This list gives you King James Version Scripture passages about knowing God personally, not just knowing about Him. It is written for anyone who wants their faith to move from ideas into an actual relationship, whether you are new to the Bible or have read it for decades. The verses below share a common thread: they describe God as someone who wants to be known, who speaks, listens, and draws near to people who seek Him.
Verses That Describe God Wanting to Be Known
Before we ask how to know God, it helps to see that He first made Himself known. These passages show the Lord as the one who reveals Himself, calls people by name, and invites them into closeness. Reading them first can shift your expectation from striving to receiving.
Jeremiah 9:24
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD .
(KJV)
Jeremiah ties boasting to understanding and knowing the Lord, which is a helpful correction when you measure your faith by achievement. Try writing the verse on a card and reading it before you check your phone in the morning, letting knowing God replace knowing your own résumé.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
(KJV)
Jesus defines eternal life not as a future event but as a relationship that begins now: knowing the Father and the Son. When you feel distant from God, return to this sentence and ask one simple question during your commute: what would it look like to know Him better today?
Psalm 139:1-3
1 O LORD , thou hast searched me, and known me . 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
(KJV)
David says God has searched him and known him completely, and that is a comfort rather than a threat. Consider reading these verses slowly on a day when you feel unseen, and speak one honest sentence to God about what He already knows about you.
Verses for Seeking God in Daily Life
Knowing God is not only a feeling you wait for. The Bible repeatedly connects knowing Him with seeking, asking, and returning to Him through ordinary days. These verses encourage steady, patient attention rather than dramatic spiritual moments.
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me , when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
(KJV)
God promises that those who seek Him with the whole heart will find Him, and the wording is about wholeness, not perfection. If your attention is scattered, pause before lunch and take five minutes to seek Him deliberately, even if all you bring is a question.
Hosea 6:3
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD : his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.
(KJV)
Hosea speaks of following on to know the Lord, which suggests a path you walk step by step rather than a single leap. Think of one small habit you can repeat this week, such as reading one short psalm before bed, as a way of following Him further.
Matthew 7:7-8
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
(KJV)
Jesus invites his listeners to ask, seek, and knock, with the promise that the one who asks receives. When a prayer seems unanswered, reread these words and notice that the invitation to keep coming is itself a form of relationship.
Verses About Trusting the God You Are Coming to Know
Knowing God and trusting Him grow together. The verses in this section connect knowledge of the Lord with confidence in His character, especially when circumstances are uncertain and you need to remember who He is.
Psalm 9:10
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD , hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
(KJV)
The psalmist says those who know God’s name put their trust in Him, because He has not forsaken those who seek Him. Use this verse when a decision feels heavy: name the specific worry, then tell God you are trusting Him with it because of what you know of Him so far.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(KJV)
Solomon tells us to trust the Lord with all our heart and not lean only on our own understanding. Try acknowledging Him in one small decision today, such as which route to take or which task to start first, and see how that changes the rhythm of your day.
Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(KJV)
Paul lists the things that cannot separate believers from the love of God in Christ, from death to height to depth. On an anxious night, you can recite this passage slowly, pausing after each category to name a fear and remember that it has no power to remove you from His love.
Verses for Growing Close to God Over Time
The final group looks at knowing God as something that deepens across a lifetime. These passages speak of growth, grace, and the call to keep learning Christ and walking with Him.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
(KJV)
Peter ends his letter by urging believers to grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Read this verse at the end of a week and ask what one area of your faith has grown, and what one area still needs attention.
Philippians 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death…
(KJV)
Paul writes that his deepest desire is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Put this verse where you will see it during a busy stretch, and let it turn a routine task into a quiet prayer that you want to know Jesus more than anything else.
Colossians 1:9-10
9 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; 10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God…
(KJV)
Paul prays that the Colossian believers would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will and would grow in that knowledge. Pray these words over someone you love, asking God to deepen their knowledge of Him as well as your own.
James 4:8
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
(KJV)
James promises that when you draw near to God, He draws near to you. If prayer has felt like shouting into an empty room, take one small step toward Him today, even a single sentence of thanks, and trust that He has already moved toward you.
How to Use These Verses
Start with one or two passages rather than trying to memorize the whole list. Write them on index cards, in the front of your journal, or as a phone wallpaper, and read them at the same time each day, such as while the coffee brews or before you sleep. Repetition in a familiar place helps the words settle into your memory.
When you pray with these verses, read the passage aloud, then pause and ask God what He is showing you in it. Keep a short note of anything that stands out, and return to those notes when you need encouragement. Over time you will see how these verses have shaped the way you speak to God and listen for Him.
A Short Prayer for Knowing God
Lord, You have made Yourself known to me through Your Word, Your Son, and the quiet work of Your Spirit. I confess that I often treat faith as a list of tasks rather than a relationship with You. Draw me near today, and help me to seek You with my whole heart rather than with a divided one. Teach me to trust You when I cannot see the way ahead, and remind me that You already know me completely and still choose to walk with me. Let knowing You shape how I speak, work, and love the people around me. Amen.
