What does יָדַע · יָמִין · שְׂמֹאול mean in the Bible?
יָדַע · יָמִין · שְׂמֹאול is a Hebrew phrase meaning "moral or practical ignorance; lack of discernment".
Hebrew · H3045, H3225, H8040
לֹא־יָדַע בֵּין־יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ
To know (properly, to ascertain by seeing ); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation , care , recognition ; and causatively, instruction , designation , punishment , etc.) · the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south · properly, dark (as enveloped ), i.e. the north ; hence (by orientation), the left hand
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
יָדַע H3045 to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing ); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation , care , recognition ; and causatively, instruction , designation , punishment , etc.)
Pronunciation yada
Knowledge grounded in direct perception or experience; extends to intimate relationship, care, and moral recognition.
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יָמִין H3225 the right hand or side (leg, eye) of a person or other object (as the stronger and more dexterous); locally, the south
Pronunciation yāmîn
Right hand embodies strength, dexterity, and favor; directionally orients toward the south in spatial orientation
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שְׂמֹאול H8040 properly, dark (as enveloped ), i.e. the north ; hence (by orientation), the left hand
What does לֹא־יָדַע בֵּין־יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ (lo-yada bein-yemino lismolo) mean in the Bible?
יָדַע · יָמִין · שְׂמֹאול is a Hebrew phrase meaning "moral or practical ignorance; lack of discernment".
Full entry for לֹא־יָדַע בֵּין־יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ (H3045, H3225, H8040) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for H3045, H3225, H8040?
H3045, H3225, H8040 is connected to 1,148 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew phrase. moral or practical ignorance; lack of discernment
Source Gloss
moral or practical ignorance; lack of discernment
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 8 Aligned forms 557
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 493×
Perfect 1Kgs 17:24 · 1Sam 17:28 · 1Sam 17:55 · 1Sam 20:30 · 1Sam 22:22 · 1Sam 24:21 · 1Sam 25:11 · 1Sam 29:9 · 2Chr 2:7 · 2Chr 25:16 · 2Kgs 2:3 · 2Kgs 2:5 · 2Kgs 4:9 · 2Kgs 5:15 · 2Kgs 8:12 · 2Kgs 19:27 291×
Imperfect 1Kgs 2:37 · 1Kgs 2:42 · 1Kgs 8:39 · 1Sam 28:1 · 1Sam 28:2 · 2Chr 6:30 · Deut 20:20 · Eccl 11:2 · Eccl 11:5 · Exod 7:17 · Exod 8:6 · Exod 8:18 · Exod 9:14 · Exod 9:29 · Exod 10:7 · Ezek 38:14 94×
Participle active 1Chr 12:33 · 1Kgs 5:20 · 1Kgs 9:27 · 1Sam 16:16 · 1Sam 16:18 · 1Sam 23:17 · 1Sam 26:12 · 2Chr 2:7 · 2Chr 2:11 · 2Chr 2:12 · 2Chr 2:13 · 2Chr 8:18 · 2Kgs 17:26 · 2Sam 12:22 · 2Sam 17:10 · Amos 5:16 66×
Sequential imperfect 1Chr 28:9 · 1Sam 20:7 · 1Sam 24:12 · 2Sam 24:13 · Gen 20:7 · Jer 15:15 · Job 5:27 · 1Kgs 20:7 · 2Kgs 5:7 · 2Kgs 10:10 · Jer 31:34 · Job 19:6 · Judg 18:14 · Ps 100:3 · 1Sam 25:17 · Jer 2:23 17×
Infinitive absolute 1Kgs 2:37 · 1Kgs 2:42 · 1Sam 20:3 · 1Sam 20:9 · 1Sam 28:1 · Gen 15:13 · Jer 26:15 · Jer 42:19 · Jer 42:22 · Josh 23:13 · Prov 27:23 11×
Jussive 1Sam 20:3 · 1Sam 21:3 · Jer 36:19 · Jer 38:24 · Josh 22:22 · Isa 6:9 · Prov 27:23 7×
Infinitive construct 1Kgs 8:60 · Ezek 38:16 · Jer 9:5 · Josh 4:24 · Mic 6:5 5×
Cohortative Job 23:5 · Ps 39:5 2×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 29×
Perfect 1Sam 22:6 · 2Sam 17:19 · Deut 21:1 · Exod 2:14 · Exod 21:36 · Gen 41:21 · Judg 16:9 · Nah 3:17 · Neh 4:9 · Ps 9:17 · Ps 48:4 · Exod 6:3 · Ezek 20:9 · Ps 77:20 14×
Imperfect Exod 33:16 · Ezek 36:32 · Gen 41:31 · Jer 28:9 · Prov 10:9 · Prov 12:16 · Ps 74:5 · Zech 14:7 · Prov 14:33 9×
Jussive 1Kgs 18:36 · Ps 79:10 · Ruth 3:14 · Ruth 3:3 4×
Participle active Prov 31:23 · Ps 76:2 2×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 26×
Perfect 1Kgs 1:27 · Job 26:3 · Neh 9:14 · Ps 77:15 · Ezek 20:11 · Hos 5:9 · Ezek 22:26 · Neh 8:12 · Ps 98:2 9×
Sequential imperfect Ezek 16:2 · Ezek 43:11 · Prov 9:9 · Ps 90:12 · 1Chr 16:8 · Isa 12:4 · Ps 105:1 7×
Imperfect Ezek 39:7 · Ps 89:2 · Isa 38:19 · Ps 103:7 · Job 32:7 5×
Cohortative Isa 5:5 · Prov 1:23 2×
Infinitive construct Gen 41:39 1×
Jussive Hab 3:2 1×
Participle active Isa 47:13 1×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 2×
Participle passive Isa 12:5 · Ruth 2:1 2×
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 2×
Perfect Job 38:12 2×
Hophal causative passive — the subject is caused to perform the action 3×
Perfect Lev 4:23 · Lev 4:28 2×
Participle passive Isa 12:5 1×
Poel 1×
Perfect 1Sam 21:3 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 1×
Imperfect Num 12:6 1×
Word Origins
לֹא־יָדַע בֵּין־יְמִינוֹ לִשְׂמֹאלוֹ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain