Does God know everything?

Published September 1, 2026

Yes. The Bible teaches that God knows all things. His knowledge is perfect, complete, and unlimited. Nothing in creation is hidden from Him—not our actions, words, thoughts, motives, needs, or circumstances. God does not discover facts as events unfold; His understanding is infinite.

“Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” — Psalm 147:5 (KJV)

Scripture plainly says that God knows all things

First John 3:20 gives a direct answer: “God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.” Hebrews 4:13 adds, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

God’s knowledge is not merely greater than ours by degree. Human beings learn, forget, misunderstand, and make false assumptions. God’s understanding has no such weakness or limit.

God knows every person completely

David prayed, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me” (Psalm 139:1). He continued, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off” (verse 2). Before a word was spoken, God already knew it (verse 4).

Other people see only fragments of our lives. God sees the whole person. He knows outward conduct and inward purpose. First Samuel 16:7 says, “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Nothing is too small for God’s attention

Jesus said that not one sparrow falls to the ground without the Father and that “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:29–30). God’s knowledge is not reserved for nations, rulers, and great events. He sees details that no human observer could count.

This should comfort believers. God does not overlook a quiet prayer, hidden grief, faithful act, or need that others fail to notice.

Nothing can be concealed from God

Job 34:21 says, “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.” Secret sin may be hidden from family, church, or government, but it is never hidden from God.

This truth is sobering because God’s judgment is never based on incomplete evidence. He knows every fact, every motive, every opportunity, and every refusal. His verdicts are perfectly informed and perfectly just.

God’s knowledge does not force people to sin

Knowing an action is not the same as morally causing that action. Scripture holds people responsible for what they choose while also teaching that God knows them completely. Divine knowledge does not excuse unbelief, cruelty, deceit, or rebellion.

The relationship between God’s complete knowledge and human choices raises difficult questions. Scripture gives us enough truth to affirm both, but it does not answer every philosophical detail. We should not claim certainty beyond what God has revealed.

God’s perfect knowledge makes prayer meaningful

Jesus taught that “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:8). Prayer does not give God information He lacks. It is an act of dependence, worship, confession, and fellowship with Him.

Because God knows more than we do, He can answer with wisdom we do not possess. We may ask for something harmful without realizing it. God understands the request, the motive, the need beneath it, and every consequence of the answer.

Jesus displayed divine knowledge

After the resurrection Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee” (John 21:17). The Gospels repeatedly show Christ knowing hearts, thoughts, people, and events beyond ordinary human knowledge.

Jesus is not merely a teacher trying to guess what is inside us. He knows us fully and still calls sinners to repent, believe, and follow Him.

God knows our sin and offers salvation

God’s complete knowledge means we cannot save ourselves by appearing righteous. He knows every sin. Yet He also knows all who truly come to Christ. Jesus said, “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

Salvation is not earned by hiding failures, performing religious works, or repeating a formula. Jesus Christ died for our sins and rose again. Those who repent and believe on Him receive mercy from the God who already knows the full truth about them.

The biblical answer

God knows everything. His knowledge includes every creature, action, word, thought, motive, need, and hidden circumstance. Nothing surprises Him, escapes His attention, or supplies information He did not possess.

That truth should produce honesty, reverence, comfort, and trust. We are completely known by God, and through Jesus Christ we may also be completely forgiven.