Lexical Summary Ben-chanan: Ben-hanan Original Word: בֶּן־חָנָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ben-hanan From ben and Chanan; son of Chanan; Ben- Chanan, an Israelite -- Ben-hanan. see HEBREW ben see HEBREW Chanan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ben and Chanan Definition "son of Hanan," a man of Judah NASB Translation Benhanan (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בֶּןחָֿנָן proper name, masculine one of tribe ofJudah 1 Chronicles 4:20. Topical Lexicon Name and Symbolic Meaning Ben-hanan means “son of favor” or “son of grace.” The root idea of divine favor woven into the name quietly foreshadows the central biblical theme that God’s dealings with His covenant people are grounded in unmerited grace (Genesis 6:8; Titus 2:11). Genealogical Placement (1 Chronicles 4:1–23) Ben-hanan appears once, in 1 Chronicles 4:20, where he is listed among the four sons of Shimon, a descendant of Judah: “The sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.” (1 Chronicles 4:20) Chronicles traces multiple family branches within Judah to document the tribe’s growth from the patriarch Judah through the post-exilic period. Shimon’s line sits between the record of Hezron’s descendants (4:1–19) and the introduction of the distinct tribe of Simeon (4:24–43). By embedding Ben-hanan in this Judahite record, the Chronicler reinforces the prominence of Judah, from which David, and ultimately Messiah (Matthew 1:1–3), would come. Historical Background 1 Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile to assure the returning community of its enduring identity. Genealogies confirmed land rights, priestly lineage, and tribal responsibilities. Ben-hanan’s entry, though brief, validated the broader clan of Shimon as legitimate Judahites who could reclaim ancestral territory around Bethlehem and Hebron (Joshua 15:20–63). Possible Tribal Roles While Scripture gives no narrative about Ben-hanan’s personal activities, the surrounding passage (1 Chronicles 4:21–23) mentions potters, linen workers, and royal servants from related Judahite families. These verses hint that Shimon’s line may have contributed skilled artisans to the monarchy. In David’s era, guilds of craftsmen were organized for temple construction (1 Chronicles 22:2; 1 Chronicles 29:5). Genealogical continuity suggests Ben-hanan’s house could have shared in such covenantal service—quiet, practical ministry that advanced God’s worship in Israel. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Faithfulness. Every individual named in Judah’s register, including Ben-hanan, testifies that the Lord kept Abrahamic promises of multiplication (Genesis 15:5) despite exiles and national failure. Practical Applications for Ministry • Encourage every believer that hidden faithfulness matters. Ben-hanan receives a single verse, yet his inclusion proves God observes and remembers each servant (Hebrews 6:10). Selected Cross-References Genesis 38:1-10; 46:12 – Origin of Judah’s lineage. 1 Chronicles 2:3-15 – Earlier list of Judah’s descendants. 1 Chronicles 22:15-19; 29:5 – Craftsmen prepared for temple service. Matthew 1:1-3; Luke 3:33 – Judah’s line reaching to Christ. Forms and Transliterations חָנָ֖ן חנן chaNan ḥā·nān ḥānānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 4:20 HEB: וְרִנָּ֔ה בֶּן־ חָנָ֖ן [וְתֹולֹון כ] NAS: and Rinnah, Benhanan and Tilon. KJV: and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. INT: Amnon and Rinnah Benhanan birth and the sons |
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