Understanding

   In this final part of looking at the correlations and contrasts of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding (as they are mentioned in several instances together in Proverbs), we will consider “understanding”.
With respect to the prior discussion on wisdom, it is interesting to note that wisdom and understanding occur together in the same phrase over 25 times in Proverbs in the NAS (New American Standard) translation .
Trying to develop a basic definition for understanding can be a challenge.
Seemingly, all of the dictionary definitions develop around “comprehension”.
A definition I encountered several years ago said “Understanding is the capacity to make experience intelligible by applying concepts and categories”. Although I do not believe it was intended as a biblical definition, it has some valuable applications for thinking biblically.
In our discussion on wisdom a suggested definition for wisdom was “Doing things God’s way”. For our discussion I might propose a definition for “understanding” might be “Seeing things God’s way”.
One of the noticeable aspects of “understanding” is the variation of its implications and applications in Scripture.
The Hebrew word translated most often as “understanding” is the verb [biyn], or one of its derivatives. One Bible dictionary commenting on the OT usage suggests it means ” . to separate, to distinguish. It is perceptive insight with the ability to judge.” It occurs nearly 250 times in the each of the NAS, ESV (English Standard Version), and KJV (King James Version) translations of the OT
In the NT their are two words most often translated “understanding”. One is [suniemi], or one of its derivatives — meaning “to gain insight to something”. An interesting illustration of that might be Matt. 11 •.25 where Jesus comments “I praise, You Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent, and have revealed them to infants”.
The second is [noeo], and its derivatives — meaning “rational reflection or inner contemplation”. An illustration could be Philippians 4: 7 – “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus”, proposing contemplating the effect of what is beyond our comprehension.
It might be valuable to make some observations on where there seems to be concentrations of “understanding” in the OT, and even an example of where it is noticeable in it’s absence.
In the book of Job “understanding” appears 27 times in the NAS and 34 in the ESV. The book of Job can be considered a “book of questions”, wherein Job comes under an epic trial when God was incited to “ruin him without cause”. It finds Job near the end saying “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand”. (Job 42:3)
In Psalm 119 it occurs 9 times in the NAS and 10 in the ESV. A central theme in the lengthy Psalm is the use of terms such as law, testimonies, ways, precepts, statutes, and commandments, suggesting God’s word contains everything we need to “know”/”understand”. An example would be “Make me understand the way of your precepts, so I will meditate on your wonders”. (Psalm 1 19:27)
In Proverbs “understanding” occurs over 50 times in the NAS, and over 40 in the ESV. It covers a broad range of applied truth such as “A man of understanding will acquire wise counsel (Prov. 1 :5), and “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind” (Prov 18:2)
Finally it occurs 19 times in the NAS in Daniel, where the theme of honoring God in keeping His ways leads Daniel’s “understanding” to him interpreting dreams and foretelling things to come.
An interesting exception in our view of “understanding” may be that it appears only once (in the KJV – 9:11) in the book of Ecclesiastes. It would seem that Solomon’s commentary offers a significant view of understanding. However, apart from a few verses, it could also be viewed as a dissertation on what is not “understanding”.
That may suggest another aspect of “understanding”. The greatest gain may come in the reality of understanding what we mistakenly believe to be understanding, is not “understanding”.
The NT seems to make even more clear that “understanding” is a gift of God, and like love, manifested through obedience. In Luke 24:45 “.. He opened their mind to understand the scriptures”. In 1 Cor 2:14 we are reminded the natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God and “cannot understand them for they are spiritually appraised”
Proverbs 24:3-4 seems a fitting close to this series on “What Knowledge?” as we have considered knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. It reads:
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all pleasant and precious riches”
The word for “established” in the original language means “to set up, make firm, prepare”
In 1974 John Denver released his song “Back Home Again”. In it there is a line which says -“Its the little things that make a house a home”. It is my sense that there are more and more people living in houses, and fewer living in homes.
“Trust in the Lord will all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5)

For more articles by John Hartshorn