Bible Word Study
בִּינָה
bîynâh · null
בִּינָה
Definition
Bîynâh (בִּינָה) refers to a deep, discerning understanding or insight, often granted by God. It is the capacity to grasp the true meaning or significance of things, particularly divine wisdom and the interpretation of mysteries. In its sole biblical occurrence in Daniel 2:21, it is paired with 'wisdom' (חָכְמָה, chokhmah) as something God gives and changes, specifically in the context of revealing the meaning of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It appears in Daniel 2:21, where Daniel praises God who 'gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge [דַּעַת, daʿath] to those who have understanding [בִּינָה, bîynâh].' Here, it is used in a context of divine revelation and the interpretation of dreams, highlighting it as a God-given faculty for comprehending hidden truths.
Etymology
Bîynâh is the Aramaic form corresponding to the Hebrew noun בִּינָה (H998, bîynâh). Both derive from the root בִּין (byn), meaning 'to discern, understand, or consider.' This root conveys the idea of separating or distinguishing between things to gain clarity. The Aramaic form is used in the biblical text specifically in the chapters written in that language.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it represents understanding as a divine gift, not merely human intellectual achievement. In Daniel 2:21, it is part of a constellation of gifts—wisdom, knowledge, and understanding—that God sovereignly bestows to reveal His purposes, especially regarding kingdoms and future events. It underscores that true spiritual insight into God's plans comes from Him alone, enriching our reading by highlighting our dependence on God for comprehension of Scripture and His work in the world. In the ancient Near Eastern context of Daniel, dreams were considered significant messages from the divine realm, and their interpretation required special, divinely granted insight. The pairing of bîynâh with wisdom (chokhmah) in Daniel 2:21 reflects a common cultural and biblical linking of these concepts, but here it is specifically applied to understanding the cryptic visions that reveal the succession of empires and God's ultimate sovereignty. חָכְמָה (chokhmah, H2451) — practical skill or wisdom; often paired with bîynâh but broader in application. דַּעַת (daʿath, H1847) — knowledge or awareness, sometimes experiential. שֶׂכֶל (sekhel, H7922) — insight, prudence, or good sense.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]