What does it mean when the Bible uses the phrase to know someone?

Answer 1

To know someone personally means you have met them in person from time to time and have more than a passing acquaintance with them.

So, you could say you 'know' Peter Smith, because you see him every week across the counter when you go to the hardware store, and by this you mean you've met him, but you could say you 'know Peter Smith personally' if you occasionally visit one another's home, have drinks or meals together, your families meet, and so on.

The phrase might be used if you are asked to witness a person's signature and a requirement of witnessing is that the signatory be personally known to you.

Or, you might be asked whether you know a person personally and, if so, what do you think of them. This could be asked by a prospective employer, checking to make sure a job applicant is who they say they are; if they know you personally they could give your name as a reference so that people can check up.

Sometimes you'll hear a person claim to know someone important 'personally'. This obviously can be true; everyone knows others personally, but there are those who say this simply to try to impress others; they're saying, I'm on personal terms with this important person, so that makes me important, too.

Stay away from people who talk like that: if they're fakes in one way they're probably fakes in other ways, too.

Answer 2

Commonly it is a man 'knowing' a woman or having intimate relations with her. Also here, it means she is still a virgin:

Genesis 24:16New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.