How many times is understanding mentioned in the Bible?
The word understanding appears 160 times in the King James Version, in 156 verses. It is found in 30 of the 66 books. The World English Bible uses understanding 168 times.
Understanding in the King James Version and the World English Bible
Each form of understanding counted in each translation.
| Form | KJV | WEB |
|---|---|---|
| understanding | 160 | 168 |
| Total | 160 | 168 |
Which books mention understanding most
Understanding appears in 30 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Proverbs has the most (54), then Job (17) and Psalms (13).
Also in: Nehemiah (2), Obadiah (2), Mark (2), Colossians (2), 1 Samuel (1), Ecclesiastes (1), Ezekiel (1), Hosea (1), Matthew (1), Romans (1), Philippians (1), 1 Timothy (1), 2 Timothy (1), 1 John (1), Revelation (1).
First and last mention of understanding
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
The verse that uses it most is Deuteronomy 4:6, 2 times (tied with Proverbs 10:13, 1 Corinthians 14:15, 1 Corinthians 14:20):
Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
Where the two translations differ
16 verses match in the KJV but not in the World English Bible, and 25 verses match only in the World English Bible, usually because the other translation chose a different word there.
1 Samuel 25:3: counted in the KJV only
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb.
Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail. This woman was intelligent and had a beautiful face; but the man was surly and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.
Ezra 8:16: counted in the KJV only
Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding.
Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, for Elnathan, for Jarib, for Elnathan, for Nathan, for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib and for Elnathan, who were teachers.
1 Chronicles 27:32: counted in the World English Bible only
Also Jonathan David’s uncle was a counsellor, a wise man, and a scribe: and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons:
Also Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, a man of understanding, and a scribe; and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni was with the king’s sons.
2 Chronicles 30:22: counted in the World English Bible only
And Hezekiah spake comfortably unto all the Levites that taught the good knowledge of the LORD: and they did eat throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings, and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.
Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who had good understanding in the service of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the feast for the seven days, offering sacrifices of peace offerings, and making confession to Yahweh, the God of their fathers.
Verses with understanding on our topic pages
32 verses that use understanding in the World English Bible are in our topic collections.
Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
On: Faithfulness, Success
Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all.
Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of understanding. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, and sought to hear the word of God.
On: What Does the Bible Say About Witchcraft? 25 Verses, Psychics
I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
On: Wisdom
For Yahweh gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
On: Wisdom
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
On: Wisdom
Common questions
How many times is understanding in the Old Testament and the New Testament?
In the King James Version, counting every form, 136 of the 160 uses are in the Old Testament and 24 in the New Testament. Understanding appears in 30 books of the 66 in the King James Version. Proverbs has the most (54), then Job (17) and Psalms (13).
Where is understanding first mentioned in the Bible?
The first use in the King James Version is Exodus 31:3: "And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship," The last is Revelation 13:18.
More word counts: witness, judge, servant, ox, hair, Hamath, Asahel, Amram, or all 635 words.
Counted by Bible Says About from the full public-domain text of the King James Version (1769 edition) and the World English Bible. Verse text only: headings and psalm titles are left out. A word is a run of letters: a hyphenated name like Beer-sheba counts as two, and an apostrophe stays inside its word (LORD'S is one). Matching ignores capital letters. Data compiled 2026-10-24.