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Hebrew noun (masculine) · H8394

תָּבוּן

tabuntaw-boon'

understanding

42 uses in the Hebrew text, one for each word STEP Bible has tagged with this key

Concordance spelling: tâbûwn

Word page · Part of the concordance, one page for every word of the Hebrew and Greek text. Strong's H8394is this word's number in James Strong's 1890 index of the King James Bible.

  • 11 of 39
    Old Testament books
  • 32
    spellings

The definition in full

Strong's key (1890) · H8394

intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice

The King James renders it: discretion, reason, skilfulness, understanding, wisdom.

James Strong, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), public domain. Strong indexed the King James text, and this site quotes his entry as that index.

Summary

tabun is rendered "understanding". It stands 42 times in the Hebrew text, across eleven books.

  • Nineteen of the uses stand in Proverbs, more than in any other book.
  • Its first use in canonical order opens the ledger below.Exodus 31:3And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,
  • The Greek text spells it thirty-two different ways.

The first use

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

Exodus 31:3וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה

The first use, in the order of the Old Testament's books.

Where the word stands

Nineteen of the word's forty-two uses are in Proverbs.

The other 28 Old Testament books never use the word.

What the word means

Each meaning, and the words it is translated by

How the Greek text is glossed, word by word

  • understanding13
  • and understanding6
  • understandings4
  • and by understanding his3
  • by understanding2
  • to the understanding2
  • to understanding his2
  • according to skill their1
  • and by understanding1
  • and by understanding your1
  • and with skill of1
  • and with understanding1

and 5 more, 42 uses in all

The words built on the same word-part

Each word below begins with the same letters this one begins with. A shared word-part shows a family. It does not settle what any one of them means, so each word carries its own uses on its own page. Scholars call that shared part the stem.

All 42, in canonical order

Every use, in order

Every use, grouped by book, with its verse.

32 spellings and their grammar

STEP Bible tags every word of the Hebrew and Greek text with its spelling and its grammar. Both lists below count the rows printed underneath, written out in English, with the code beside each one as it was tagged.

How it is spelled

  • תְּבוּנָֽה׃5
  • בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה2
  • וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹ2
  • וּתְבוּנָ֖ה2
  • וּתְבוּנָֽה׃2
  • תְּבוּנָ֑ה2
  • תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה2
  • בִּתְבוּנָ֥ה1
  • בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃1
  • הַתְּבוּנָה֙1
  • וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה1
  • וּ֝בִתְבוּנָ֗ה1

and 20 more spellings in the ledger below.

The grammar of each form

  • noun · feminine singular13HNcfsa
  • conjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singular6HC/Ncfsa
  • noun · feminine plural4HNcfpa
  • preposition + noun · feminine singular4HR/Ncfsa
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular3HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular2HC/R/Ncfsa
  • preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singular2HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms
  • preposition with the article + noun · feminine singular2HRd/Ncfsa
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)1HC/R/Ncfpc
  • conjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singular1HC/R/Ncfsc/Sp2ms
  • noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine plural1HNcfpc/Sp2mp
  • preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singular1HR/Ncfsc/Sp1bs

Exodus

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

    Exodus 31:3

    • וּבִתְבוּנָ֥הuvitvunahconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singulartagged: and with understanding
  • And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of craftsmanship,

    Exodus 35:31

    • בִּתְבוּנָ֥הbitvunahpreposition + noun · feminine singulartagged: with 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.”

    Exodus 36:1

    • וּתְבוּנָה֙utevunahconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and understanding

Deuteronomy

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

    Deuteronomy 32:28

    • תְּבוּנָֽה׃tevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding

1 Kings

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

    1 Kings 4:29

    • וּתְבוּנָ֖הutevunahconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and understanding
  • 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.

    1 Kings 7:14

    • הַתְּבוּנָה֙hatevunahthe definite article (“the”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: the skill

Job

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

    Job 12:12

    • תְּבוּנָֽה׃tevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.

    Job 12:13

    • וּתְבוּנָֽה׃utevunahconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and understanding
  • By His power He stirred the sea; by His understanding He shattered Rahab.

    Job 26:12

    • וּ֝בִתְבוּנָת֗וֹuvituvenatovconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and by understanding his
  • Indeed, I waited while you spoke; I listened to your reasoning; as you searched for words,

    Job 32:11

    • תְּב֥וּנֹֽתֵיכֶ֑םtevunoteikhemnoun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine pluraltagged: understandings your

Psalms

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

    Psalms 49:3

    • תְבוּנֽוֹת׃tevunotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: understandings
  • So David shepherded them with integrity of heart and guided them with skillful hands.

    Psalms 78:72

    • וּבִתְבוּנ֖וֹתuvitvunotconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine plural · in construct (“…of”)tagged: and with skill of
  • By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.

    Psalms 136:5

    • בִּתְבוּנָ֑הbitvunahpreposition + noun · feminine singulartagged: by understanding
  • Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.

    Psalms 147:5

    • לִ֝תְבוּנָת֗וֹlitvunatopreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: to understanding his

Proverbs

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

    Proverbs 2:2

    • לַתְּבוּנָֽה׃latevunahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: to the understanding
  • if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,

    Proverbs 2:3

    • לַ֝תְּבוּנָ֗הlatevunahpreposition with the article + noun · feminine singulartagged: to the understanding
  • For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

    Proverbs 2:6

    • וּתְבוּנָֽה׃utevunahconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and understanding
  • Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,

    Proverbs 2:11

    • תְּבוּנָ֥הtevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who acquires understanding,

    Proverbs 3:13

    • תְּבוּנָֽה׃tevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • The LORD founded the earth by wisdom and established the heavens by understanding.

    Proverbs 3:19

    • בִּתְבוּנָֽה׃bitvunahpreposition + noun · feminine singulartagged: by understanding
  • My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,

    Proverbs 5:1

    • לִ֝תְבוּנָתִ֗יlitvunatipreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 1st person masculine or feminine singulartagged: to understanding my
  • Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

    Proverbs 8:1

    • וּ֝תְבוּנָ֗הutevunahconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and understanding
  • The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.

    Proverbs 10:23

    • תְּבוּנָֽה׃tevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • Whoever shows contempt for his neighbor lacks judgment, but a man of understanding remains silent.

    Proverbs 11:12

    • תְּבוּנ֣וֹתtevunotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: understandings
  • A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

    Proverbs 14:29

    • תְּבוּנָ֑הtevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • Folly is joy to one who lacks judgment, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.

    Proverbs 15:21

    • תְּ֝בוּנָ֗הtevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

    Proverbs 17:27

    • תְּבוּנָֽה׃tevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.

    Proverbs 18:2

    • בִּתְבוּנָ֑הbitvunahpreposition + noun · feminine singulartagged: in understanding
  • He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.

    Proverbs 19:8

    • תְּ֝בוּנָ֗הtevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • The intentions of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.

    Proverbs 20:5

    • תְּבוּנָ֣הtevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

    Proverbs 21:30

    • תְּבוּנָ֑הtevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding
  • By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;

    Proverbs 24:3

    • וּ֝בִתְבוּנָ֗הuvitvunahconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singulartagged: and by understanding
  • A leader who lacks judgment is also a great oppressor, but he who hates dishonest profit will prolong his days.

    Proverbs 28:16

    • תְּ֭בוּנוֹתtevunotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: understandings

Isaiah

three uses
  • 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 40:14

    • תְּבוּנ֖וֹתtevunotnoun · feminine pluraltagged: understandings
  • 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.

    Isaiah 40:28

    • לִתְבוּנָתֽוֹ׃litvunatopreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: to understanding his
  • 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?”

    Isaiah 44:19

    • תְבוּנָה֮tevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: understanding

Jeremiah

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

    Jeremiah 10:12

    • וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹuvitvunatoconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: 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.

    Jeremiah 51:15

    • וּבִתְבוּנָת֖וֹuvitvunatoconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine singulartagged: and by understanding his

Ezekiel

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

    Ezekiel 28:4

    • וּבִתְבוּנָ֣תְךָ֔uvitvunatekhaconjunction (“and”) + preposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 2nd person masculine singulartagged: and by understanding your

Hosea

one use
  • 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!”

    Hosea 13:2

    • כִּתְבוּנָם֙kitvunampreposition + noun · feminine singular · in construct (“…of”) + pronoun suffix · 3rd person masculine pluraltagged: according to skill their

Obadiah

two uses
  • 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 1:7

    • תְּבוּנָ֖הtevunahnoun · feminine singulartagged: 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?

    Obadiah 1:8

    • וּתְבוּנָ֖הutevunahconjunction (“and”) + noun · feminine singulartagged: and understanding

The letters

Gematria 458· 1,108 mispar gadol

Where it leads

How the numbers are counted

Every count on this page comes from STEP Bible's tagged Hebrew and Greek text, the same text the ledger prints. A use is counted once each time the tagging marks a word with this key.

Spellings are counted as the Greek text spells them, with the sentence's own punctuation taken off the word first, so a form that ends a clause is not counted as a second spelling.

The words it stands beside are the nouns, verbs and adjectives immediately before or after it, counted in every verse where the word stands. The article, the conjunctions and the prepositions are left out, because they stand beside every word.

Hebrew and Greek text, word tagging and grammar: STEP Bible (www.STEPBible.org), Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0. Their grammar codes are written out in English here and shown as tagged beside each one.

Meaning and senses: STEP Bible TBESH gloss (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Dictionary key: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890, public domain). English verse text: Berean Standard Bible (public domain, 2023).

Revised 2026-09-05. Every cited work, the sources registry →