תָּבוּן
𐤕𐤁𐤅𐤍
tâbûwn
H8394 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Ability to discern, comprehend, or understand; insight, intelligence, or practical understanding. תָּבוּן refers particularly to the capacity for discerning between options, evaluating situations, and arriving at judicious conclusions. Its usage often carries a nuance of practical or applied understanding, distinguishing it from mere factual knowledge (דָּעַת) or rote skill.
Semantic Range
discernment, understanding, intelligence, insight, practical comprehension, ability to analyze, reasoned judgment, prudence, discretion
Root / Etymology
From the root בין (ב-י-ן), meaning 'to separate, distinguish, discern.' The noun תָּבוּן derives from this root, signifying the result or quality of discerning or understanding; related nouns include תְּבוּנָה and תּוֹבֻנָה, sharing the same semantic field.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, תָּבוּן describes both general intelligence and a specific capacity for discernment and wise decision-making, often applied to leaders, artisans, or those whose work requires insight (e.g., Exodus 31:3; Deuteronomy 1:13). It is distinguished from חָכְמָה (wisdom), which can sometimes suggest broader wisdom traditions, and דָּעַת (knowledge), which more often refers to acquired information or learning. תָּבוּן occurs most frequently in Wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job), where it is highly valued as a practical faculty governing speech, behavior, and planning. Later translations at times conflate its meaning with 'wisdom,' 'understanding,' or 'prudence,' but these may miss the specific nuance of discernment inherent in תָּבוּן. The function of תָּבוּן in the post-exilic period remains largely consistent, although the development of philosophical Hebrew introduces overlapping terminology.
Translation Consistency
תָּבוּן emphasizes the capacity to discern, judge, and apply practical understanding rather than mere factual knowledge. “Discernment” best captures the typical semantic range (insight, prudence, reasoned judgment) and is a natural, consistent English rendering that fits the usual contexts of this lemma better than the broader “understanding.”
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
and (feminine) תְּבוּנָה; or תּוֹבֻנָה; from בִּין; intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice; discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
בין (Yavin) — to separate, distinguish, perceive, understand
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1143 | בֵּנַיִם | the between-two space |
| H2985 | יָבִין | like Yavin |
| H4000 | מָבוֹן | |
| H946 | בּוּנָה | and Bunah |
| H995 | בִּין | I discern |
Word Forms
15 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8394-07 |
תְּבוּנָֽה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | discernment | 13 |
H8394-10 |
וּ/תְבוּנָ֖ה | utevunah | HC/Ncfsa |
and understanding | and discernment | and discernment | 6 |
H8394-01 |
בִּ/תְבוּנָ֥ה | bitevunah | HR/Ncfsa |
with understanding | in discernment | in discernment | 4 |
H8394-08 |
תְּבוּנ֖וֹת | tevunot | HNcfpa |
of understanding | discernments | discernments | 4 |
H8394-13 |
וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָת֖/וֹ | uvitevunato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and by his understanding | and in his discernment | and by his understanding | 3 |
H8394-04 |
לַ/תְּבוּנָֽה | latevunah | HRd/Ncfsa |
to understanding | to the discernment | to understanding | 2 |
H8394-06 |
לִ/תְבוּנָתֽ/וֹ | litevunato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
his understanding | to his discernment | to his understanding | 2 |
H8394-11 |
וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֥ה | uvitevunah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and by understanding | and in discernment | and in discernment | 2 |
H8394-02 |
הַ/תְּבוּנָה֙ | hatevunah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the understanding | the discernment | the understanding | 1 |
H8394-03 |
כִּ/תְבוּנָ/ם֙ | kitevunam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
according to their understanding | their discernment | according to their understanding | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
43 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H8394-11 |
Exodus 31:3 | וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֥ה | uvitevunah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and in understanding | and in discernment | and in discernment |
H8394-01 |
Exodus 35:31 | בִּ/תְבוּנָ֥ה | bitevunah | HR/Ncfsa |
with understanding | in discernment | in discernment |
H8394-10 |
Exodus 36:1 | וּ/תְבוּנָה֙ | utevunah | HC/Ncfsa |
and understanding | and discernment | and discernment |
H8394-07 |
Deuteronomy 32:28 | תְּבוּנָֽה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-10 |
1 Kings 5:9 | וּ/תְבוּנָ֖ה | utevunah | HC/Ncfsa |
and understanding | and discernment | and discernment |
H8394-02 |
1 Kings 7:14 | הַ/תְּבוּנָה֙ | hatevunah | HTd/Ncfsa |
the understanding | the discernment | the understanding |
H8394-08 |
Isaiah 40:14 | תְּבוּנ֖וֹת | tevunot | HNcfpa |
of understanding | discernments | discernments |
H8394-06 |
Isaiah 40:28 | לִ/תְבוּנָתֽ/וֹ | litevunato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
of his understanding | to his discernment | to his understanding |
H8394-07 |
Isaiah 44:19 | תְבוּנָה֮ | tevunah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-13 |
Jeremiah 10:12 | וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָת֖/וֹ | uvitevunato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and by His understanding | and in his discernment | and by his understanding |
H8394-13 |
Jeremiah 51:15 | וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָת֖/וֹ | uvitevunato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and by his understanding | and in his discernment | and by his understanding |
H8394-12 |
Ezekiel 28:4 | וּ/בִ/תְבוּנָ֣תְ/ךָ֔ | uvitevunatekha | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
and by your understanding | and in your discernment | and by your understanding |
H8394-03 |
Hosea 13:2 | כִּ/תְבוּנָ/ם֙ | kitevunam | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3mp |
according to their understanding | their discernment | according to their understanding |
H8394-07 |
Obadiah 1:7 | תְּבוּנָ֖ה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-10 |
Obadiah 1:8 | וּ/תְבוּנָ֖ה | utevunah | HC/Ncfsa |
and understanding | and discernment | and discernment |
H8394-08 |
Psalms 49:4 | תְבוּנֽוֹת | tevunot | HNcfpa |
understandings | discernments | discernments |
H8394-14 |
Psalms 78:72 | וּ/בִ/תְבוּנ֖וֹת | uvitevunot | HC/R/Ncfpc |
and by the skillfulness | and in discernments of | and with the understandings of |
H8394-01 |
Psalms 136:5 | בִּ/תְבוּנָ֑ה | bitevunah | HR/Ncfsa |
with understanding | in discernment | in discernment |
H8394-06 |
Psalms 147:5 | לִ֝/תְבוּנָת֗/וֹ | litevunato | HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
his understanding | to his discernment | to his understanding |
H8394-04 |
Proverbs 2:2 | לַ/תְּבוּנָֽה | latevunah | HRd/Ncfsa |
to understanding | to the discernment | to understanding |
H8394-04 |
Proverbs 2:3 | לַ֝/תְּבוּנָ֗ה | latevunah | HRd/Ncfsa |
for understanding | to the discernment | to understanding |
H8394-10 |
Proverbs 2:6 | וּ/תְבוּנָֽה | utevunah | HC/Ncfsa |
and understanding | and discernment | and discernment |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 2:11 | תְּבוּנָ֥ה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
Understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 3:13 | תְּבוּנָֽה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-01 |
Proverbs 3:19 | בִּ/תְבוּנָֽה | bitevunah | HR/Ncfsa |
by understanding | in discernment | in discernment |
H8394-05 |
Proverbs 5:1 | לִ֝/תְבוּנָתִ֗/י | litevunati | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
to my understanding | to my discernment | to my discernment |
H8394-10 |
Proverbs 8:1 | וּ֝/תְבוּנָ֗ה | utevunah | HC/Ncfsa |
and understanding | and discernment | and discernment |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 10:23 | תְּבוּנָֽה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
of understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-08 |
Proverbs 11:12 | תְּבוּנ֣וֹת | tevunot | HNcfpa |
of understanding | discernments | of discernments |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 14:29 | תְּבוּנָ֑ה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 15:21 | תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
of understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 17:27 | תְּבוּנָֽה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
of understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-01 |
Proverbs 18:2 | בִּ/תְבוּנָ֑ה | bitevunah | HR/Ncfsa |
in understanding | in discernment | in discernment |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 19:8 | תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 20:5 | תְּבוּנָ֣ה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
of understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-07 |
Proverbs 21:30 | תְּבוּנָ֑ה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-11 |
Proverbs 24:3 | וּ֝/בִ/תְבוּנָ֗ה | uvitevunah | HC/R/Ncfsa |
and by understanding | and in discernment | and in discernment |
H8394-08 |
Proverbs 28:16 | תְּ֭בוּנוֹת | tevunot | HNcfpa |
understanding | discernments | discernments |
H8394-07 |
Job 12:12 | תְּבוּנָֽה | tevunah | HNcfsa |
is understanding | discernment | discernment |
H8394-10 |
Job 12:13 | וּ/תְבוּנָֽה | utevunah | HC/Ncfsa |
and-understanding | and discernment | and discernment |
H8394-15 |
Job 26:12 | ו/ב/תובנת/ו | vvtvvntv | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and-by-his-understanding | and in his discernment | and by his understanding |
H8394-13 |
Job 26:12 | וּ֝/בִ/תְבוּנָת֗/וֹ | uvitevunato | HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms |
and-by-his-understanding | and in his discernment | and by his understanding |
H8394-09 |
Job 32:11 | תְּב֥וּנֹֽתֵי/כֶ֑ם | tevunoteykhem | HNcfpc/Sp2mp |
your reasonings | your discernments | your discernments |