wisdom.
What does Daniel 12:4 mean by knowledge shall be increased?
The angel told Daniel to seal the book "even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4). Some read it as a prediction of travel and information in the last days; many scholars read it as people searching the prophecy and understanding growing as it is fulfilled. Either way, the verse points to God's control of history.
Is it wrong for Christians to pursue higher education?
No. Moses "was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians" (Acts 7:22), Daniel studied the learning of Babylon (Daniel 1:17), and Paul was trained by Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). God gave people minds to use. The Bible's caution is about pride and about letting any teaching pull you away from Christ (Colossians 2:8), not about learning itself.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses about wisdom · Bible verses about studying · Bible verses about discernment · Bible verses about truth · Bible verses for teachers · Bible verses about the mind · Bible verses about relationship with God · Bible verses about perfection
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