Now that we spent two posts (1, 2) building an approach to what it is we are asking for, the noun, I want to go to the originally intended topic of the post – the verb of the berakhah, “Chonein.”

The expressions “מצא חן – found grace”, or in the first person – “מצאתי חן”, are found a number of times in Tanakh. Chein is something found, not earned.

So when we say “אַתָּה חוֹנֵן לְאָדָם דַּֽעַת” we are describing Hashem as granting humans Da’as regardless of their merit. And the entire progression of “דֵּעָה בִּינָה וְהַשְׂכֵּל” is similarly “חָנֵּֽנוּ מֵאִתְּ֒ךָ” – received graciously. And the focus of the berakhah, “בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ חוֹנֵן הַדָּֽעַת” blesses Hashem as “the One who Graciously bestows Da’as”.

There is one exception. A different verb is used for Binah. “וּמְלַמֵּד לֶאֱנוֹשׁ בִּינָה – and He teaches man Binah. Teaching requires the cooperation and effort of the student. Offered graciously, if you choose to take it.

Da’as, however, is the tool used for decision-making. Whether we earn anything in life or not depends on how we use it. Hashem granting Da’as is logically prior to the recipient being able to earn anyrhing.

Therefore, it can only come from Hashem’s Chein.