God-given perception of the nature and meaning of things, resulting in sound judgment and decision-making; in particular the ability to discern spiritual truth and to apply it to human disposition and conduct.
The source of understanding
Understanding belongs to God
Job 12:13; Psalm 136:5 See also Psalm 147:5; Proverbs 3:19; Jeremiah 51:15, Jeremiah 15:15 God's understanding gives rise to compassion.
Wisdom and strength belong to God; counsel and understanding are His.
By His insight He made the heavens. His loving devotion endures forever.
Understanding is a gift from God
Proverbs 2:6; Isaiah 29:24 See also 1 Kings 4:29; Job 38:36; Isaiah 32:3–4; Daniel 1:17, Daniel 2:21, Daniel 2:30, Daniel 9:22; Romans 15:21; Isaiah 52:15
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Then the wayward in spirit will come to understanding, and those who grumble will accept instruction.”
Understanding spiritual truth
Understanding truth about God
1 John 5:20 See also Proverbs 2:5, Proverbs 9:10; Isaiah 40:21, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 43:10; Jeremiah 9:24; John 10:38; Romans 1:20
And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true — in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
Understanding God's purposes
Deuteronomy 9:6 God's reason for choosing Israel; 1 Chronicles 28:19 God's plans for the temple; Job 34:10–11 the reason for Job's suffering; Psalm 73:16–17 God's dealings with the wicked; Isaiah 57:1–2 God's purpose in taking the righteous; Jeremiah 9:12–13 the reason for the exile; Jeremiah 23:20, Jeremiah 30:24; Daniel 8:15–16 God's purposes in history; Ephesians 5:17; Colossians 1:9
Understanding God's word
Psalm 119:73; Luke 24:45 See also Nehemiah 8:8, Nehemiah 8:12; Psalm 119:27, Psalm 119:125; Matthew 24:15 parallel Mark 13:14; Luke 24:27; Acts 8:30–31; John 12:16
Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Understanding Jesus Christ's teaching
Matthew 13:11 parallels Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10; Matthew 16:12, Matthew 17:13; Mark 4:33, Mark 8:17; John 2:22
Understanding God's salvation
Ephesians 1:18 See also Isaiah 41:20; Romans 13:11; Ephesians 1:9, Ephesians 3:4, Ephesians 3:17–19; Colossians 2:2; Philemon 1:6
I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints,
Human understanding is limited
Job 36:26, Job 37:5; Proverbs 3:5 See also Job 26:14, Job 36:29, Job 42:3; Proverbs 20:24; Ecclesiastes 11:5; Isaiah 40:13–14, Isaiah 55:8–9; 1 Corinthians 13:12
Indeed, God is great — beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable.
God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Gaining understanding
Through faith
Hebrews 11:3 See also Matthew 16:8–9
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
Through God's Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:12 See also 1 Chronicles 28:12; Job 32:8; Isaiah 11:2; John 14:26, John 16:13–15; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 1:17
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
Through God's word
Psalm 119:130 See also Deuteronomy 4:6; Psalm 111:10; Daniel 9:2; John 20:9
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
Through wise teaching
Psalm 49:3 See also Job 8:8–10; Proverbs 1:2, Proverbs 4:1, Proverbs 15:32; Ecclesiastes 12:9
My mouth will impart wisdom, and the meditation of my heart will bring understanding.
Lack of understanding of spiritual truth
Not knowing God
Isaiah 1:3 See also Deuteronomy 32:28–29; Isaiah 27:11; Jeremiah 4:22; Romans 10:19; Deuteronomy 32:21
The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”
Lack of understanding due to hardened hearts
Deuteronomy 29:4; Isaiah 6:9–10 See also Job 17:4; Isaiah 44:18, Isaiah 48:8; Jeremiah 5:21; Ezekiel 12:2; Matthew 13:13–15 parallels Mark 4:11–12, Luke 8:10; Mark 6:52; John 12:40; Acts 28:26–27; Ephesians 4:18
Yet to this day the LORD has not given you a mind to understand, eyes to see, or ears to hear.
And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
Not understanding God's purposes
Psalm 82:5, Psalm 92:6–7; Isaiah 5:13, Isaiah 19:12; Micah 4:12; Luke 12:56; 1 Corinthians 2:8
Not understanding Jesus Christ's teaching
Matthew 13:19; Mark 4:13, Mark 9:32; John 4:32–33, John 8:27, John 11:13, John 16:18; Luke 2:50 by Jesus Christ's parents; John 2:20–21, John 6:51–52, John 8:43; John 4:11 by the Samaritan woman
Understanding people and situations
1 Chronicles 12:32; Esther 1:13; Job 13:1; Proverbs 20:5; John 7:24
Understanding languages
Genesis 11:7; Deuteronomy 28:49; Psalm 81:5; Isaiah 36:11; Acts 2:6; 1 Corinthians 14:2
Those who have understanding
The wise
Deuteronomy 32:29; 1 Kings 4:29; Proverbs 8:14; Hosea 14:9
Good leaders
Jeremiah 3:15 See also Deuteronomy 1:13; 1 Chronicles 22:12; 2 Chronicles 30:22; Proverbs 28:2PRO Proverbs 28:16; Isaiah 56:11
Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”
The results of understanding
Seeking God
Psalm 14:2 See also Psalm 53:2; Romans 3:11
The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
Obedience
Psalm 119:34 See also Nehemiah 10:28; Psalm 32:9, Psalm 119:100; Proverbs 28:7
Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.
Taking the right path
Proverbs 2:9 See also Psalm 119:104; Proverbs 15:21
Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity— every good path.
Life
Sensible living
Job 28:28 avoidance of evil; Proverbs 11:12 slowness to criticise; Proverbs 12:11 conscientious labour; Proverbs 13:15 winning favour; Proverbs 17:27 showing restraint and an even temper; James 3:13 good deeds and humility
The results of a lack of understanding
Foolish behaviour
Proverbs 6:32 committing adultery; Proverbs 7:7 being easily seduced; Proverbs 17:18 making rash commitments; Proverbs 18:1–2 selfishness and self-importance; Proverbs 24:30–31 idleness leading to ruin; Hosea 4:11 Drunkenness clouds understanding.
Death
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.