Bin/Vin: Understanding

To understand/discern: bin/vin- verb (Strong’s 995); binah: feminine noun (Strong’s 998); ta-vuhn, masculine noun (Strong’s 8394).

Root: בִּין

Sounds like: been/veen

Defining Bin/Vin

Bin/vin can be translated in a variety of ways: understanding, discernment, skill. It’s the idea that you take something and you master it. You are devoted to understanding how it works and functions so that you really really get it. For example, this word was reliably used to describe singers and craftsmen:

1 Chronicles 25:7-8 (see also Exodus 35:30-35)

Their number who were trained in singing to YHWH, with their relatives, all who were skillful [discerning: ha-mey-vin הַ֨מֵּבִ֔ין], was 288. They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher [the discerning one: mey-vin מֵבִ֖ין] as well as the pupil.

These were people who mastered their craft. They were experts. This is the definition that we should attach to the Hebrew word bin/vin. The discerning ones skillfully understood the details. 

The Discerning Ones

There were three people in the Bible who were specifically highlighted as individuals of discernment. Let’s start with…

Joseph:

Pharaoh was looking for someone to oversee the land of Egypt in preparation for the upcoming famine. He requested “a man discerning [na’vohn נָב֣וֹן] and wise” (Genesis 41:33). Joseph, who had the skill of dream interpretation, was chosen:

Genesis 41:38-40

Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom there is a divine spirit?” 

So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one as discerning [na’vohn נָב֥וֹן] and wise as you are. You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people shall be obedient to you; only regarding the throne will I be greater than you.”

Joseph’s desire to fully understand YHWH, and be his representative on earth, elevated him, remarkably,  into a place of power without even trying. The gift of discernment gave him the gift of social influence.

Daniel:

Daniel, like Joseph, had the skill of understanding dreams and visions:

Daniel 9:20-23

[Daniel:] While I was still speaking and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my plea before YHWH my God in behalf of the holy mountain of my God, while I was still speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering. And he instructed me [gave me understanding: wai-ya-ven וַיָּ֖בֶן] and talked with me and said, “Daniel, I have come now to give you insight with understanding [vinah בִינָֽה]. At the beginning of your pleas the command was issued, and I have come to tell you, because you are highly esteemed; and so pay attention to understand [u-vin וּבִין֙] the message and gain understanding [w-ha-ven וְהָבֵ֖ן] in the vision.

As a result of Daniel’s passionate prayer life, he was given the gift of understanding. That’s a lesson for all of us.

David:

Saul had heard the rumours about young David’s musical gift and his “discerning speech”, and he requested that David attend him in his court as an armour bearer:

1 Samuel 16:17-21

So Saul said to his servants, “Now select for me a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” 

Then one of the young men responded and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is a skillful musician, a valiant mighty man, a warrior, skillful discerning [u-n’vohn וּנְב֥וֹן] in speech, and a handsome man; and YHWH is with him.” 

So Saul sent messengers to Jesse to say, “Send me your son David, who is with the flock.” And Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread and a jug of wine, and he took a young goat, and sent them to Saul by his son David. Then David came to Saul and attended him; and Saul greatly loved him, and he became his armour bearer.

Saul wisely chose David because of his discernment, and for the same reason YHWH chose David to be the king of His people:

Psalm 78:70-72

He also chose His servant David and took him from the sheepfolds; from the care of the ewes with nursing lambs He brought him to shepherd Jacob His people, and Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful [discerning: u-vit’vunoht וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת] hands (palms).

Another person we may think of as a man of discernment was Solomon. This was a gift that David, Solomon’s father, wished for his son:

1 Chronicles 22:11-13

[David to Solomon:] Now, my son, YHWH be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of YHWH your God just as He has spoken concerning you. Only YHWH give you insight and understanding [u-vinah וּבִינָ֔ה], and put you in charge of Israel, so that you may keep the Law of YHWH your God. Then you will prosper, if you are careful to follow the statutes and the ordinances which YHWH commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.

Solomon, perhaps remembering his father’s words, famously asked God for discernment and wisdom to hear and obey justice, above all else:

1 Kings 3:9-12

[Solomon to YHWH:] “So give Your servant an understanding [listening] heart to judge Your people, to discern [l-ha-vin לְהָבִ֖ין] between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this great people of Yours?”

Now it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself a long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the lives of your enemies, but have asked for yourself the discernment [ha-vin הָבִ֖ין] to understand hear/obey justice, behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning [w-navohn וְנָב֔וֹן] heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.”

Solomon sought wisdom and received it, but he didn’t seem to harness the skill of  deeply understanding it. In fact, at the end of his life he lamented that it was all meaningless. In his writings known as Ecclesiastes, he only used the word for discernment once to describe how it did nothing for him:

Ecclesiastes 9:11

I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning [la-n-vohnim לַנְּבֹנִים֙], nor favour to the skillful knowledgeable/perceptive; for time and chance overtake them all.

Discernment, I would argue, did nothing for Solomon because he didn’t have it. He was given great wisdom but, in the end, he didn’t hone the skill to truly master and understand it.

YHWH is the Most Understanding

YHWH, of course, is the epitome of discernment, understanding, and skill. With great, all-knowing, expertise YHWH created the universe:

Psalm 136:1-5

Give thanks to YHWH, for He is good, for His faithfulness is everlasting.

Give thanks to the God of gods, for His faithfulness is everlasting.

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His faithfulness is everlasting.

To Him who alone does great wonders, for His faithfulness is everlasting.

To Him who made the heavens with skill [with understanding: bit-vunah בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה], for His faithfulness is everlasting…

Jeremiah 10:11-12 (repeated in Jeremiah 51:51)

This is what you shall say to them: “The gods that did not make the heavens and the earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens. It is He who made the earth by His power, who established the world by His wisdom; and by His understanding [u-vit-vunatow וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ] He has stretched out the heavens.”

It is good for humans to strive for discernment, but our understanding has its limits. YHWH’s understanding, however, has no limits:

Psalm 147:5

Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding [li-t’vunahtow לִ֝תְבוּנָת֗וֹ] is infinite.

YHWH not only understands how everything works and is put together, He completely understands each and every soul of His creation:

Psalm 139:1-4 (see also 1 Chronicles 28:9-10)

[David:] YHWH, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I get up; You understand [ban’tah בַּ֥נְתָּה] my thought from far away.

You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, YHWH, You know it all.

God knows us all, and so it is good and wise to call out to God in prayer during our times of suffering:

Psalm 5:1-2

[David:] Listen to my words, YHWH, consider understand [binah בִּ֣ינָה] my groaning. Listen to the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray.

Job: Struggling to Understand

Job, in his suffering, desperately wanted to understand what was going on. He sought out the All-Knowing God and tried to understand Him:

Job 28:20-28

[Job to YHWH:] “Where then does wisdom come from? And where is this place of understanding [binah בִּינָֽה]? It is hidden from the eyes of every living creature, and concealed from the birds of the sky. Abaddon and Death say, ‘With our ears we have heard a report of it.’

God understands [hey-vin הֵבִ֣ין] its way, and He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth; He sees everything under the heavens.

When He imparted weight to the wind, and assessed the waters by measure, when He made a limit for the rain, and a course for the thunderbolt, then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out.

And to mankind He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to turn away from evil is understanding [binah בִּינָֽה].’”

Job knew, in his heart, that all this was true, but he struggled to understand YHWH’s character. Job had been a devoted follower of YHWH, but his life was pretty much a disaster. He lost his home, his children, his livelihood, and his health. Searching for the meaning of his horrible fate, he started to question YHWH’s love. Was this God a cruel master that found joy in tearing Job’s life apart? 

Job had no idea what was happening to him. He didn’t know that there was a cosmic battle between God and the Adversary, and that he was in the middle of it. He could have given up and become apathetic to his fate, but he didn’t. In his suffering, Job cried out to God with genuine and sometimes uncomfortable and accusatory questions. God patiently listened to Job’s agonizing prayers. He heard Job’s thoughts and responded with mercy:

Job 38:4-7, 17-20, 36

[God to Job:] “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding [vinah בִינָֽה], Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the measuring line over it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?…

…“Have the gates of death been revealed to you, and have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you understood [hit-bonan’ta הִ֭תְבֹּנַנְתָּ] the expanse of the earth? Tell Me, if you know all this.

Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And darkness, where is its place, that you would take it to its territory, and discern [ta-vin תָ֝בִ֗ין] the paths to its home?…

…“Who has put wisdom in the innermost being, or given understanding [vinah בִינָֽה] to the mind?”

After YHWH outlined His incredible connection to the creation of the earth, Job felt the weight of his accusations and repented:

Job 42:1-3

[Job to YHWH:] “I know that You can do all things, and that no plan is impossible for You.

‘Who is this who conceals advice without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand [a’vin אָבִ֑ין], things too wonderful for me, which I do not know. ‘Please listen, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefore I retract, and I repent, sitting on dust and ashes.”

Job didn’t understand, but he asked to be taught (“instruct me”). We should do the same. There is much we don’t understand but if humbly we ask for discernment, YHWH can, and will, provide:

Isaiah 40:28-31

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, YHWH, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding [skillful discernment: lit’vunatow לִתְבוּנָתֽוֹ] is unsearchable.

He gives strength to the weary, and to the one who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for YHWH will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

A Nation with No Understanding

When Israel turned away from YHWH and became idol worshippers, one of the most common ways to describe them was as a nation with no understanding:

Deuteronomy 32:28-29

“For they are a nation destitute of counsel, and there is no understanding [t’vunah תְּבוּנָֽה] in them. If only they were wise and had insight in this, they would discern [yavinu יָבִ֖ינוּ] their future!”

Jeremiah 4:22

[YHWH:] “For My people are foolish, they do not know Me; they are foolish children and have no understanding [w-lo n’bohnim וְלֹ֥א נְבֹונִ֖ים]. They are shrewd at doing evil, but they do not know how to do good.”

Proverbs 28:5-7, 11-12, 16

Evil people do not understand [lo ya-vinu לֹא־יָבִ֣ינוּ] justice, but those who seek YHWH understand everything [ya-vinu kohl יָבִ֥ינוּ כֹֽל]. Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity, than a person who is crooked, though he is rich. 

He who keeps the Law is a son who has discerning [mey-vin מֵבִ֑ין], but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. 

The rich person is wise in his own eyes, but the poor who has understanding [mey-vin מֵבִ֣ין] sees through him. When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves…

…A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding [t’vunoht תְּ֭בוּנוֹת] but a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Oppressors who boast of their own wisdom, wealth, and high living have no understanding of what YHWH cherishes. Discernment comes from knowing that YHWH is the great provider who takes care of us, leading us in the path of righteousness:

Hosea 14:1-4, 9

Return, Israel, to YHWH your God, for you have stumbled because of your wrongdoing. Take words with you and return to YHWH. Say to Him, “Take away all guilt and receive us graciously, so that we may present the fruit of our lips. Assyria will not save us, we will not ride on horses; nor will we say again, ‘Our god’ to the work of our hands; for in You the orphan finds mercy.”

[YHWH:] I will heal their apostasy, I will love them freely, because My anger has turned away from them.

Whoever is wise, let him understand [w-ya’ven וְיָ֣בֵֽן] these things; whoever is discerning [na’vohn נָב֖וֹן], let him know them. For the ways of YHWH are right, and the righteous will walk in them, but wrongdoers will stumble in them.

Proverbs: The Key of Understanding

There is no Biblical book more attuned with the virtue of understanding than the book of Proverbs. It is, arguably, the core concept of the text which was introduced in the opening lines of the first chapter:

Proverbs 1:1-6

The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:

To know wisdom and instruction, to discern [l-ha-vin לְ֝הָבִ֗ין] the sayings of understanding [vinah בִינָֽה], to receive instruction in wise behaviour, righteousness, justice, and integrity; to give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion.

A wise person will hear and increase in learning, and a person of understanding [w-navohn וְ֝נָב֗וֹן] will acquire wise counsel, to understand [l-ha-vin לְהָבִ֣ין] a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.

This was the purpose of the proverbs… to hone the skill of understanding:

Proverbs 2:2-5

Make your ear attentive to wisdom; incline your heart to understanding [la-t-vunah לַתְּבוּנָֽה]. For if you cry out for insight [la-binah לַבִּינָ֣ה], and raise your voice for understanding [la-t-vunah לַ֝תְּבוּנָ֗ה]; if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand [ta-vin תָּ֭בִין] the fear of YHWH, and discover the knowledge of God.

The proverbs teach us to  rely on YHWH’s understanding, not our own:

Proverbs 3:5-8

Trust in YHWH with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding [binat’ka בִּֽ֝ינָתְךָ֗]. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear YHWH and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 4:5-9

“Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding [Qeneh vinah קְנֵ֣ה בִינָ֑ה]! Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not abandon her, and she will guard you; ;ove her, and she will watch over you.

The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; and with all your possessions, acquire understanding [qeneh vinah קְנֵ֣ה בִינָֽה]. Prize her, and she will exalt you; she will honour you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

Proverbs 7:4

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding [la-binah לַבִּינָ֥ה] your intimate friend…”

Proverbs 9:6, 10-12

“Abandon your foolishness and live, and proceed in the way of understanding [binah בִּינָֽה]…

…The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding [binah בִּינָֽה]. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will suffer from it.”

Proverbs 14:29

One who is slow to anger has great understanding [rav t’vunah רַב־תְּבוּנָ֑ה]; but one who is quick-tempered exalts foolishness.

Proverbs 17:27

One who withholds his words has knowledge, and one who has a cool spirit is a person of understanding [t’vunah תְּבוּנָֽה].

Proverbs 23:23

Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom, instruction, and understanding [u-vinah וּבִינָֽה].

Proverbs 24:3-4

By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding [u-vit-vunah וּ֝בִתְבוּנָ֗ה] it is established; And by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Yeshua: Spirit-filled with Wisdom and Understanding

According to Isaiah’s prophecies the future Messiah would embody the spirit of understanding:

Isaiah 11:1-4a

Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of YHWH will rest on Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding [u-vinah וּבִינָ֗ה], the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of YHWH.

And He will delight in the fear of YHWH, and He will not judge by what His eyes see, nor make decisions by what His ears hear; but with righteousness He will judge the poor, and decide with fairness for the humble of the earth.

It would be through the Messiah that humans would know and believe in YHWH and understand His purpose and His plan:

Isaiah 43:10-13

“You are My witnesses,” declares YHWH, “And My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me and understand [w-ta-vinu וְתָבִ֙ינוּ֙] that I am He.

Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. I, only I, am YHWH, and there is no Saviour besides Me. It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses,” declares YHWH, “And I am God. Even from eternity I am He, and there is no one who can rescue from My hand; I act, and who can reverse it?”

Yeshua came to fulfill the prophecy of the Branch who would bring wisdom and understanding… but humans would have to seek it to receive it. We know that Yeshua was frequently frustrated that his disciples seemed to lack understanding. They failed to grasp a lot of what Yeshua was saying:

Mark 9:30-32 (see also Luke 9:43-45)

And from there they went out and began to go through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know about it. For He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill Him; and when He has been killed, He will rise three days later.” But they did not understand [Greek: egnooun] this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him.

They understood the words but they were afraid to take them at face value… and perhaps they just didn’t want to know. Sometimes ignorance is a blissful (but unrealistic) place to live.

We are told that after His crucifixion Yeshua returned and met up with His disciples and taught them the full understanding of the scriptures:

Luke 24:44-48

Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all the things that are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 

Then He opened their minds to understand [Greek: synienai] the Scriptures, and He said to them, “So it is written, that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

What a gift that would have been to be at that Bible study!

Today we can only read the story from the perspective of the eye witnesses. They were given the gift of discernment to really get the Word of God. That gift, however, is not out of our grasp. We, too, can receive discernment if we seek it and ask for it. If you struggle with your Bible, pray for discernment. Pray for understanding. Pray for the skills to “get it”.

With the Spirit of YHWH within us we have the key to understanding already available to us. Discernment is a calling and a gift. Like all good skills, it takes a lifetime to master and, even then, it comes with the knowledge that there’s always room to continue learning. 

There’s a good chance that if you’re here, reading this posting, you’re already a seeker! You want to understand the Bible and strive to gain insight into what YHWH wants us to hear. You not giving up when the Bible readings get tough, and that’s commendable! 

It seems to me that the tides are turning. Once upon a time, a Sunday sermon was sufficient for many, but now, with such easy access to information, believers are taking steps on their own to understand the Scriptures at a deeper, more personal, level. And if you’re here, then that is you! You understand that there’s more to grasp and more to discover. Without people like you, this blog would not be read… and so I thank you for being a seeker and a supporter as we all strive to understand the Word of YHWH:

Ephesians 1:16-19a

[Paul:] (I) do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Next week- Sermon: Paul in Italy