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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בִּינָה H998
Pronunciation binah
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 It and understanding 7× Deuteronomy 4:6, 1 Chronicles 22:12, 2 Chronicles 2:12, Proverbs 23:23
understanding 7× Job 38:36, Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 4:5, Proverbs 4:7
. . . 2× 1 Chronicles 12:32, Job 38:4
does understanding 2× Job 28:12, Job 28:20
[is] understanding 1× Job 28:28
and my understanding 1× Job 20:3
and the intelligence 1× Isaiah 29:14
And the understanding 1× Daniel 10:1
be wise enough 1× Proverbs 23:4
by your understanding 1× Job 39:26
clearly 1× Jeremiah 23:20
have insight 1× Proverbs 8:14
is understanding 1× Proverbs 9:10
of insight 1× Proverbs 1:2
of understanding 1× Proverbs 9:6
the understanding 1× Proverbs 30:2
to insight 1× Proverbs 2:3
to understanding 1× Isaiah 29:24
understand 1× Isaiah 33:19
understand it 1× Daniel 8:15
with creativity 1× 2 Chronicles 2:13
with understanding 1× Job 39:17
you have understanding 1× Job 34:16
your own understanding 1× Proverbs 3:5
Show sample aligned rows
Deuteronomy 4:6 וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם to and understanding Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural 1 Chronicles 12:32 בִינָה֙ to . . . Noun - feminine singular 1 Chronicles 22:12 וּבִינָ֔ה to and understanding Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 2 Chronicles 2:12 וּבִינָ֔ה to and understanding Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 2 Chronicles 2:13 בִּינָ֖ה to with creativity Noun - feminine singular Job 20:3 מִֽבִּינָתִ֥י to and my understanding Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular Job 28:12 בִּינָֽה׃ to does understanding Noun - feminine singular Job 28:20 בִּינָֽה׃ to does understanding Noun - feminine singular Job 28:28 בִּינָֽה׃ס to [is] understanding Noun - feminine singular Job 34:16 בִּ֥ינָה to you have understanding Noun - feminine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Deuteronomy 4:6
Aligned rows 38
Books represented 8
Deuteronomy 1 1 Chronicles 2 2 Chronicles 2 Job 9 Proverbs 14 Isaiah 5 Jeremiah 1 Daniel 4
Source forms
בִּינָֽה׃ 7x bî·nāh Job 28:12, Job 28:20, Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 9:6
בִינָֽה׃ 5x ḇî·nāh Job 38:4, Job 38:36, Proverbs 1:2, Proverbs 4:7
וּבִינָ֔ה 2x ū·ḇî·nāh 1 Chronicles 22:12, 2 Chronicles 2:12
בַּבִּינָֽה׃ 1x bab·bî·nāh Job 39:17
בִינָה֙ 1x ḇî·nāh 1 Chronicles 12:32
בִינָ֑ה 1x ḇî·nāh Proverbs 4:5
בִ֝ינָ֗ה 1x ḇî·nāh Proverbs 8:14
בִינָ֔ה 1x ḇî·nāh Daniel 8:15
Parsing patterns
Noun - feminine singular 22x 1 Chronicles 12:32, 2 Chronicles 2:13, Job 28:12, Job 28:20
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular 5x 1 Chronicles 22:12, 2 Chronicles 2:12, Proverbs 23:23, Isaiah 11:2
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular 2x Proverbs 2:3, Proverbs 7:4
Article, Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular 1x Job 39:26
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct 1x Isaiah 29:14
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural 1x Deuteronomy 4:6
Noun - feminine plural 1x Isaiah 27:11
Noun - feminine singular construct 1x Proverbs 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 definition Source: 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
Revelation Wisdom
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.
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