# \*bVyVn-: 'understand; distinguish; make clear'

> Proto-Semitic *bVyVn-, 'understand; distinguish; make clear': reflexes in 17 language(s).

A page of the Linear A Lexicon's research wiki, in [Wiki](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/index.md>) › [Kaphtor Semitic Roots](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/index.md>) › [B](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/index.md>). Updated 2026-10-22.

## Root

| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Reconstruction | \*bVyVn- |
| Meaning | 'understand; distinguish; make clear' |
| Basis | SED |
| SED | SEDonline semet 611 |

## Reflexes

| Language | Form | Sources | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabic | byn, II |  | gloss withheld |
| Mandaic Aramaic | bwn |  | gloss withheld |
| Ugaritic | bn (DULAT 222) | DULAT 222 | gloss withheld |
| Geez | bayyana |  | gloss withheld |
| Phoenician | bn |  |  |
| Hebrew | byn (HALOT 122) | HALOT 122 | gloss withheld |
| Epigraphic South Arabian | bwn |  | gloss withheld |
| Judaic Aramaic | byn |  | gloss withheld |
| Syrian Aramaic | byn pa. |  |  |
| Aramaic | Palm byn |  |  |
| Tigre | banban (HALOT 122) | HALOT 122 | gloss withheld |
| Tigrinya | bäyyänä (LGz. 116) | LGz. 116 | gloss withheld |
| Amharic | bäyyänä (LGz. 116) | LGz. 116 | gloss withheld |
| Amorite | byn (Huffmon APNM 176); b-y-n: ba-nu-um, ba-na-nim, ba-na-nu-um (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 134); bjn: bānum, bānatum, bajjānum, jabīn (Gelb AS 21, 16) | Huffmon APNM 176; Sanmartín GlOS 1, 134; Gelb AS 21 16 | gloss withheld |
| Eblaitic | cf. bí-a-tum /bīnat/ (Sanmartín GlOS 1, 134) | Sanmartín GlOS 1, 134 | gloss withheld |
| Pre-Islamic North Arabian | Safaitic bn (Al-Jallad 2026, 31) | Al-Jallad 2026 31 | gloss withheld |
| Biblical Aramaic | bīnā (HALOT 123) | HALOT 123 | gloss withheld |

A form keeps its source's gloss only when the source is public domain or openly licensed.

## Linked from

- [B](<https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/index.md>)

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Page: https://linear-a.ai/wiki/semitic-roots/b/630_understand_distinguish_make_clear/
Licence: CC BY 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Cite as: di Mino, Tom. 2026. Linear A Lexicon. Plasma AI. https://linear-a.ai/. Data: kaphtor, commit add28e94.