2587. channun

Lexicon

channun: Gracious, merciful

Original Word: חַנּוּן
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: channuwn
Pronunciation: khan-NOON
Phonetic Spelling: (khan-noon')
Definition: Gracious, merciful
Meaning: gracious

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

gracious

From chanan; gracious -- gracious.

see HEBREW chanan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from chanan
Definition
gracious
NASB Translation
gracious (13).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

חַנּוּן adjective gracious, only used as an attribute of God, as hearing the cry of the vexed debtor Exodus 22:26 (covenant code), "" מְרַחֵם Psalm 116:5; elsewhere in the earlier phrase רַחוּם וְחַנּוּן Exodus 34:6 (JE) = Psalm 86:15; Psalm 103:8, or the later חַנּוּן וְרַחוּם2Chronicles 30:9; Nehemiah 9:17,31; Psalm 111:4; Psalm 112:4; Psalm 145:8; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the root חָנַן (chanan), which means "to be gracious" or "to show favor."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G1655 (ἐλεήμων, eleēmōn): This Greek term is often translated as "merciful" or "compassionate" and shares a similar semantic field with חַנּוּן. It is used in the New Testament to describe the merciful nature of God and the expected behavior of believers, as seen in passages like Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy."

This lexical entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the Hebrew term חַנּוּן, highlighting its significance in biblical theology and its parallels in the Greek New Testament.

Usage: The word חַנּוּן is used in the Hebrew Bible to describe individuals who exhibit grace and favor. It is often used in the context of God's gracious nature or the gracious actions of people.

Context: • Occurrences in the Bible: The term חַנּוּן appears in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. It is used to describe both divine and human attributes of grace and favor.
• Examples of Usage:
• In 1 Samuel 25:3, Abigail is described as "intelligent and beautiful," while her husband Nabal is "harsh and evil in his dealings." The contrast highlights the gracious nature of Abigail, though the specific term חַנּוּן is not used here, it is illustrative of the concept.
• In Nehemiah 9:17, the Israelites acknowledge God's gracious nature: "But You are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion."
• Theological Significance: The concept of being gracious is central to understanding the character of God in the Hebrew Bible. God's grace is often associated with His covenantal faithfulness and mercy towards His people. The term חַנּוּן underscores the idea that grace is an essential attribute of God, reflected in His interactions with humanity.
• Cultural Context: In ancient Near Eastern cultures, being gracious was a valued trait, often associated with leadership and authority. A gracious leader was seen as one who could show mercy and favor, thus maintaining harmony and justice within the community.

Forms and Transliterations

וְחַנּ֑וּן וְחַנּ֣וּן וחנון חַנּ֖וּן חַנּ֣וּן חַנּ֤וּן חַנּ֥וּן חַנּ֧וּן חנון chanNun ḥan·nūn ḥannūn vechanNun wə·ḥan·nūn wəḥannūn

Englishman's Concordance

Exodus 22:27
HEB: וְשָׁמַעְתִּ֖י כִּֽי־ חַנּ֥וּן אָֽנִי׃ ס
NAS: out to Me, I will hear [him], for I am gracious.
KJV: unto me, that I will hear; for I [am] gracious.
INT: will hear when I am gracious I

Exodus 34:6
HEB: אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם
NAS: compassionate and gracious, slow
KJV: merciful and gracious, longsuffering,
INT: God compassionate and gracious slow to anger

2 Chronicles 30:9
HEB: הַזֹּ֑את כִּֽי־ חַנּ֤וּן וְרַחוּם֙ יְהוָ֣ה
NAS: your God is gracious and compassionate,
KJV: your God [is] gracious and merciful,
INT: likewise for is gracious and compassionate the LORD

Nehemiah 9:17
HEB: אֱל֨וֹהַּ סְלִיח֜וֹת חַנּ֧וּן וְרַח֛וּם אֶֽרֶךְ־
NAS: of forgiveness, Gracious and compassionate,
KJV: ready to pardon, gracious and merciful,
INT: God of forgiveness Gracious and compassionate Slow

Nehemiah 9:31
HEB: כִּ֛י אֵֽל־ חַנּ֥וּן וְרַח֖וּם אָֽתָּה׃
NAS: of them or forsake them, For You are a gracious and compassionate
KJV: them, nor forsake them; for thou [art] a gracious and merciful
INT: for God gracious and compassionate you

Psalm 86:15
HEB: אֵל־ רַח֣וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַ֝פַּ֗יִם
NAS: merciful and gracious, Slow
KJV: full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering,
INT: God merciful and gracious Slow to anger

Psalm 103:8
HEB: רַח֣וּם וְחַנּ֣וּן יְהוָ֑ה אֶ֖רֶךְ
NAS: is compassionate and gracious, Slow
KJV: [is] merciful and gracious, slow
INT: is compassionate and gracious the LORD Slow

Psalm 111:4
HEB: עָ֭שָׂה לְנִפְלְאֹתָ֑יו חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָֽה׃
NAS: The LORD is gracious and compassionate.
KJV: the LORD [is] gracious and full of compassion.
INT: has made his wonders is gracious and compassionate the LORD

Psalm 112:4
HEB: א֭וֹר לַיְשָׁרִ֑ים חַנּ֖וּן וְרַח֣וּם וְצַדִּֽיק׃
NAS: for the upright; [He is] gracious and compassionate
KJV: in the darkness: [he is] gracious, and full of compassion,
INT: Light the upright gracious and compassionate and righteous

Psalm 116:5
HEB: חַנּ֣וּן יְהֹוָ֣ה וְצַדִּ֑יק
NAS: Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
KJV: Gracious [is] the LORD, and righteous;
INT: Gracious is the LORD and righteous

Psalm 145:8
HEB: חַנּ֣וּן וְרַח֣וּם יְהוָ֑ה
NAS: The LORD is gracious and merciful;
KJV: The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion;
INT: is gracious and merciful the LORD

Joel 2:13
HEB: אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־ חַנּ֤וּן וְרַחוּם֙ ה֔וּא
NAS: your God, For He is gracious and compassionate,
KJV: your God: for he [is] gracious and merciful,
INT: your God for is gracious and compassionate he

Jonah 4:2
HEB: אַתָּה֙ אֵֽל־ חַנּ֣וּן וְרַח֔וּם אֶ֤רֶךְ
NAS: for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate
KJV: for I knew that thou [art] a gracious God,
INT: you God gracious and compassionate slow

13 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 2587
13 Occurrences

ḥan·nūn — 10 Occ.
wə·ḥan·nūn — 3 Occ.