Lexical Summary
binah: understanding, discernment, clearly
Original Word:בִּינָה
Part of Speech:Noun Feminine
Transliteration:biynah
Pronunciation:bee-NAH
Phonetic Spelling:(bee-naw')
KJV: knowledge, meaning, X perfectly, understanding, wisdom
NASB:understanding, discernment, clearly, consideration, truth, understand, understands
Word Origin:[fromH995 (בִּין - understand)]
1. understanding
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
knowledge, meaning, perfectly, understanding, wisdom
Frombiyn; understanding -- knowledge, meaning, X perfectly, understanding, wisdom.
see HEBREWbiyn
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
binDefinitionan understanding
NASB Translationclearly (1), consideration (1), discernment (3), truth (1), understand (1), understanding (29), understands (1), understood (1).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
1 Chronicles 12:32 28t.; construct
Proverbs 30:2;
Isaiah 29:14; suffix
Job 20:3 4t.; plural
Isaiah 27:11; —
the actIsaiah 33:19;Jeremiah 23:20;Daniel 1:20;Daniel 8:15;Daniel 9:22;Daniel 10:1.
the facultyJob 20:3;Job 39:26;Proverbs 3:5;Proverbs 23:4;Proverbs 30:2;Isaiah 27:11;get understandingProverbs 4:5,7;Proverbs 16:16.
the object of knowledgeDeuteronomy 4:6;1 Chronicles 22:12;Job 28:12,20,28;Job 34:16;Job 38:36;Job 39:17;Proverbs 9:6,10;Proverbs 23:23;Isaiah 11:2;Isaiah 29:14;1 Chronicles 12:32; 2Chron 2:11; 2 Chronicles 2:12;Job 38:4;Proverbs 1:2;Proverbs 4:1;Isaiah 29:24.
Proverbs 2:8;Proverbs 7:4;Proverbs 8:14.
(Biblical Hebrew; √; , Syriac
); — absoluteDaniel 2:21.
Topical Lexicon
Definition and Scope of Meaningבִּינָה (binah) encompasses intellectual discernment, moral insight, and the God-given capacity to grasp the implications of truth. It is more than knowledge; it is the ability to differentiate, to weigh, and to choose rightly in light of God’s revelation.
Occurrences and Literary Distribution
Binah appears about thirty-eight times, concentrated in the Wisdom corpus but attested across Torah, Historical, and Prophetic books. Its distribution underscores a consistent biblical witness: understanding is indispensable for covenant life, national leadership, prophetic insight, and personal piety.
Binah in the Wisdom Literature
1. Proverbs gives binah programmatic status. It is personified as a companion of Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1-14) and portrayed as something to cry out for (Proverbs 2:3). “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6).
2. Ecclesiastes balances this emphasis by showing the limitations of human understanding apart from God (Ecclesiastes 10:3; 12:13).
3. Job highlights binah as belonging ultimately to the Creator: “God understands the way to wisdom, and He knows its location” (Job 28:23).
Binah in the Mosaic Law and Historical Books
1. The craftsmanship of the tabernacle relies on Spirit-imbued binah (Exodus 31:3; 35:31). Understanding thus equips artisans to translate divine design into tangible worship.
2. InDeuteronomy 4:6, compliance with the statutes will display Israel’s “wisdom and understanding” before the nations, linking covenant obedience with evangelistic testimony.
3. Kingship requires binah. Solomon requests “an understanding heart to govern Your people” (1 Kings 3:9), and his judgment in the case of the two mothers (1 Kings 3:16-28) illustrates how binah protects life and establishes justice.
Prophetic Employments of Binah
1. Isaiah announces the coming Shoot of Jesse upon whom will rest “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding” (Isaiah 11:2), setting binah at the center of messianic qualifications.
2.Isaiah 29:14 warns that the “understanding of the prudent will vanish” when people reject God’s counsel, revealing the moral dimension of binah: it thrives only in submission to divine truth.
3. Daniel is distinguished by “understanding in all visions and dreams” (Daniel 1:17), pointing to binah as essential for deciphering God’s unfolding plan in history.
Theological Themes Associated with Binah
• Divine source: Binah originates with the Lord; human grasp is derivative (Proverbs 2:6).
• Covenant stewardship: Proper understanding safeguards worship purity (Exodus 31) and societal justice (1 Kings 3).
• Revelation dependence: Prophetic binah interprets God’s acts and words (Daniel 9:22).
• Moral accountability: To lack understanding is to court ruin (Proverbs 10:13;Hosea 4:14).
Binah and the Character of God
Scripture attributes binah to God as an eternal perfection: “By His understanding He made the heavens” (Jeremiah 10:12). Creation itself attests that the universe is structured by divine insight, rendering folly a rebellion against reality.
Binah in Messianic Expectation
Isaiah 11:2–4 links binah with the Messiah’s Spirit-anointed rule: “He will delight in the fear of the LORD, and He will not judge by what His eyes see.” Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry manifests this promised understanding, reading hearts (Mark 2:8) and expounding Scriptures (Luke 24:45). The apostolic proclamation identifies Him as “wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30), fulfilling the Old Testament longing for perfect binah.
Practical and Ministry Applications
1. Preaching and teaching: Faithful exposition seeks to impart binah, enabling hearers to discern truth from error (Nehemiah 8:8).
2. Discipleship: Believers are commanded, “with all your getting, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). Bible intake, prayer, and obedience cultivate Spirit-wrought insight.
3. Leadership: Elders must demonstrate binah in shepherding (cf.Titus 1:9). Decision-making requires the capacity to integrate biblical principles with situational complexities.
4. Counseling: Biblical care depends on understanding both the Word and the counselee, applying truth “fitly spoken” (Proverbs 25:11).
5. Evangelism: An informed grasp of redemptive history equips believers to “give an answer” with clarity and conviction (1 Peter 3:15).
Summary
Binah presents a comprehensive biblical vision of understanding that is intellectual, moral, and spiritual. Rooted in the character of God, realized supremely in Christ, and mediated by the Holy Spirit, it equips God’s people to live wisely, serve faithfully, and proclaim the gospel effectively.
Forms and Transliterations
בִ֝ינָ֗ה בִּ֝ינָ֗ה בִּ֥ינָה בִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗ בִּינָ֑ה בִּינָ֔ה בִּינָ֖ה בִּינָֽה׃ בִּינוֹת֙ בִינַ֖ת בִינָ֑ה בִינָ֔ה בִינָֽה׃ בִינָה֙ בַּבִּינָֽה׃ בבינה׃ בינה בינה׃ בינות בינת בינתך הֲֽ֭מִבִּינָ֣תְךָ המבינתך וּבִ֣ינַתְכֶ֔ם וּבִ֥ינָה וּבִינַ֥ת וּבִינָ֔ה וּבִינָ֗ה וּבִינָֽה׃ ובינה ובינה׃ ובינת ובינתכם לַבִּינָ֣ה לַבִּינָ֥ה לבינה מִֽבִּינָתְךָ֥ מִֽבִּינָתִ֥י מבינתי מבינתך bab·bî·nāh babbiNah babbînāh bî·nā·ṯə·ḵā bî·nāh ḇî·nāh ḇî·naṯ bî·nō·wṯ biNah bînāh ḇînāh ḇînaṯ binatecha bînāṯəḵā binOt bînōwṯ hămib·bî·nā·ṯə·ḵā hamibbiNatecha hămibbînāṯəḵā lab·bî·nāh labbiNah labbînāh mib·bî·nā·ṯə·ḵā mib·bî·nā·ṯî mibbinateCha mibbînāṯəḵā mibbinaTi mibbînāṯî ū·ḇî·nāh ū·ḇî·naṯ ū·ḇî·naṯ·ḵem ūḇînāh ūḇînaṯ ūḇînaṯḵem uviNah uviNat uVinatChem viNah viNat
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