What does תָּבוּן (tebunah) mean in the Bible?
תָּבוּן (tebunah): Practical discernment and wise reasoning applied to concrete situations, distinct from abstract wisdom
Hebrew · H8394
תָּבוּן
Intelligence ; by implication, an argument ; by extension, caprice
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תָּבוּןH8394
Pronunciationtebunah
What does תָּבוּן (tebunah) mean in the Bible?
תָּבוּן (tebunah): Practical discernment and wise reasoning applied to concrete situations, distinct from abstract wisdom
Full entry for תָּבוּן (H8394) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H8394?
The BSB source-word alignment has 42 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include of understanding (6), understanding (6), and understanding (5), by His understanding (3), ability (2).
Where does תָּבוּן (tebunah) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 31:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (19), Job (4), Psalms (4), Exodus (3).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itof understanding6×Proverbs 10:23, Proverbs 11:12, Proverbs 15:21, Proverbs 17:27
understanding6×Deuteronomy 32:28, 1 Kings 7:14, Proverbs 3:13, Proverbs 14:29
and understanding5×Job 12:12, Proverbs 2:6, Proverbs 2:11, Proverbs 8:1
by His understanding3×Job 26:12, Jeremiah 10:12, Jeremiah 51:15
ability2×Exodus 31:3, Exodus 35:31
His understanding2×Psalms 147:5, Isaiah 40:28
to understanding2×Proverbs 2:2, Proverbs 2:3
and ability1×Exodus 36:1
and by understanding1×Proverbs 24:3
and the men of understanding1×Obadiah 1:8
and understanding are His1×Job 12:13
awareness1×Obadiah 1:7
By His insight1×Psalms 136:5
by understanding1×Proverbs 3:19
in understanding1×Proverbs 18:2
insight1×1 Kings 4:29
judgment1×Proverbs 28:16
or insight1×Isaiah 44:19
skillfully made1×Hosea 13:2
to my insight1×Proverbs 5:1
will bring understanding1×Psalms 49:3
with skillful1×Psalms 78:72
your reasoning1×Job 32:11
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 31:3וּבִתְבוּנָ֥הtoabilityConjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularExodus 35:31בִּתְבוּנָ֥הtoabilityPreposition-b | Noun - feminine singularExodus 36:1וּתְבוּנָה֙toand abilityConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularDeuteronomy 32:28תְּבוּנָֽה׃tounderstandingNoun - feminine singular1 Kings 4:29וּתְבוּנָ֖הtoinsightConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular1 Kings 7:14הַתְּבוּנָה֙tounderstandingArticle | Noun - feminine singularJob 12:12תְּבוּנָֽה׃toand understandingNoun - feminine singularJob 12:13וּתְבוּנָֽה׃toand understanding are HisConjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularJob 26:12וּבִתוּבְנָתוֹtoby His understandingConjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singularJob 32:11תְּב֥וּנֹֽתֵיכֶ֑םtoyour reasoningNoun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 31:3
Aligned rows42
Books represented11
Exodus3Deuteronomy11 Kings2Job4Psalms4Proverbs19Isaiah3Jeremiah2Ezekiel1Hosea1Obadiah2
Source forms
תְּבוּנָֽה׃5xtə·ḇū·nāhDeuteronomy 32:28, Job 12:12, Proverbs 3:13, Proverbs 10:23
בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה2xbiṯ·ḇū·nāhPsalms 136:5, Proverbs 18:2
וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ2xū·ḇiṯ·ḇū·nā·ṯōwJeremiah 10:12, Jeremiah 51:15
וּתְבוּנָ֖ה2xū·ṯə·ḇū·nāh1 Kings 4:29, Obadiah 1:8
וּתְבוּנָֽה׃2xū·ṯə·ḇū·nāhJob 12:13, Proverbs 2:6
תְּבוּנָ֑ה2xtə·ḇū·nāhProverbs 14:29, Proverbs 21:30
תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה2xtə·ḇū·nāhProverbs 15:21, Proverbs 19:8
בִּתְבוּנָ֥ה1xbiṯ·ḇū·nāhExodus 35:31
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular13xDeuteronomy 32:28, Job 12:12, Proverbs 2:11, Proverbs 3:13
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular6xExodus 36:1, 1 Kings 4:29, Job 12:13, Proverbs 2:6
Noun - feminine plural4xPsalms 49:3, Proverbs 11:12, Proverbs 28:16, Isaiah 40:14
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular4xExodus 35:31, Psalms 136:5, Proverbs 3:19, Proverbs 18:2
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular3xJob 26:12, Jeremiah 10:12, Jeremiah 51:15
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular2xExodus 31:3, Proverbs 24:3
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular2xPsalms 147:5, Isaiah 40:28
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular2xProverbs 2:2, Proverbs 2:3
Evidence Summary
RevelationWisdom
Hebrew word. Practical discernment and wise reasoning applied to concrete situations, distinct from abstract wisdom
Source Gloss
intelligence ; by implication, an argument ; by extension, caprice
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Practical discernment and wise reasoning applied to concrete situations, distinct from abstract wisdom
intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice BDB: understanding Usage: discretion, reason, skilfulness, 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 insight produced by wisdom
discernment, understanding, or insight
understanding that distinguishes between right and wrong
Showing 3 selected witnesses from 43 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
תָּבוּן is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Understanding reflects the ability to perceive moral and spiritual truth.Proverbs 10:23
True wisdom manifests in careful speech and restraint.Proverbs 11:12
Discernment enables the learner to recognize deceptive temptations.Proverbs 5:1-6
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.