Discern
Jump to: ISBEWebster'sConcordanceThesaurusGreekHebrewLibrarySubtopicsTermsResources
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (v. t.) To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish.

2. (v. t.) To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and recognize; as, to discern a difference.

3. (v. i.) To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood.

4. (v. i.) To make cognizance.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DISCERN

di-zurn': Five Hebrew words are thus translated: bin, yadha`, nakhar, ra'ah and shama`. It may simply mean "observe" (bin), "I discerned among the youths" (Proverbs 7:7); or discriminating knowlege, "A wise man's heart discerneth time and judgment" (Ecclesiastes 8:5, yadha`); "He discerned him not, because his hands," etc. (Genesis 27:23, nakhar); "Then shall ye return and discern between the righteous and the wicked" (Malachi 3:18, ra'ah); "So is my lord the king to discern good," etc. (2 Samuel 14:17, shama`). In the New Testament the words anakrino, diakrino and dokimazo are thus translated, expressing close and distinct acquaintance with or a critical knowledge of things. Used in 1 Corinthians 2:14 the King James Version of "the things of the spirit of God"; in 1 Corinthians 11:29 of "the (Lord's) body" in the sacrament; in Matthew 16:3 of "the face of the heaven"; in Hebrews 5:14 of a clear knowledge of good and evil as the prerogative of a full-grown man. See also next article.

Henry E. Dosker

Greek
2529. kathorao -- to discern clearly
... to discern clearly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kathorao Phonetic Spelling:
(kath-or-ah'-o) Short Definition: I see clearly Definition: I see clearly ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2529.htm - 7k

1252. diakrino -- to distinguish, to judge
... to judge. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: diakrino Phonetic Spelling:
(dee-ak-ree'-no) Short Definition: I distinguish, discern, doubt, hesitate Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1252.htm - 9k

3708. horao -- to see, perceive, attend to
... horao Phonetic Spelling: (hor-ah'-o) Short Definition: I see, look upon, experience
Definition: I see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern, beware. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3708.htm - 9k

1921. epiginosko -- to know exactly, to recognize
... recognize. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: epiginosko Phonetic Spelling:
(ep-ig-in-oce'-ko) Short Definition: I come to know, discern, recognize Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1921.htm - 10k

350. anakrino -- to examine, investigate
... examining (2), trial (1). question, discern, examine, search. From ana and krino;
properly, to scrutinize, ie (by implication) investigate ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/350.htm - 8k

1381. dokimazo -- to test, by impl. to approve
... 1381 ("to approve by testing") is done to what is , ie . 1381 () does focus on
something (ie to show it is ). allow, discern, examine, approve, try. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1381.htm - 8k

2334. theoreo -- to look at, gaze
... Phonetic Spelling: (theh-o-reh'-o) Short Definition: I behold, look at, experience
Definition: I look at, gaze, behold; I see, experience, discern; I partake of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2334.htm - 9k

1253. diakrisis -- the act of judgment
... Word Origin from diakrino Definition the act of judgment NASB Word Usage discern
(1), distinguishing (1), passing judgment (1). discerning, disputation. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1253.htm - 7k

2924. kritikos -- critical
... of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: kritikos Phonetic Spelling: (krit-ee-kos')
Short Definition: able to judge Definition: critical, able to judge or discern ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2924.htm - 6k

826. augazo -- to shine forth
... Spelling: (ow-gad'-zo) Short Definition: I shine forth Definition: I flash, gleam,
shine forth, appear white, bright; but perhaps: I see, see clearly, discern. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/826.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew
995. bin -- to discern
... 994b, 995. bin. 996 . to discern. Transliteration: bin Phonetic Spelling:
(bene) Short Definition: understand. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/995.htm - 7k

5234. nakar -- to regard, recognize
... root Definition to regard, recognize NASB Word Usage able (1), acknowledge (3),
acknowledges (1), discern (1), distinguish (1), distinguishes (1), examine (1 ...
/hebrew/5234.htm - 6k

8085. shama -- to hear
... root Definition to hear NASB Word Usage announce (2), announced (3), announces
(3), completely (1), comprehends (1), diligently (1), discern (1), disregarded ...
/hebrew/8085.htm - 7k

3045. yada -- to know
... understand (2), cohabit (1), comprehend (1), concern (2), concerned (1), consider
(3), declare (1), detected (1), directed (1), discern (2), disciplined (1 ...
/hebrew/3045.htm - 8k

7919a. sakal -- to be prudent
... to be prudent NASB Word Usage act wisely (1), acts wisely (3), behaved himself wisely
(1), comprehend (1), consider (1), considers (2), discern (1), expert (1 ...
/hebrew/7919a.htm - 6k

7200. raah -- to see
... applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative) -- advise
self, appear, approve, behold, X certainly, consider, discern, (make to ...
/hebrew/7200.htm - 7k

Library

How to Discern Our Title to the Saints' Rest.
... CHAPTER VIII. HOW TO DISCERN OUR TITLE TO THE SAINTS' REST. Self-examination
urged, 1. From the possibility of arriving at a certainty ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter viii how to discern.htm

By this we May Discern what Strange Power God Hath Given to us by ...
... THE SECOND CENTURY 60 By this we may discern what strange power God hath
given to us by loving us infinitely. By this we may discern ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/traherne/centuries of meditations/60 by this we may.htm

A Means to Discern this Imperfect Love.
... BOOK IV. OF THE DECAY AND RUIN OF CHARITY. CHAPTER XI. A MEANS TO DISCERN
THIS IMPERFECT LOVE. But, you will ask me, what means ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xi a means to.htm

How we are to Discern Whether a Phrase is Figurative.
... Book III. Chapter 10."How We are to Discern Whether a Phrase is Figurative.
14. But in addition to the foregoing rule, which guards ...
/.../augustine/on christian doctrine in four books /chapter 10 how we are to.htm

The Signs of the Times
... Second Series Sermon 66 The Signs of the Times. "Ye can discern the face of the
sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" Matthew 16:3. ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 66 the signs of.htm

The Signs of the Redeemer's Return
... times of His advent. But the Jews failed to discern these Signs and the
Saviour reproached them for their failure. Said He, "When ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/chapter six the signs of.htm

The Scriptures Reveal Eternal Life through Jesus Christ
... So then, there needs be no more question about the divine authority of the scriptures
among those who have their senses exercised to discern between good and ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture iv the scriptures reveal.htm

1 Corinthians ii. 12
... therefore, as beings devoid of reason cannot understand the truths of science, or
of man's wisdom, for they are without the faculty which can discern them; so ...
/.../arnold/the christian life/lecture xvii 1 corinthians ii.htm

Agree with Thine Adversary
... Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it
that ye do not discern this time?" If God can give you common sense about one ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xxvii agree with thine.htm

A Description of Mystical Theology, which is no Other Thing than ...
... of our own heart in the infinite diversity of motions by which it turns itself,
in so many ways and with such promptitude, that one cannot discern its track. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter i a description of.htm

Thesaurus
Discern (49 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and recognize; as,
to discern a difference. ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DISCERN. ...
/d/discern.htm - 22k

Distinguish (16 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities;
to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it ...
/d/distinguish.htm - 12k

Difference (19 Occurrences)
... (KJV). 2 Samuel 19:35 I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern between good
and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? ...
/d/difference.htm - 13k

Discerning (29 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Discern. 2. (a.) Acute;
shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/d/discerning.htm - 15k

O (1414 Occurrences)
... You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs
of the times! (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/o/o.htm - 37k

Overcast (1 Occurrence)
... threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky,
but you can't discern the signs of the times! (See NIV). ...
/o/overcast.htm - 7k

Lowering (2 Occurrences)
... lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can
ye not discern the signs of the times? (KJV ASV DBY WBS). ...
/l/lowering.htm - 7k

Weather (5 Occurrences)
... Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't
discern the signs of the times! (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE WBS YLT). ...
/w/weather.htm - 10k

Interpret (27 Occurrences)
... You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the
signs of the times! (See RSV NIV). Luke 12:56 You hypocrites! ...
/i/interpret.htm - 15k

Foul (41 Occurrences)
... Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you
can't discern the signs of the times! (WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT). ...
/f/foul.htm - 21k

Resources
How can we discern counterfeit miracles? | GotQuestions.org

Why are there so many televangelist scandals? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about discernment? | GotQuestions.org

Discern: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Discern (49 Occurrences)

Matthew 16:3
In the morning,'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times!
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Luke 12:56
Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
(KJV DBY WBS)

1 Corinthians 2:15
But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.
(Root in WEB DBY YLT)

1 Corinthians 6:5
unto your shame I speak: so there is not among you one wise man, not even one, who shall be able to discern in the midst of his brethren!
(YLT)

1 Corinthians 11:29
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, if he doesn't discern the Lord's body.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

1 Corinthians 14:29
Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
(WEB ASV YLT)

Philippians 1:10
so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ;
(See NIV)

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Hebrews 5:14
But solid food is for those who are full grown, who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT NAS)

Genesis 27:23
And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy, as his brother Esau's hands: so he blessed him.
(Root in KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 31:32
Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it." For Jacob didn't know that Rachel had stolen them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Genesis 37:32
and they sent the vest of many colours and had it carried to their father, and said, This have we found: discern now whether it is thy son's vest or not.
(DBY YLT)

Genesis 38:25
When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "By the man, whose these are, I am with child." She also said, "Please discern whose are these-the signet, and the cords, and the staff."
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)

Deuteronomy 1:17
ye do not discern faces in judgment; as the little so the great ye do hear; ye are not afraid of the face of any, for the judgment is God's, and the thing which is too hard for you, ye bring near unto me, and I have heard it;
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 16:19
Thou dost not turn aside judgment; thou dost not discern faces, nor take a bribe, for the bribe blindeth the eyes of the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
(YLT)

Deuteronomy 32:29
Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end!
(See JPS NAS RSV NIV)

Ruth 2:10
And she falleth on her face, and boweth herself to the earth, and saith unto him, 'Wherefore have I found grace in thine eyes, to discern me, and I a stranger?'
(YLT)

Ruth 3:14
She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, "Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor."
(WEB JPS ASV YLT)

2 Samuel 14:17
Then your handmaid said,'Please let the word of my lord the king bring rest; for as an angel of God, so is my lord the king to discern good and bad. May Yahweh, your God, be with you.'"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Samuel 19:35
I am this day eighty years old. Can I discern between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be yet a burden to my lord the king?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS RSV)

1 Kings 3:9
Give your servant therefore an understanding heart to judge your people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this your great people?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Kings 3:11
God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezra 3:13
so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Nehemiah 6:12
I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV YLT)

Job 4:16
It stood still, but I couldn't discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Job 6:30
Is there injustice on my tongue? Can't my taste discern mischievous things?
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 7:10
He turneth not again to his house, Nor doth his place discern him again.
(YLT)

Job 32:9
It is not the great that are wise, Nor the aged that understand justice.
(See JPS)

Job 37:14
Hearken unto this, Job; stand still and discern the wondrous works of ?God.
(DBY)

Job 38:20
that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Psalms 19:12
Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 58:9
Before your pots discern the bramble, As well the raw as the heated He whirleth away.
(YLT)

Psalms 103:16
For a wind hath passed over it, and it is not, And its place doth not discern it any more.
(YLT)

Proverbs 1:2
to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
(WEB ASV DBY NAS)

Proverbs 2:5
Then the fear of the Lord will be clear to you, and knowledge of God will be yours.
(See NAS)

Proverbs 2:9
Then you will have knowledge of righteousness and right acting, and upright behaviour, even of every good way.
(See NAS)

Proverbs 7:7
I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
(Root in WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Proverbs 14:7
Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the lips of knowledge.
(See NAS)

Proverbs 14:8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way; but the folly of the foolish is deceit.
(DBY RSV)

Proverbs 24:23
These also are for the wise: -- To discern faces in judgment is not good.
(YLT)

Proverbs 28:21
To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.
(YLT)

Isaiah 32:4
The man of sudden impulses will become wise in heart, and he whose tongue is slow will get the power of talking clearly.
(See NAS)

Isaiah 44:18
They have no knowledge or wisdom; for he has put a veil over their eyes, so that they may not see; and on their hearts, so that they may not give attention.
(See RSV)

Isaiah 56:11
and the dogs are greedy, they know not to be satisfied, and these are shepherds that know not how to discern: they all turn to their own way, every one for his gain, even to the last of them:
(DBY)

Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests have done violence to my law, and have profaned my holy things: they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
(WEB ASV)

Ezekiel 44:23
They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Daniel 9:25
Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem to the Anointed One, the prince, shall be seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks: it shall be built again, with street and moat, even in troubled times.
(WEB JPS ASV NAS)

Jonah 4:11
Shouldn't I be concerned for Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred twenty thousand persons who can't discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much livestock?"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Malachi 3:18
Then you shall return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who serves God and him who doesn't serve him.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Subtopics

Discern

Related Terms

Distinguish (16 Occurrences)

Difference (19 Occurrences)

Discerning (29 Occurrences)

O (1414 Occurrences)

Overcast (1 Occurrence)

Lowering (2 Occurrences)

Weather (5 Occurrences)

Interpret (27 Occurrences)

Foul (41 Occurrences)

Threatening (7 Occurrences)

Discerned (17 Occurrences)

Drinks (28 Occurrences)

Morning (264 Occurrences)

Can't (180 Occurrences)

Stormy (12 Occurrences)

Senses (12 Occurrences)

See (8256 Occurrences)

Signs (127 Occurrences)

Sky (278 Occurrences)

Hypocrites (22 Occurrences)

Face (780 Occurrences)

Faces (158 Occurrences)

Sharp (115 Occurrences)

Recognize (52 Occurrences)

Eats (57 Occurrences)

Bad (129 Occurrences)

Appearance (126 Occurrences)

Understanding (248 Occurrences)

Added (97 Occurrences)

Judge (297 Occurrences)

Profane (69 Occurrences)

120000 (4 Occurrences)

Vest (11 Occurrences)

Keener (2 Occurrences)

Kinsmen (74 Occurrences)

Know (8133 Occurrences)

Uzza (10 Occurrences)

Uzzah (10 Occurrences)

Unworthy (8 Occurrences)

Owns (13 Occurrences)

Joyful (83 Occurrences)

Jesse (45 Occurrences)

Joints (7 Occurrences)

Lacked (18 Occurrences)

Govern (21 Occurrences)

Gloomy (10 Occurrences)

Grown (77 Occurrences)

Whirleth (2 Occurrences)

Weigh (24 Occurrences)

Whomsoever (28 Occurrences)

Intentions (3 Occurrences)

Issuing (5 Occurrences)

Indeed (628 Occurrences)

Injustice (32 Occurrences)

Fullgrown (4 Occurrences)

Findest (7 Occurrences)

Faith (769 Occurrences)

Father-in-law (25 Occurrences)

Fourscore (33 Occurrences)

Tell (3056 Occurrences)

Two-edged (7 Occurrences)

Recognizing (10 Occurrences)

Redeemer (42 Occurrences)

Ribbons (1 Occurrence)

Righteousness (442 Occurrences)

Eighty (36 Occurrences)

Espy (2 Occurrences)

Exercised (20 Occurrences)

Errors (15 Occurrences)

Examine (48 Occurrences)

Descry (1 Occurrence)

Devices (43 Occurrences)

Double-edged (6 Occurrences)

Dispute (37 Occurrences)

Distort (8 Occurrences)

Distinction (14 Occurrences)

Discarded (3 Occurrences)

Disregarded (8 Occurrences)

Dividing (23 Occurrences)

Discarded
Top of Page
Top of Page