בִּינָה (bi.nah)
bi.nah
understanding
A:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-F
Word Overview
The Aramaic noun binah denotes understanding or discernment, appearing only once in Scripture at Daniel 2:21. In this context, it is attributed to God as the source that gives wisdom and knowledge to those He chooses. The term highlights a divine capacity for deep insight rather than mere intellectual accumulation.
This word is the Aramaic equivalent of the Hebrew binah (H0998), sharing the same core meaning. Its singular occurrence in Daniel underscores the theme that true understanding originates from God alone, particularly in situations where human wisdom falls short. The text presents this discernment as a gift bestowed by the sovereign Creator.
Translators typically render binah as "understanding" or "discernment," reflecting its focus on the ability to perceive and judge correctly. By using this term, the biblical author emphasizes that insight is not merely a human achievement but a revelation granted by God to those who seek His will.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face situations that seem impossible to solve, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by our own limited perspective. The word binah reminds us that true insight is not something we manufacture through sheer effort or intelligence. Instead, it is a gift given by God, who alone holds the power to change times and seasons.
In Daniel 2:21, we see this truth clearly stated. God gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. This means that when you are seeking clarity in a difficult decision or trying to make sense of a confusing season, you do not need to rely solely on your own resources. You can look to the Creator, who provides discernment to those who seek Him.
This perspective brings comfort because it shifts the burden from our shoulders to His. We are invited to trust that God sees what we cannot and knows what we do not. By asking for His guidance, we open ourselves to receive the understanding needed to navigate life with peace and confidence.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- <of> discernment1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בִינָֽה\׃1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 2:21
He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding.
This verse explicitly links God's sovereignty over history with His role as the giver of binah, showing that discernment is a divine gift rather than a human achievement.