What does בִּינָה (binah) mean in the Bible?
בִּינָה (binah): Intellectual grasp that penetrates meaning; discernment that grasps the inner sense and purpose of something
Hebrew · H998
בִּינָה
Understanding
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בִּינָהH998
Pronunciationbinah
What does בִּינָה (binah) mean in the Bible?
בִּינָה (binah): Intellectual grasp that penetrates meaning; discernment that grasps the inner sense and purpose of something
Full entry for בִּינָה (H998) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H998?
The BSB source-word alignment has 38 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and understanding (7), understanding (7), . . . (2), does understanding (2), [is] understanding (1).
Where does בִּינָה (binah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Deuteronomy 4:6. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (14), Job (9), Isaiah (5), Daniel (4).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itand understanding7×Deuteronomy 4:6, 1 Chronicles 22:12, 2 Chronicles 2:12, Proverbs 23:23
understanding7×Job 38:36, Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 4:5, Proverbs 4:7
. . .2×1 Chronicles 12:32, Job 38:4
does understanding2×Job 28:12, Job 28:20
[is] understanding1×Job 28:28
and my understanding1×Job 20:3
and the intelligence1×Isaiah 29:14
And the understanding1×Daniel 10:1
be wise enough1×Proverbs 23:4
by your understanding1×Job 39:26
clearly1×Jeremiah 23:20
have insight1×Proverbs 8:14
is understanding1×Proverbs 9:10
of insight1×Proverbs 1:2
of understanding1×Proverbs 9:6
the understanding1×Proverbs 30:2
to insight1×Proverbs 2:3
to understanding1×Isaiah 29:24
understand1×Isaiah 33:19
understand it1×Daniel 8:15
with creativity1×2 Chronicles 2:13
with understanding1×Job 39:17
you have understanding1×Job 34:16
your own understanding1×Proverbs 3:5
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 4:6וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔םtoand understandingConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural1 Chronicles 12:32בִינָה֙to. . .Noun - feminine singular1 Chronicles 22:12וּבִינָ֔הtoand understandingConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular2 Chronicles 2:12וּבִינָ֔הtoand understandingConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular2 Chronicles 2:13בִּינָ֖הtowith creativityNoun - feminine singularJob 20:3מִֽבִּינָתִ֥יtoand my understandingPreposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularJob 28:12בִּינָֽה׃todoes understandingNoun - feminine singularJob 28:20בִּינָֽה׃todoes understandingNoun - feminine singularJob 28:28בִּינָֽה׃סto[is] understandingNoun - feminine singularJob 34:16בִּ֥ינָהtoyou have understandingNoun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowDeuteronomy 4:6
Aligned rows38
Books represented8
Deuteronomy11 Chronicles22 Chronicles2Job9Proverbs14Isaiah5Jeremiah1Daniel4
Source forms
בִּינָֽה׃7xbî·nāhJob 28:12, Job 28:20, Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 9:6
בִינָֽה׃5xḇî·nāhJob 38:4, Job 38:36, Proverbs 1:2, Proverbs 4:7
וּבִינָ֔ה2xū·ḇî·nāh1 Chronicles 22:12, 2 Chronicles 2:12
בַּבִּינָֽה׃1xbab·bî·nāhJob 39:17
בִינָה֙1xḇî·nāh1 Chronicles 12:32
בִינָ֑ה1xḇî·nāhProverbs 4:5
בִ֝ינָ֗ה1xḇî·nāhProverbs 8:14
בִינָ֔ה1xḇî·nāhDaniel 8:15
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular22x1 Chronicles 12:32, 2 Chronicles 2:13, Job 28:12, Job 28:20
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular5x1 Chronicles 22:12, 2 Chronicles 2:12, Proverbs 23:23, Isaiah 11:2
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular2xProverbs 2:3, Proverbs 7:4
Article, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular1xJob 39:26
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct1xIsaiah 29:14
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural1xDeuteronomy 4:6
Noun - feminine plural1xIsaiah 27:11
Noun - feminine singular construct1xProverbs 30:2
Evidence Summary
RevelationWisdom
Hebrew word. Intellectual grasp that penetrates meaning; discernment that grasps the inner sense and purpose of something
Source Gloss
understanding
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Intellectual grasp that penetrates meaning; discernment that grasps the inner sense and purpose of something
understanding Usage: knowledge, meaning, × perfectly, understanding, wisdom.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Old Testament Witnesses
discernment or the ability to perceive truth
discernment that distinguishes right from wrong
discernment that perceives moral distinctions
discernment or the ability to perceive truth clearly
discernment or insight that guides wise living
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 38 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
בִּינָה is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Understanding shapes speech and behavior toward wisdom.Proverbs 10:13
Understanding guards decisions and preserves the believer’s path.Proverbs 2:1-11
Understanding helps believers navigate complex moral situations.Proverbs 4:1-9
Understanding enables people to apply wisdom correctly.Proverbs 8:1-11
Understanding represents the transformation that comes from accepting wisdom.Proverbs 9:1-6
Canonical Themes
RevelationWisdom
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.