Ignorance

Ignorance is lack of knowledge, especially of God and his ways, and his people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. This page lists verses on lack of knowledge, sins of ignorance, those who acted ignorantly, willful ignorance, knowledge and responsibility, not knowing God, and things not to be ignorant of.

Lack of knowledge

• 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. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.
  Show context · Read Hosea 4 →
• Isaiah 5:13
  Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.Therefore My people will go into exile for their lack of understanding; their dignitaries are starving and their masses are parched with thirst.
  Show context · Read Isaiah 5 →
• Isaiah 1:3
  The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
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• Proverbs 19:2
  Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 19 →
• Romans 10:2-3
  ²For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge. ³For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
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Sins of ignorance

• Leviticus 4:2
  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:“Tell the Israelites to do as follows with one who sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s commandments and does what is forbidden by them:
  Show context · Read Leviticus 4 →
• Leviticus 5:17-18
  ¹⁷And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.If someone sins and violates any of the LORD’s commandments even though he was unaware, he is guilty and shall bear his punishment. ¹⁸And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his ignorance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him.He is to bring to the priest an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock as a guilt offering. Then the priest will make atonement on his behalf for the wrong he has committed in ignorance, and he will be forgiven.
  Show context · Read Leviticus 5 →
• Numbers 15:27-28
  ²⁷And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.Also, if one person sins unintentionally, he is to present a year-old female goat as a sin offering. ²⁸And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.And the priest shall make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the person who erred by sinning unintentionally; and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven.
  Show context · Read Numbers 15 →
• Hebrews 9:7
  But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:But only the high priest entered the second room, and then only once a year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance.
  Show context · Read Hebrews 9 →
• Psalm 19:12
  Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.Who can discern his own errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
  Show context · Read Psalm 19 →

They know not what they do

• Luke 23:34
  Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
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• Acts 3:17
  And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.
  Show context · Read Acts 3 →
• 1 Corinthians 2:8
  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.None of the rulers of this age understood it. For if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
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• 1 Timothy 1:13
  Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy.
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• Acts 17:30
  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all people everywhere to repent.
  Show context · Read Acts 17 →

Willful ignorance

• 2 Peter 3:5
  For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water,
  Show context · Read 2 Peter 3 →
• Ephesians 4:18
  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 4 →
• John 3:19-20
  ¹⁹And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
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• Romans 1:28
  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
  Show context · Read Romans 1 →

Knowledge and responsibility

• Luke 12:47-48
  ⁴⁷And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
  Show context · Read Luke 12 →
• John 9:41
  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”
  Show context · Read John 9 →
• John 15:22
  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.
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• James 4:17
  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
  Show context · Read James 4 →

Not knowing God

• Acts 17:23
  For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.
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• Galatians 4:8
  Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.
  Show context · Read Galatians 4 →
• 1 Thessalonians 4:5
  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God;
  Show context · Read 1 Thessalonians 4 →
• 1 Corinthians 15:34
  Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.Sober up as you ought, and stop sinning; for some of you are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame.
  Show context · Read 1 Corinthians 15 →
• John 8:19
  Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.“Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
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I would not have you ignorant

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13
  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
  Show context · Read 1 Thessalonians 4 →
• 1 Corinthians 10:1
  Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud, and that they all passed through the sea.
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• 1 Corinthians 12:1
  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.
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• 2 Corinthians 2:11
  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.in order that Satan should not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
  Show context · Read 2 Corinthians 2 →
• 2 Peter 3:8
  But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
  Show context · Read 2 Peter 3 →

See also

• Foolishness
• Wisdom
• Education and learning
• Sin
• Forgiveness

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.