Binah (בִּינָה) is one of the great wisdom words of the Hebrew Bible, meaning understanding, discernment, or penetrating insight. Derived from the root bin (H995, to discern, understand), binah goes beyond the accumulation of facts — it describes the capacity to perceive, distinguish, and comprehend the true nature of things. In the wisdom literature (Proverbs, Job, Psalms), binah is often paired with chokmah (wisdom) and da'at (knowledge) as the triad of divine cognitive gifts.
Binah is both a human faculty and a divine gift. Isaiah 11:2 lists it among the seven spirits of the LORD that rest on the messianic king. Proverbs personifies it alongside Wisdom (Proverbs 8-9). In Jewish mystical tradition (Kabbalah), Binah became one of the ten sefirot (divine attributes) — representing Divine Understanding, the 'Mother' principle, the cosmic womb of comprehension from which creation emerges. Whether read literally or mystically, the word points to a depth of understanding that is ultimately sourced in God.