Understanding
Hebrew #998 – bina
Definition: the ability to understand something; comprehension
Other Words: wisdom, knowledge
“And you shall guard and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding before the eyes of the peoples who hear all these laws, and they shall say, ‘Only a wise and understanding people is this great nation!”
Deḇarim (Deuteronomy) 4:6
“By your wisdom and your understanding you have made riches for yourself, and gathered gold and silver into your treasuries.”
-Yehezqĕl (Ezekiel) 28:4
“From Your orders I get understanding; Therefore I have hated every false way.”
-Tehillim (Psalms) 119:104
“The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom! And with all your getting, get understanding.”
Mishlĕ (Proverbs) 4:7
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the desire of יהוה is.”
Eph`siyim (Ephesians) 5:17
Understanding is the base of all knowledge. Think about that for a moment—how vital does that make it? It’s not just a stepping stone; it’s the very ground we walk on when learning anything new. Without understanding, facts are just noise, and actions become aimless.
Understanding is like the “formula” that unlocks everything else. It’s the “green” that lets you draw grass, the “paint” you need to create a painting, the “water” that restores your thirst, the “tape” that holds things together—well, okay, maybe you could fix something with glue or zip ties too, but you get the idea!
The point is: understanding is essential. Without it, we’re just going through the motions.
There’s a powerful verse in Psalms that speaks to this:
“From Your orders I get understanding; therefore I have hated every false way.”
(Psalm 119:104)
This reminds us that true understanding comes from Yahuah’s instructions—His Torah. And when we begin to grasp His wisdom and choose to walk in His ways, it changes our perspective. We learn to recognize what’s real and what’s false, what’s right and what leads us astray. Understanding His Word helps us stay grounded on a path that is righteous and true.
So if this week’s word is “understanding,” I hope this little message helped you do just that—understand. And if it didn’t quite click the first time… go ahead and read it again. 😊
– AS