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בִּין

𐤁𐤉𐤍

bîyn

H995 verb

SILEX Entry

Root בין to distinguish, discern, perceive

Definition

To perceive or understand, especially through careful observation or discernment; to have insight or comprehension. The verb often denotes an active process of distinguishing or discerning between things, such as understanding a message, situation, or instruction; in some contexts, it can also mean to be wise or prudent in decisions and actions.

Semantic Range

to understand, to discern, to perceive, to have insight, to consider, to attend, to be prudent, to teach or cause to understand, to be skillful, to interpret, to comprehend, to separate mentally, to instruct

Root / Etymology

The root is בּין (b-y-n), whose basic sense refers to distinguishing or discerning. The verb בִּין derives from this root and conveys the act of gaining understanding or insight, particularly by distinguishing between options, concepts, or signals. It is a denominative verb from the noun בֵּין (bein, 'between'), implying making distinctions between things.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In biblical usage, בִּין is foundational to concepts of wisdom and discernment, appearing frequently in contexts where someone is called upon to interpret, understand, or make careful distinctions (e.g., Daniel interpreting dreams, or a ruler judging a case). It is distinguished from דָּעַת (knowing as accumulated knowledge or facts) and חָכָם (wisdom as skill or expertise). The nuance of בִּין often lies in process—actively organizing, discerning, or comprehending—whereas דָּעַת may denote the possession of knowledge. In later biblical Hebrew, בִּין continues to denote understanding, and related forms become important in wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs) for moral and practical discernment. English translations may variously render it 'understand,' 'discern,' or 'perceive,' but often do not capture its focus on separation, distinction, and depth of comprehension. The term is central to Israelite wisdom traditions and education, especially in contexts stressing the need for discernment in navigating life, law, and relationships.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand; attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

בין (b-y-n) — distinguish, discern, perceive

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1143 בֵּנַיִם the between-two space
H2985 יָבִין like Yavin
H8394 תָּבוּן in discernment
H946 בּוּנָה and Bunah
H996 בֵּין in between

Word Forms

68 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H995-64 יָבִ֛ין yavin HVqi3ms understands He discerns 20
H995-29 מֵבִ֔ין mevin HVhrmsa understanding understanding-giver 15
H995-65 יָבִ֖ינוּ yavinu HVqi3mp understand they discern 11
H995-32 נָב֣וֹן navon HVNrmsa discerning discerning one 9
H995-14 הֲבִינֵ֑/נִי havineni HVhv2ms/Sp1cs give me understanding Cause me to discern 6
H995-36 תָּ֭בִין tavin HVqi2ms you will understand you will discern 5
H995-13 הָבִ֖ין havin HVhc understanding to cause to discern 5
H995-50 וַ/יָּ֣בֶן vayaven HC/Vqw3ms and he understood he discerned 4
H995-01 אָבִ֥ין avin HVqi1cs I perceive I discern 4
H995-08 אֶתְבּוֹנָֽן etebonan HVri1cs I gave attention I will reflectively discern 4

Occurrences in Scripture

171 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H995-32 Genesis 41:33 נָב֣וֹן navon HVNrmsa discreet discerning one
H995-32 Genesis 41:39 נָב֥וֹן navon HVNrmsa discerning discerning one
H995-44 Deuteronomy 1:13 וּ/נְבֹנִ֛ים unevonim HC/VNrmpa and-understanding discerning ones
H995-60 Deuteronomy 4:6 וְ/נָב֔וֹן venavon HC/VNrmsa and understanding and discerning one
H995-07 Deuteronomy 32:7 בִּ֖ינוּ binu HVqv2mp consider Discern!
H995-66 Deuteronomy 32:10 יְב֣וֹנְנֵ֔/הוּ yevonenehu HVoi3ms/Sp3ms he instructed him he caused him to discern
H995-65 Deuteronomy 32:29 יָבִ֖ינוּ yavinu HVqi3mp they would understand they discern
H995-50 1 Samuel 3:8 וַ/יָּ֣בֶן vayaven HC/Vqw3ms and perceived he discerned
H995-43 1 Samuel 16:18 וּ/נְב֥וֹן unevon HC/VNrmsc and prudent and discerning one
H995-50 2 Samuel 12:19 וַ/יָּ֥בֶן vayaven HC/Vqw3ms and he understood he discerned
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