What Does Job 13:1 Mean in the King James?
Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Understanding is the discernment that lets what you see and what you hear converge.
THE MEANING
What reaches you through sight and hearing can become more than separate impressions; it can take shape as discernment. Here, hearing itself is enough to understand what has been received.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that only what you see for yourself can be understood.
THE ROOT
וַתָּבֶן לָהּ
vataven lah
GROWS FROM
ב־י־ן
b-y-n
To discern, perceive distinctions, or understand.
“understood it” in this verse is vataven lah. The Hebrew verb carries the sense of discernment: understanding is not just taking in information, but recognizing what it means. That makes the ear a place where understanding happens, not merely a channel for sound.
ALSO GROWS
binah: understanding; discernment
בִּינָה
It shows the same root’s movement from discerning to the capacity for understanding.
tevunah: insight; understanding
תְּבוּנָה
It names the insight that emerges when what is received becomes intelligible.
THE PATTERN
Seeing and hearing open the way to discernment, but exposure alone does not guarantee understanding.
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;THE THREAD
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.“Understanding” here is תְּבוּנָה (tevunah), meaning insight or understanding, from the same ב־י־ן (b-y-n) root as Job’s “understood.” Job describes discernment through hearing; Proverbs connects understanding with wisdom and knowledge coming forth.
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