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FOREKNOWLEDGE
The unique knowledge of God which enables Him to know all events, including the free acts of man, before they happen.
God's foreknowledge is much more than foresight. God does not know future events and the actions of men because He foresees them; He knows them because He wills them to happen <Job 14:5; Ps. 139:15-16>. Thus God's foreknowledge is an act of His will <Is. 41:4; Rev. 1:8,17; 21:6>.
In <Romans 8:29> and <11:2>, the apostle Paul's use of the word foreknew means "to choose" or "to set special affection on." The electing love of God, not foresight of human action, is the basis of His predestination and salvation <Rom. 8:29-30,33>. This same idea is used to express the nation of Israel's special relationship to God <Acts 2:23; Rom. 11:2; 1 Pet. 1:2,20>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)