Lexical Summary
bayin: Between, among, interval, space
Original Word:בֵּין
Part of Speech:substantive; preposition
Transliteration:beyn
Pronunciation:bah'-yin
Phonetic Spelling:(bane)
KJV: among, asunder, at, between (-twixtand), + from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it beor), within
NASB:between, among, midst, either, once, or, whether
Word Origin:[(properly) the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun fromH995 (בִּין - understand)]
1. a distinction
2. (but used only as a prep) between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles)
3. (also as a conjunction) either...or
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
among, asunder, at, between twixt
(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly, the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun frombiyn; a distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or -- among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), + from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.
see HEBREWbiyn
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
binDefinitionan interval, space between
NASB Translationabove* (1), among (30), among* (1), between (204), champion* (2), either (2), forehead* (5), midst (3), once (1), or (1), whether (1), within (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[] properly (
id.) — construct once
Isaiah 44:4 (Baer) , , , , (
Joshua 3:4;
Joshua 8:11 Qr); with plural suffix in plural form (), etc.; also
Ezekiel 10:2 (twice in verse);
Ezekiel 10:6 (twice in verse);
Ezekiel 10:7 (twice in verse) (+
Ezekiel 1:13 Hi Ew etc. for ),
Genesis 26:28;
Joshua 22:34;
Judges 11:10,
Genesis 42:23;
2 Samuel 21:7;
Jeremiah 25:16; dual (see below); —
always (except dual) as
, between (so Aramaic , & plural ,
,
;
), asGenesis 15:17between the pieces,Exodus 13:9 and elsewherebetween thy eyes (see ),Isaiah 22:11 and elsewherebetween the two walls (see ),Job 24:11;Job 30:7;Job 40:30 part himbetween merchants; rather more GenerallyamongHosea 13:15;Songs 2:2,3;Ezekiel 19:2;Ezekiel 31:3;Job 34:37; less exactlywithinProverbs 26:13 a lion iswithin the board places (compareProverbs 23:13 ): once with a singular (unusual)Daniel 8:16between the Ulai, i.e. between its banks. When the space separating two distinct objects is to be indicated, this is done
, asGenesis 13:3 literallyin the interval of Bethel, andin the interval of `Ai, i.e.between Betheland `Ai,Genesis 16:14;Genesis 17:7;Genesis 31:50,51 #NAME?
,Genesis 1:6 dividing literallyin the interval of waterswith reference to waters, i.e.between the watersand the waters,Leviticus 20:25;Leviticus 27:33;Deuteronomy 17:8 (3 t. in verse);2 Samuel 19:36;1 Kings 3:9;Ezekiel 41:18;Ezekiel 42:20;Ezekiel 44:23 (twice in verse);Jonah 4:11;Malachi 3:18 (twice in verse); 2Chron 14:10.
byJoel 2:17.
byIsaiah 59:2. is used not only of actual locality, but also with verbs of dividing (figurative)Genesis 1:14;Leviticus 10:10, and of judging, knowing, teaching, etc., if the idea ofdistinguishing be involved, asGenesis 16:5;2 Samuel 19:36 can I discernbetween good and evil ?1 Kings 3:9;Jonah 4:11;Genesis 31:49 (watchbetween),Judges 11:10 (hear),Joshua 22:27 (witness),Isaiah 2:4 and he shall judge (arbitrate)between the nations,Isaiah 5:3;Leviticus 27:33;Ezekiel 44:23;Malachi 3:18; 2Chron 14:10 (see RV); and in other metaphoric applications, as of a covenant or signbetween two contracting parties,Genesis 9:12,15;Exodus 31:13 +; or an oathGenesis 26:28;2 Samuel 21:7; enmity or strifeGenesis 3:15;Genesis 13:7;Deuteronomy 25:1;Proverbs 6:19; peace1 Kings 5:26; good-willProverbs 14:9. — It is used oftime in the phrase of P (see below ), &Nehemiah 5:18during the interval often days, i.e. every ten days (unusual).With other prepositions: —
, after a verb implying motion,in between, in amongEzekiel 31:10,14. So ib.Ezekiel 10:2.
Isaiah 44:4in the midst of, amongst ( Ew Di Che ).
nearly asEzekiel 19:11
from between:Genesis 49:10 nor the ruler's stafffrom between his feet (where, as the king sits in state, he holds it),Exodus 25:22from between the cherubim (soNumbers 7:89),Hosea 2:4;Zechariah 6:1;Zechariah 9:7;Deuteronomy 28:57 the after-birth that cometh forthfrom between her feet, i.e. from her womb (compare Il. 19. 10 ) Repeated2 Kings 16:14 to specify the two objectsfrom between which a thing is moved.Ezekiel 47:18 is difficult and uncertain: see Commentaries Less preciselyfrom, the midst of:Numbers 17:2out of the midst of the burning,Psalm 104:12from amongst the branches they utter their song,Jeremiah 48:45 and a flamefrom the midst of Sihon (Sihon representing his people: but expression is singular; read perhaps , compareNumbers 21:28 : "" in both passages ),Ezekiel 37:21.
from betweenEzekiel 10:2,6 (twice in verse);Ezekiel 10:7.
space between two armies (= Greek ),1 Samuel 17:4,23man of the , i.e. champion (of Goliath).
feminine of , (NöM 194 f.; Syriac
often, PS470)
betweenEzekiel 41:9b (to be joined withEzekiel 41:10; see RVm), unless indeed a mere error for (which Ezekiel often uses); alsoProverbs 8:2 accusative To () Hi Ew§217 g; andJob 8:17 according to Ew Di1 (Di2undecided).
(Biblical Hebrew [,] ; , , Syriac
,
),Daniel 7:5; with suffix 3plural masculineDaniel 7:7 Kt (Qr 3 plural feminine ).
Topical Lexicon
OverviewUsed about 408 times, בֵּין (“between, among, in the midst of”) frames relationships, distinctions, and mediations throughout the Old Testament. Whether separating light from darkness, holy from common, or friend from foe, the term underscores God-ordained order and the necessity of discernment.
Foundational Themes in Genesis
• Cosmic order: “And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4). The first appearance of בֵּין establishes that creation itself is structured through divinely decreed distinctions.
• Firmament and waters:Genesis 1:6–7,17–18 repeats the motif, showing that everything from the heavens to the seasons functions by God’s deliberate placing of boundaries.
• Covenant ratification: InGenesis 15:17 a “smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the pieces,” prefiguring God’s unilateral commitment to His promises.
• Human relations: Jacob and Laban raise a heap as a witness “between you and me” (Genesis 31:49), demonstrating that בֵּין also marks relational accountability.
Covenantal Mediation
בֵּין frequently links God and His people in covenant signs:
• The rainbow “between Me and the earth” (Genesis 9:12–17).
• The sign of circumcision “between Me and you” (Genesis 17:7,10-14).
• The Sabbath “between Me and the Israelites” as a perpetual sign (Exodus 31:16-17).
These uses highlight that in every covenant God Himself stands in the middle, both guarantor and guardian.
Distinction in Worship and Holiness
Israel’s sacrificial system and purity laws train the conscience to discern.
• Priestly charge: “You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean” (Leviticus 10:10; cf. 11:47; 20:25).
• Ezekiel laments priests who “do not distinguish between the holy and the common” (Ezekiel 22:26), whereas future priests “shall teach My people the difference” (Ezekiel 44:23).
בֵּין therefore anchors the doctrine of holiness: God is separate, so His people must learn to live distinct lives.
Judicial and Social Applications
Because justice hinges on right distinctions, בֵּין is prominent in legal settings:
• Moses judges “between a man and his neighbor” (Exodus 18:16).
• Deuteronomy directs complex cases to the sanctuary courts that will decide “between blood and blood, between plea and plea, between assault and assault” (Deuteronomy 17:8-9).
• Solomon’s celebrated verdict turns on discerning “between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9,28).
Right judgment models God’s own impartiality and protects covenant community life.
Spatial and Military Contexts
בֵּין marks strategic positioning:
• The angelic pillar “came between the camps of Egypt and Israel” (Exodus 14:20), shielding God’s people.
• The Ark’s advance kept “a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the Ark” (Joshua 3:4), a tangible reminder of divine holiness.
• Battle narratives speak of terrain “between the two armies” (1 Samuel 17:4), showing how geography can decide outcomes theologically guided.
Temporal and Eschatological Uses
The Passover lamb is slaughtered “between the evenings” (Exodus 12:6), pinpointing sacred time. The prophets expand the idea: “Then you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked” (Malachi 3:18). Final judgment will expose true allegiance, fulfilling every provisional distinction already embedded in history.
Typological and Christological Implications
בֵּין anticipates mediation. Priests, sacrifices, and covenant signs all occupy the space “between” God and humanity, foreshadowing “one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Where sin created a gulf, Christ stands in the middle, reconciling and uniting (cf.2 Corinthians 5:18-20;Ephesians 2:14-16).
Pastoral Reflections and Ministry Application
1. Discernment: Churches must teach believers to “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), echoing Levitical distinctions.
2. Mediation: Intercessory prayer and evangelism place the servant of God “between the living and the dead” (Numbers 16:48), urging the lost to reconciliation.
3. Holiness: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, covenantal signs within the new covenant, mark the boundary between the church and the world.
4. Unity with purity: While the gospel breaks dividing walls, it never erases God-given moral lines; rather, it aligns them with Christ’s life and teaching.
Thus בֵּין, quietly threading through narrative, law, poetry, and prophecy, summons every generation to perceive God’s boundaries, honor His presence, and participate in His reconciling work.
Forms and Transliterations
בְּבֵ֣ין בֵּ֖ין בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ין בֵּ֣ין ׀ בֵּ֤ין בֵּ֥ין בֵּ֥ן בֵּ֧ין בֵּ֪ין בֵּֽין־ בֵּֽינְךָ֙ בֵּֽינֵיהֶ֑ם בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙ בֵּֽינֹתֵ֔ינוּ בֵּֽינֹתָ֔ם בֵּֽינוֹתֵ֔ינוּ בֵּין־ בֵּינ֕וֹ בֵּינ֖וֹ בֵּינ֣וֹת בֵּינ֨וֹת בֵּינְךָ֖ בֵּינְךָ֜ בֵּינִ֕י בֵּינִ֖י בֵּינִ֗י בֵּינִ֣י בֵּינִ֤י בֵּינִ֥י בֵּינִי֙ בֵּינֵ֖ינוּ בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ בֵּינֵ֨נוּ בֵּינֵיהֶֽם׃ בֵּינֵיכֶ֣ם ׀ בֵּינֵיכֶֽם׃ בֵּינֵכֶ֕ם בֵּינֹתָֽם׃ בֵּינוֹתֵ֖ינוּ בֵֽינֵיהֶֽם׃ בֵין־ בֵינֵ֔ינוּ בֵינֵ֣ינוּ בֵּינָ֥יו בבין בין בין־ בינו בינות בינותינו ביני ביניהם ביניהם׃ ביניו ביניכם ביניכם׃ בינינו בינך בינכם ביננו בינתינו בינתם בינתם׃ בן וּבֵ֕ין וּבֵ֖ין וּבֵ֛ין וּבֵ֣ין וּבֵ֣ין ׀ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֤ין וּבֵ֥ין וּבֵ֨ין וּבֵֽין־ וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ וּבֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם וּבֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ וּבֵין֙ וּבֵין־ וּבֵינְךָ֖ וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃ וּבֵינֵיכֶ֗ם וּבֵינֵיכֶ֜ם וּבֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵינֶֽיׅךָ׃ וּבֵינֶֽךָ׃ וּבֵינָ֔יו וּמִבֵּ֖ין וּמִבֵּ֨ין וּמִבֵּין־ ובין ובין־ וביניהם וביניו וביניך וביניכם וביניכם׃ ובינך ובינך׃ ומבין ומבין־ לְבֵ֖ין לבין מִבֵּ֖ין מִבֵּ֣ין מִבֵּ֥ין מִבֵּין֙ מִבֵּינ֖וֹת מִבֵּינ֣וֹת מבין מבינות bə·ḇên bê·nāw bê·nê·hem ḇê·nê·hem bê·nə·ḵā bê·nê·ḵem bê·nê·nū ḇê·nê·nū bê·nî bê·nō·ṯām bê·nō·ṯê·nū bê·nō·w·ṯê·nū bê·nō·wṯ bê·nōw bəḇên bein beiNav beineCha beineChem beineiChem beineiHem beiNeinu beiNenu beiNi beiNo beiNot beinoTam beinoTeinu ben bên bên- ḇên- bênāw bênêhem ḇênêhem bênəḵā bênêḵem bênênū ḇênênū bênî bênōṯām bênōṯênū bênōw bênōwṯ bênōwṯênū beVein lə·ḇên ləḇên leVein mib·bê·nō·wṯ mib·bên mibBein mibbeiNot mibbên mibbênōwṯ ū·ḇê·nāw ū·ḇê·nê·hem ū·ḇê·ne·ḵā ū·ḇê·nə·ḵā ū·ḇê·nê·ḵem ū·ḇê·nêḵ ū·ḇên ū·ḇên- ū·mib·bên ū·mib·bên- ūḇên ūḇên- ūḇênāw ūḇênêhem ūḇênêḵ ūḇêneḵā ūḇênəḵā ūḇênêḵem umibBein ūmibbên ūmibbên- uVein uveiNav uveiNech uveiNecha uveiNeicha uVeineiChem uveineiHem vein VeineiHem veiNeinu
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