996. bayin
Lexical Summary
bayin: Between, among, interval, space

Original Word: בֵּין
Part of Speech: substantive; preposition
Transliteration: beyn
Pronunciation: bah'-yin
Phonetic Spelling: (bane)
KJV: among, asunder, at, between (-twixtand), + from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it beor), within
NASB: between, among, midst, either, once, or, whether
Word Origin: [(properly) the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from H995 (בִּין - understand)]

1. a distinction
2. (but used only as a prep) between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles)
3. (also as a conjunction) either...or

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
among, asunder, at, between twixt

(sometimes in the plural masculine or feminine); properly, the constructive form of an otherwise unused noun from biyn; a distinction; but used only as a prep, between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or -- among, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), + from (the widest), X in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.

see HEBREW biyn

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from bin
Definition
an interval, space between
NASB Translation
above* (1), among (30), among* (1), between (204), champion* (2), either (2), forehead* (5), midst (3), once (1), or (1), whether (1), within (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
[בַּ֫יִן] substantive properly interval, space between ( id.) — construct בֵּין once Isaiah 44:4 (Baer) בֵּן, בֵּינִי, ֵ˜בּינְךָ, בֵינֵךְ, בֵּינוֺ (בֵּינָיו Joshua 3:4; Joshua 8:11 Qr); with plural suffix in plural form בֵּינֵינוּ (בֵּנֵינוּ), etc.; also בֵּינוֺת Ezekiel 10:2 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 10:6 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 10:7 (twice in verse) (+ Ezekiel 1:13 ᵐ5 Hi Ew etc. for דְּמוּת), בֵּינוֺתֵינוּ Genesis 26:28; Joshua 22:34; Judges 11:10, בֵּינוֺתָם Genesis 42:23; 2 Samuel 21:7; Jeremiah 25:16; dual בֵּנַיִם (see below); —

1 always (except dual) as

preposition in the interval of, between (so Aramaic בֵּין, & plural בֵּינֵי, , ; ), as Genesis 15:17 בֵּין הַגְּזָרִים between the pieces, Exodus 13:9 and elsewhere בֵּין עֵינֶיךָ between thy eyes (see עַיִן), Isaiah 22:11 and elsewhere between the two walls (see חוֺמָה), Job 24:11; Job 30:7; Job 40:30 part him between merchants; rather more Generally among Hosea 13:15; Songs 2:2,3; Ezekiel 19:2; Ezekiel 31:3; Job 34:37; less exactly within Proverbs 26:13 a lion is בֵּין הָֽרְחֹבוֺת within the board places (compare Proverbs 23:13 בְּתוֺךְ): once with a singular (unusual) Daniel 8:16 בֵּין אוּלַי between the Ulai, i.e. between its banks. When the space separating two distinct objects is to be indicated, this is done

a. most commonly by repeating בין, as Genesis 13:3 בֵּין בֵּיתְאֵל וּבֵין הָעָ֑י literally in the interval of Bethel, and in the interval of `Ai, i.e. between Bethel and `Ai, Genesis 16:14; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 31:50,51 #NAME?

b. more rarely by בֵּין ֗֗֗ לְ, Genesis 1:6 dividing בֵּין מַיִם לָמָ֑יִם literally in the interval of waters with reference to waters, i.e. between the waters and the waters, Leviticus 20:25; Leviticus 27:33; Deuteronomy 17:8 (3 t. in verse); 2 Samuel 19:36; 1 Kings 3:9; Ezekiel 41:18; Ezekiel 42:20; Ezekiel 44:23 (twice in verse); Jonah 4:11; Malachi 3:18 (twice in verse); 2Chron 14:10.

c. by בֵּין ֗֗֗ וּלְ Joel 2:17.

d. by בֵּין ֗֗֗ לְבֵין Isaiah 59:2. בֵּין is used not only of actual locality, but also with verbs of dividing (figurative) Genesis 1:14; Leviticus 10:10, and of judging, knowing, teaching, etc., if the idea of distinguishing be involved, as Genesis 16:5; 2 Samuel 19:36 הַאֵדַע בֵּין טוֺב לְרָע can I discern between good and evil ? 1 Kings 3:9; Jonah 4:11; Genesis 31:49 (watch between), Judges 11:10 (hear), Joshua 22:27 (witness), Isaiah 2:4 and he shall judge (arbitrate) between the nations, Isaiah 5:3; Leviticus 27:33; Ezekiel 44:23; Malachi 3:18; 2Chron 14:10 (see RV); and in other metaphoric applications, as of a covenant or sign between two contracting parties, Genesis 9:12,15; Exodus 31:13 +; or an oath Genesis 26:28; 2 Samuel 21:7; enmity or strife Genesis 3:15; Genesis 13:7; Deuteronomy 25:1; Proverbs 6:19; peace 1 Kings 5:26; good-will Proverbs 14:9. — It is used of time in the phrase of P בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם (see below עֶרֶב), & Nehemiah 5:18 בֵּין עֲשֶׂרֶת יָמִים during the interval of ten days, i.e. every ten days (unusual).With other prepositions: —

a. אֶלבֵּֿין, after a verb implying motion, in between, in among Ezekiel 31:10,14. So אֶלבֵּֿינוֺת לְ ib. Ezekiel 10:2.

b. בְּבֵן Isaiah 44:4 in the midst of, amongst (ᵐ5 Ew Di Che כְּבֵין מַיִם חָצִיר).

c. עַלבֵּֿין nearly as אֶלבֵּֿין Ezekiel 19:11

d. מִבֵּין from between: Genesis 49:10 nor the ruler's staff מִבֵּין רַגְלָיו from between his feet (where, as the king sits in state, he holds it), Exodus 25:22 from between the cherubim (so Numbers 7:89), Hosea 2:4; Zechariah 6:1; Zechariah 9:7; Deuteronomy 28:57 the after-birth הַיּוֺצֵת מִבֵּין רַגְלֶיהָ that cometh forth from between her feet, i.e. from her womb (compare Il. 19. 10 πεσεῖν μετὰ ποσσὶ γυναικός) Repeated 2 Kings 16:14 to specify the two objects from between which a thing is moved. Ezekiel 47:18 is difficult and uncertain: see Commentaries Less precisely from, the midst of: Numbers 17:2 מִבֵּין הַשְּׂרֵפָה out of the midst of the burning, Psalm 104:12 מִבֵּין עֳפָאִים from amongst the branches they utter their song, Jeremiah 48:45 and a flame מִבֵּין סִיחוֺן from the midst of Sihon (Sihon representing his people: but expression is singular; read perhaps ׳מִבֵּית ס, compare Numbers 21:28 ׳מִקִּרְיַת ס: "" in both passages מֵחֶשְׁבּוֺן), Ezekiel 37:21.

e. מִבֵּינוֺת לְ from between Ezekiel 10:2,6 (twice in verse); Ezekiel 10:7.

2

Dual בֵּנַ֫יִם space between two armies (= Greek μεταίχμιον), 1 Samuel 17:4,23 אִישׁ הַבֵּנַיִם man of the μεταίχμιον, i.e. champion (of Goliath).

בֵּית feminine of בַּיִן, בֵּין (NöM 194 f.; Syriac often, PS470)

preposition between Ezekiel 41:9b (to be joined with Ezekiel 41:10; see RVm), unless indeed a mere error for בֵּין (which Ezekiel often uses); also Proverbs 8:2 accusative To ᵐ5 (ἀνὰ μέσον) ᵑ7 ᵑ9 Hi Ew§217 g; and Job 8:17 according to ᵐ5 Ew Di1 (Di2undecided).

בֵּין preposition between (Biblical Hebrew [בַּ֫יִן,] בֵּין; ᵑ7, בֵּין, בֵּינֵי Syriac , ), Daniel 7:5; with suffix 3plural masculine בֵּינֵיהוֺן Daniel 7:7 Kt (Qr 3 plural feminine בֵּינֵיהֵן).

Topical Lexicon
Overview

Used about 408 times, בֵּין (“between, among, in the midst of”) frames relationships, distinctions, and mediations throughout the Old Testament. Whether separating light from darkness, holy from common, or friend from foe, the term underscores God-ordained order and the necessity of discernment.

Foundational Themes in Genesis

• Cosmic order: “And God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4). The first appearance of בֵּין establishes that creation itself is structured through divinely decreed distinctions.
• Firmament and waters: Genesis 1:6–7,17–18 repeats the motif, showing that everything from the heavens to the seasons functions by God’s deliberate placing of boundaries.
• Covenant ratification: In Genesis 15:17 a “smoking firepot with a flaming torch passed between the pieces,” prefiguring God’s unilateral commitment to His promises.
• Human relations: Jacob and Laban raise a heap as a witness “between you and me” (Genesis 31:49), demonstrating that בֵּין also marks relational accountability.

Covenantal Mediation

בֵּין frequently links God and His people in covenant signs:
• The rainbow “between Me and the earth” (Genesis 9:12–17).
• The sign of circumcision “between Me and you” (Genesis 17:7,10-14).
• The Sabbath “between Me and the Israelites” as a perpetual sign (Exodus 31:16-17).

These uses highlight that in every covenant God Himself stands in the middle, both guarantor and guardian.

Distinction in Worship and Holiness

Israel’s sacrificial system and purity laws train the conscience to discern.
• Priestly charge: “You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the clean and the unclean” (Leviticus 10:10; cf. 11:47; 20:25).
• Ezekiel laments priests who “do not distinguish between the holy and the common” (Ezekiel 22:26), whereas future priests “shall teach My people the difference” (Ezekiel 44:23).

בֵּין therefore anchors the doctrine of holiness: God is separate, so His people must learn to live distinct lives.

Judicial and Social Applications

Because justice hinges on right distinctions, בֵּין is prominent in legal settings:
• Moses judges “between a man and his neighbor” (Exodus 18:16).
• Deuteronomy directs complex cases to the sanctuary courts that will decide “between blood and blood, between plea and plea, between assault and assault” (Deuteronomy 17:8-9).
• Solomon’s celebrated verdict turns on discerning “between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9,28).

Right judgment models God’s own impartiality and protects covenant community life.

Spatial and Military Contexts

בֵּין marks strategic positioning:
• The angelic pillar “came between the camps of Egypt and Israel” (Exodus 14:20), shielding God’s people.
• The Ark’s advance kept “a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the Ark” (Joshua 3:4), a tangible reminder of divine holiness.
• Battle narratives speak of terrain “between the two armies” (1 Samuel 17:4), showing how geography can decide outcomes theologically guided.

Temporal and Eschatological Uses

The Passover lamb is slaughtered “between the evenings” (Exodus 12:6), pinpointing sacred time. The prophets expand the idea: “Then you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked” (Malachi 3:18). Final judgment will expose true allegiance, fulfilling every provisional distinction already embedded in history.

Typological and Christological Implications

בֵּין anticipates mediation. Priests, sacrifices, and covenant signs all occupy the space “between” God and humanity, foreshadowing “one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Where sin created a gulf, Christ stands in the middle, reconciling and uniting (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20; Ephesians 2:14-16).

Pastoral Reflections and Ministry Application

1. Discernment: Churches must teach believers to “test everything; hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), echoing Levitical distinctions.
2. Mediation: Intercessory prayer and evangelism place the servant of God “between the living and the dead” (Numbers 16:48), urging the lost to reconciliation.
3. Holiness: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, covenantal signs within the new covenant, mark the boundary between the church and the world.
4. Unity with purity: While the gospel breaks dividing walls, it never erases God-given moral lines; rather, it aligns them with Christ’s life and teaching.

Thus בֵּין, quietly threading through narrative, law, poetry, and prophecy, summons every generation to perceive God’s boundaries, honor His presence, and participate in His reconciling work.

Forms and Transliterations
בְּבֵ֣ין בֵּ֖ין בֵּ֚ין בֵּ֣ין בֵּ֣ין ׀ בֵּ֤ין בֵּ֥ין בֵּ֥ן בֵּ֧ין בֵּ֪ין בֵּֽין־ בֵּֽינְךָ֙ בֵּֽינֵיהֶ֑ם בֵּֽינֵיכֶם֙ בֵּֽינֹתֵ֔ינוּ בֵּֽינֹתָ֔ם בֵּֽינוֹתֵ֔ינוּ בֵּין־ בֵּינ֕וֹ בֵּינ֖וֹ בֵּינ֣וֹת בֵּינ֨וֹת בֵּינְךָ֖ בֵּינְךָ֜ בֵּינִ֕י בֵּינִ֖י בֵּינִ֗י בֵּינִ֣י בֵּינִ֤י בֵּינִ֥י בֵּינִי֙ בֵּינֵ֖ינוּ בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ בֵּינֵ֨נוּ בֵּינֵיהֶֽם׃ בֵּינֵיכֶ֣ם ׀ בֵּינֵיכֶֽם׃ בֵּינֵכֶ֕ם בֵּינֹתָֽם׃ בֵּינוֹתֵ֖ינוּ בֵֽינֵיהֶֽם׃ בֵין־ בֵינֵ֔ינוּ בֵינֵ֣ינוּ בֵּינָ֥יו בבין בין בין־ בינו בינות בינותינו ביני ביניהם ביניהם׃ ביניו ביניכם ביניכם׃ בינינו בינך בינכם ביננו בינתינו בינתם בינתם׃ בן וּבֵ֕ין וּבֵ֖ין וּבֵ֛ין וּבֵ֣ין וּבֵ֣ין ׀ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֤ין וּבֵ֥ין וּבֵ֨ין וּבֵֽין־ וּבֵֽינְךָ֖ וּבֵֽינֵיהֶ֑ם וּבֵֽינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ וּבֵין֙ וּבֵין־ וּבֵינְךָ֖ וּבֵינֵֽךְ׃ וּבֵינֵיכֶ֗ם וּבֵינֵיכֶ֜ם וּבֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ וּבֵינֶ֑ךָ וּבֵינֶ֔יךָ וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ וּבֵינֶ֗ךָ וּבֵינֶֽיׅךָ׃ וּבֵינֶֽךָ׃ וּבֵינָ֔יו וּמִבֵּ֖ין וּמִבֵּ֨ין וּמִבֵּין־ ובין ובין־ וביניהם וביניו וביניך וביניכם וביניכם׃ ובינך ובינך׃ ומבין ומבין־ לְבֵ֖ין לבין מִבֵּ֖ין מִבֵּ֣ין מִבֵּ֥ין מִבֵּין֙ מִבֵּינ֖וֹת מִבֵּינ֣וֹת מבין מבינות bə·ḇên bê·nāw bê·nê·hem ḇê·nê·hem bê·nə·ḵā bê·nê·ḵem bê·nê·nū ḇê·nê·nū bê·nî bê·nō·ṯām bê·nō·ṯê·nū bê·nō·w·ṯê·nū bê·nō·wṯ bê·nōw bəḇên bein beiNav beineCha beineChem beineiChem beineiHem beiNeinu beiNenu beiNi beiNo beiNot beinoTam beinoTeinu ben bên bên- ḇên- bênāw bênêhem ḇênêhem bênəḵā bênêḵem bênênū ḇênênū bênî bênōṯām bênōṯênū bênōw bênōwṯ bênōwṯênū beVein lə·ḇên ləḇên leVein mib·bê·nō·wṯ mib·bên mibBein mibbeiNot mibbên mibbênōwṯ ū·ḇê·nāw ū·ḇê·nê·hem ū·ḇê·ne·ḵā ū·ḇê·nə·ḵā ū·ḇê·nê·ḵem ū·ḇê·nêḵ ū·ḇên ū·ḇên- ū·mib·bên ū·mib·bên- ūḇên ūḇên- ūḇênāw ūḇênêhem ūḇênêḵ ūḇêneḵā ūḇênəḵā ūḇênêḵem umibBein ūmibbên ūmibbên- uVein uveiNav uveiNech uveiNecha uveiNeicha uVeineiChem uveineiHem vein VeineiHem veiNeinu
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 1:4
HEB: וַיַּבְדֵּ֣ל אֱלֹהִ֔ים בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין
KJV: divided the light from the darkness.
INT: separated and God from the light from

Genesis 1:4
HEB: בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֥ין הַחֹֽשֶׁךְ׃
INT: from the light from the darkness

Genesis 1:6
HEB: וִיהִ֣י מַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין מַ֖יִם לָמָֽיִם׃
INT: become separate among the waters the waters

Genesis 1:7
HEB: הָרָקִיעַ֒ וַיַּבְדֵּ֗ל בֵּ֤ין הַמַּ֙יִם֙ אֲשֶׁר֙
INT: the expanse and separated among the waters which

Genesis 1:7
HEB: מִתַּ֣חַת לָרָקִ֔יעַ וּבֵ֣ין הַמַּ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֖ר
INT: under the expanse from the waters which

Genesis 1:14
HEB: הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם לְהַבְדִּ֕יל בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין
INT: of the heavens to separate among the day from

Genesis 1:14
HEB: בֵּ֥ין הַיּ֖וֹם וּבֵ֣ין הַלָּ֑יְלָה וְהָי֤וּ
INT: among the day from the night them be for

Genesis 1:18
HEB: וּבַלַּ֔יְלָה וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֣ין
INT: and the night separate among the light from

Genesis 1:18
HEB: בֵּ֥ין הָא֖וֹר וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑שֶׁךְ וַיַּ֥רְא
INT: among the light from the darkness saw

Genesis 3:15
HEB: וְאֵיבָ֣ה ׀ אָשִׁ֗ית בֵּֽינְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה
NAS: enmity Between you and the woman,
INT: enmity will put Between and between and the woman

Genesis 3:15
HEB: אָשִׁ֗ית בֵּֽינְךָ֙ וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבֵ֥ין
NAS: you and the woman, And between your seed
INT: will put Between and between and the woman Between

Genesis 3:15
HEB: וּבֵ֣ין הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ וּבֵ֣ין
INT: and between and the woman Between your seed Between

Genesis 3:15
HEB: וּבֵ֥ין זַרְעֲךָ֖ וּבֵ֣ין זַרְעָ֑הּ ה֚וּא
INT: Between your seed Between seed He

Genesis 9:12
HEB: אֲנִ֣י נֹתֵ֗ן בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין
NAS: I am making between Me and you and every
INT: I I am making between between between

Genesis 9:12
HEB: נֹתֵ֗ן בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין כָּל־
INT: I am making between between between and every

Genesis 9:12
HEB: בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין כָּל־ נֶ֥פֶשׁ
INT: between between between and every creature

Genesis 9:13
HEB: לְא֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין הָאָֽרֶץ׃
NAS: of a covenant between Me and the earth.
INT: A sign of a covenant between between and the earth

Genesis 9:13
HEB: בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינִ֖י וּבֵ֥ין הָאָֽרֶץ׃
INT: of a covenant between between and the earth

Genesis 9:15
HEB: בְּרִיתִ֗י אֲשֶׁ֤ר בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין
NAS: which is between Me and you and every
INT: my covenant which is between is between is between

Genesis 9:15
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֤ר בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין כָּל־
INT: which is between is between is between and every

Genesis 9:15
HEB: בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין כָּל־ נֶ֥פֶשׁ
INT: is between is between is between and every creature

Genesis 9:16
HEB: בְּרִ֣ית עוֹלָ֔ם בֵּ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֔ים וּבֵין֙
NAS: covenant between God
KJV: covenant between God
INT: covenant the everlasting between God between

Genesis 9:16
HEB: בֵּ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֔ים וּבֵין֙ כָּל־ נֶ֣פֶשׁ
KJV: between God and every living creature
INT: between God between and every creature

Genesis 9:17
HEB: אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֲקִמֹ֔תִי בֵּינִ֕י וּבֵ֥ין כָּל־
NAS: I have established between Me and all
INT: which have established between between and all

Genesis 9:17
HEB: הֲקִמֹ֔תִי בֵּינִ֕י וּבֵ֥ין כָּל־ בָּשָׂ֖ר
INT: have established between between and all flesh

408 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 996
408 Occurrences


bên — 167 Occ.
bê·nāw — 1 Occ.
bê·nə·ḵā — 3 Occ.
bê·nê·ḵem — 1 Occ.
bê·nê·ḵem — 3 Occ.
bê·nê·hem — 4 Occ.
bê·nê·nū — 5 Occ.
bê·nê·nū — 1 Occ.
bê·nî — 31 Occ.
bê·nōw — 3 Occ.
bê·nō·wṯ — 2 Occ.
bê·nō·ṯām — 3 Occ.
bê·nō·w·ṯê·nū — 3 Occ.
bên — 1 Occ.
bə·ḇên — 1 Occ.
lə·ḇên — 1 Occ.
mib·bên — 13 Occ.
mib·bê·nō·wṯ — 4 Occ.
ū·mib·bên — 4 Occ.
ū·ḇên — 120 Occ.
ū·ḇê·nāw — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇê·nêḵ — 1 Occ.
ū·ḇê·ne·ḵā — 15 Occ.
ū·ḇê·ne·ḵā — 2 Occ.
ū·ḇê·nê·ḵem — 10 Occ.
ū·ḇê·nê·hem — 2 Occ.
ḇên- — 3 Occ.
ḇê·nê·hem — 1 Occ.
ḇê·nê·nū — 2 Occ.

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