בִּינָה
𐤁𐤉𐤍𐤄
bîynâh
H998 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Insight, discernment, or the capacity for understanding; a mental faculty or state characterized by comprehension and the ability to distinguish between things. The term encompasses the process of examining or analyzing a matter to determine its underlying structure or meaning. Semantic range includes intellectual perception, prudent decision-making, and the ability to understand complex situations or instructions.
Semantic Range
insight, discernment, intelligence, perceptiveness, prudent judgment, analytical understanding, thoughtful consideration, ability to interpret or comprehend, faculty of distinguishing or separating matters
Root / Etymology
From the root בין (bet-yod-nun), meaning 'to separate, distinguish, discern.' The noun בִּינָה (bîynâh) denotes the faculty or act of discerning or understanding, derived from the verb בִּין (bin), 'to understand, perceive.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, בִּינָה often appears alongside חָכְמָה (ḥokhmāh, 'wisdom') and דַּעַת (daʿat, 'knowledge'), but differs by focusing on penetrating insight or discernment, especially the skill to perceive nuances and distinctions. In Wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs, Job), it is frequently associated with ethical and practical discernment. During the monarchic period, the term often referred to administrative or judicial sagacity; in post-exilic literature, it retains intellectual and sometimes spiritual connotations. English translations sometimes flatten the nuance to 'understanding' or 'wisdom,' but the term specifically denotes the analytical, discerning aspect of cognition. Later rabbinic tradition also treats בִּינָה as a distinct cognitive faculty. בִּינָה differs from חָכְמָה, which can denote practical skill or general wisdom, and from תְּבוּנָה, a term related but sometimes emphasizing competency or skillfulness.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בִּין; understanding; knowledge, meaning, [idiom] perfectly, understanding, wisdom.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בין (b-y-n) — to discern, to understand, to distinguish
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1143 | בֵּנַיִם | the between-two space |
| H2985 | יָבִין | like Yavin |
| H8394 | תָּבוּן | in discernment |
| H946 | בּוּנָה | and Bunah |
| H995 | בִּין | I discern |
Word Forms
13 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H998-02 |
בִּינָ֑ה | binah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | 13 |
H998-12 |
בִינָֽה | vinah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment | 9 |
H998-09 |
וּ/בִינָ֗ה | uvinah | HC/Ncfsa |
and understanding | and discernment | 5 |
H998-06 |
לַ/בִּינָ֣ה | labinah | HRd/Ncfsa |
for discernment | to discernment | 2 |
H998-07 |
מִֽ/בִּינָתְ/ךָ֥ | mibinatekha | HR/Ncfsc/Sp2ms |
from your understanding | from your discernment | 1 |
H998-03 |
בִּֽ֝ינָתְ/ךָ֗ | binatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
your-understanding | your discernment | 1 |
H998-10 |
וּ/בִינַ֥ת | uvinat | HC/Ncfsc |
and understanding of | and discernment-of | 1 |
H998-01 |
בַּ/בִּינָֽה | babinah | HRd/Ncfsa |
in understanding | in discernment | 1 |
H998-08 |
מִֽ/בִּינָתִ֥/י | mibinati | HR/Ncfsc/Sp1cs |
of my understanding | from my discernment | 1 |
H998-11 |
וּ/בִ֣ינַתְ/כֶ֔ם | uvinatekhem | HC/Ncfsc/Sp2mp |
and your understanding | and your discernment | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
38 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H998-11 |
Deuteronomy 4:6 | וּ/בִ֣ינַתְ/כֶ֔ם | uvinatekhem | HC/Ncfsc/Sp2mp |
and your understanding | and your discernment |
H998-09 |
Isaiah 11:2 | וּ/בִינָ֗ה | uvinah | HC/Ncfsa |
and understanding | and discernment |
H998-04 |
Isaiah 27:11 | בִּינוֹת֙ | binot | HNcfpa |
understanding | discernments |
H998-10 |
Isaiah 29:14 | וּ/בִינַ֥ת | uvinat | HC/Ncfsc |
and understanding of | and discernment-of |
H998-02 |
Isaiah 29:24 | בִּינָ֑ה | binah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment |
H998-02 |
Isaiah 33:19 | בִּינָֽה | binah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment |
H998-02 |
Jeremiah 23:20 | בִּינָֽה | binah | HNcfsa |
perfectly | discernment |
H998-12 |
Proverbs 1:2 | בִינָֽה | vinah | HNcfsa |
understanding | discernment |
H998-06 |
Proverbs 2:3 | לַ/בִּינָ֣ה | labinah | HRd/Ncfsa |
for discernment | to discernment |
H998-03 |
Proverbs 3:5 | בִּֽ֝ינָתְ/ךָ֗ | binatekha | HNcfsc/Sp2ms |
your-understanding | your discernment |