תְּבוּנָה

Exodus 31:3 וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה and with understanding

And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,

Here: 'And with understanding': the ability to see how the parts fit together and to solve design problems. BSB renders it 'ability'.

Exodus 35:31 בִּתְבוּנָ֥ה with understanding

And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,

Exodus 36:1 וּתְבוּנָה֙ and understanding

“So Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person are to carry out everything commanded by the LORD, who has given them skill and ability to know how to perform all the work of constructing the sanctuary.”

Here: Discernment and know-how: the ability to see how parts fit together and to solve problems. Paired with 'skill', it rounds out the picture of an expert.

Deuteronomy 32:28 תְּבוּנָֽה׃ [is] understanding

Israel is a nation devoid of counsel, with no understanding among them.

1 Kings 4:29 וּתְבוּנָ֖ה and understanding

And God gave Solomon wisdom, exceedingly deep insight, and understanding beyond measure, like the sand on the seashore.

Here: Discernment: the ability to tell one thing from another and see how things fit together. It comes from the root bîn, 'to distinguish, perceive', the same root as the 'discerning' heart Solomon asked for in 3:9, 12.

1 Kings 7:14 הַתְּבוּנָה֙ the skill

He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram had great skill, understanding, and knowledge for every kind of bronze work. So he came to King Solomon and carried out all his work.

Job 12:12 תְּבוּנָֽה׃ understanding

Wisdom is found with the elderly, and understanding comes with long life.

Job 12:13 וּתְבוּנָֽה׃ and understanding

Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

Here: Discernment: the ability to tell things apart and see how they fit, often used of skilled building. This is the word verse 12 tied to "length of days." Now it too is God's.

Job 26:12 וּ֝בִתְבוּנָת֗וֹ and by understanding his

By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab.

Here: 'And by his skill.' Practical, know-how intelligence, the competence of a craftsman or strategist. It matches 'strength' in the first line: God defeats the monster with cunning as well as force.

Job 32:11 תְּב֥וּנֹֽתֵיכֶ֑ם understanding<s> your

Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,

Psalm 49:3 תְבוּנֽוֹת׃ [will be] understanding<s>

My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.

Here: Literally "understandings". It comes from a root meaning to tell things apart. With no verb in the line, the sense is "the musing of my heart is (or will be) discernment": what the singer has pondered is real insight, not opinion.

Psalm 78:72 וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹת and with [the] skill of

So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.

Psalm 136:5 בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה by understanding

By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.

Here: 'By means of' understanding: the know-how and discernment of a master builder. The sky was not an accident or the leftovers of a battle. It was built with competence and design.

Psalm 147:5 לִ֝תְבוּנָת֗וֹ to understanding his

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

Here: 'To his understanding' or 'of his understanding'. This is skilled, discerning intelligence, the kind a master craftsman has. Elsewhere it is the faculty by which God built and stretched out the heavens (Prov 3:19; Jer 10:12; Ps 136:5).

Proverbs 2:2 לַתְּבוּנָֽה׃ to <the> understanding

if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,

Here: 'To understanding': the ability to see how things fit together and to tell one thing from another, applied in practice. It pairs with 'wisdom' as a near-synonym and is the goal toward which the heart is turned.

Proverbs 2:3 לַ֝תְּבוּנָ֗ה to <the> understanding

if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,

Here: "To understanding." It comes from the same root as bînâ and stands as its poetic partner. It often leans toward practical, working competence: knowing how to handle things well.

Proverbs 2:6 וּתְבוּנָֽה׃ and understanding

For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Here: From the root 'to distinguish, discern'. It is the ability to tell things apart and see how they fit together: right from wrong, a good path from a crooked one (vv. 9, 12–15). The line has no verb. 'Come' is supplied in English.

Proverbs 2:11 תְּבוּנָ֥ה understanding

Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

Here: Practical discernment: the ability to tell things apart and handle them well. It comes from the root bin, 'between'. It pairs with mezimmah: one plans ahead, the other sees what is really in front of you.

Proverbs 3:13 תְּבוּנָֽה׃ understanding

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,

Here: The ability to tell things apart and see how they fit, then act competently. It is the partner of 'wisdom' throughout Proverbs. In v. 19 YHWH sets up the heavens 'by understanding'.

Proverbs 3:19 בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃ by understanding

The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

Here: From a root meaning 'to tell things apart'. It means discerning, practical intelligence: knowing how things fit and work. It pairs with 'wisdom' (as in 3:13) and was also a craftsman's quality (Exod 31:3; 1 Kgs 7:14). Placed last, it echoes 'by wisdom' at the start of the verse.

Proverbs 5:1 לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗י to understanding my

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,

Here: "To my understanding". The noun comes from the root meaning "to tell apart": the ability to see the difference between things that look alike. That is exactly what the next speech needs, because the "strange woman" of 5:3 sounds sweet but leads to death.

Proverbs 8:1 וּ֝תְבוּנָ֗ה and understanding

Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

Here: 'And understanding': the ability to tell things apart and see how they fit together. Here it is a second name for the same woman, Wisdom, not a second speaker.

Proverbs 10:23 תְּבוּנָֽה׃ understanding

The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

Proverbs 11:12 תְּבוּנ֣וֹת understanding<s>

Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.

Proverbs 14:29 תְּבוּנָ֑ה understanding

A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

Here: Practical discernment: the ability to see what a situation really is and what it calls for, before acting. Holding back anger is presented as a sign of this deep competence, not just a matter of temperament.

Proverbs 15:21 תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה understanding

Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

Here: The skill of telling things apart and seeing how they connect, so that you can see where a road leads. It is the exact opposite of 'lacking heart.'

Proverbs 17:27 תְּבוּנָֽה׃ understanding

A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

Here: From the root meaning 'to tell apart'. It is the skill of reading a situation and seeing what fits it. A 'man of understanding' is the one Proverbs 11:12 says 'keeps silent'.

Proverbs 18:2 בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה in understanding

A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.

Here: 'In understanding': the thing he does not delight in. From the root *bin*, 'to tell apart', it means the skill of seeing distinctions and grasping how things really are. It is gained by listening and taking things in.

Proverbs 19:8 תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה understanding

He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.

Here: Practical discernment: being able to tell things apart and see how they work. It pairs with 'heart' in the first line, so both lines are about the same possession.

Proverbs 20:5 תְּבוּנָ֣ה understanding

The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

Here: "A man of understanding" is a discerning, perceptive person, one who can tell things apart and see what lies under the surface. Think of skill and insight, not sympathy.

Proverbs 21:30 תְּבוּנָ֑ה [is] understanding

There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

Here: The ability to tell things apart and see how a situation works, from the root bîn, 'to discern, distinguish'. It is the analytical side of competence.

Proverbs 24:3 וּ֝בִתְבוּנָ֗ה and by understanding

By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;

Here: 'And by means of understanding.' Tevunah is discernment, the ability to tell things apart and see how they fit together. It pairs with wisdom as a second tool, and the pair is the vocabulary used for skilled craftsmen and for God making the world.

Proverbs 28:16 תְּ֭בוּנוֹת understanding<s>

A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

Isaiah 40:14 תְּבוּנ֖וֹת understanding<s>

Whom did He consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the paths of justice? Who imparted knowledge to Him and showed Him the way of understanding?

Isaiah 40:28 לִתְבוּנָתֽוֹ׃ to understanding his

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary; His understanding is beyond searching out.

Here: 'To his understanding': God's discerning, skilled intelligence, the know-how by which he built and steers the world (compare vv. 12–14). No one can map how deep it goes.

Isaiah 44:19 תְבוּנָה֮ understanding

And no one considers in his heart, no one has the knowledge or insight to say, “I burned half of it in the fire, and I baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make something detestable with the rest of it? Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

Here: The ability to tell things apart and put them together, to discern. The same word describes a craftsman's skill (Exod 31:3). This craftsman has the skill of his hands but none of this deeper discernment.

Jeremiah 10:12 וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ and by understanding his

The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

Here: 'And by his understanding': discerning intelligence that knows how things fit together. It is placed first in its line for emphasis, which reverses the word order of the first two lines.

Jeremiah 51:15 וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ and by understanding his

The LORD made the earth by His power; He established the world by His wisdom and stretched out the heavens by His understanding.

Here: "And by his understanding": the insight that sees how parts fit together. Placed first in its line for emphasis: it was by understanding that he spread the sky.

Ezekiel 28:4 וּבִתְבוּנָ֣תְךָ֔ and by understanding your

By your wisdom and understanding you have gained your wealth and amassed gold and silver for your treasuries.

Hosea 13:2 כִּתְבוּנָם֙ according to skill their

Now they sin more and more and make for themselves cast images, idols skillfully made from their silver, all of them the work of craftsmen. People say of them, “They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves!”

Here: "According to their skill": the cleverness of the people who made them. The form is unusual, and many scholars read "according to the pattern" instead (see textual notes).

Obadiah 1:7 תְּבוּנָ֖ה [is] understanding

All the men allied with you will drive you to the border; the men at peace with you will deceive and overpower you. Those who eat your bread will set a trap for you without your awareness of it.

Obadiah 1:8 וּתְבוּנָ֖ה and understanding

In that day, declares the LORD, will I not destroy the wise men of Edom and the men of understanding in the mountains of Esau?