Hebrew word · Strong's H995

בִּין

bîyn · bene · word · “to understand, discern”

In a sentence

Bin means to discern — to see between things. It is the verb of wisdom: not just knowing facts but perceiving how things fit, where to walk, what is true.

Bin shares a root with "between" — it is the seeing-between that distinguishes good from bad, wise from foolish, truth from lie.

Proverbs repeatedly calls the young to bin — to seek understanding as a fountain of life. In Daniel, those who bin shine like the brightness of the firmament.

Strong's reference

Definition: to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand

KJV usage: attend, consider, be cunning, diligently, direct, discern, eloquent, feel, inform, instruct, have intelligence, know, look well to, mark, perceive, be prudent, regard, (can) skill(-full), teach, think, (cause, make to, get, give, have) understand(-ing), view, (deal) wise(-ly, man).

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Proverbs 2:5 “then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 9:6 “Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”” Daniel 12:3 “Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.