Discern (To) - Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words
Usage Number: 1
Strong's Number: H5234
Original Word: nakar
Usage Notes: "to discern, regard, recognize, pay attention to, be acquainted with." This verb is found in both ancient and modern Hebrew. It occurs approximately 50 times in the Hebrew Old Testament. The first time nakar is used is in Gen. 27:23. The basic meaning of the term is a "physical apprehension," whether through sight, touch, or hearing. Darkness sometimes makes "recognition" impossible (Ruth 3:14). People are often "recognized" their voices (Judg. 18:3). Nakar sometimes has the meaning of "pay attention to," a special kind of "recognition": "Blessed be the man who took notice of you" (Ruth 2:19, rsv, kjv, "did take knowledge of"). This verb can mean "to be acquainted with," a kind of intellectual awareness: "… Neither shall his place know him any more" (Job 7:10; cf. Psa. 103:16). The sense of "to distinguish" is seen in Ezra 3:13: " … The people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people…."