3662. Kenani

Lexical Summary

Kenani: Kenani

Original Word: כְּנָנִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Knaniy
Pronunciation: keh-nah-NEE
Phonetic Spelling: (ken-aw-nee')
KJV: Chenani
NASB: Chenani, thus
Word Origin: [from H3661 (כָּנַן - To establish)]

1. planted
2. Kenani, an Israelite

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

planted; Kenani, an Israelite

From kanan; planted; Kenani, an Israelite:

see HEBREW kanan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as ken
Definition
a Levite
NASB Translation
Chenani (1), thus (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

כְּנָנִי proper name, masculine a Levite Nehemiah 9:4, א^c. a A Ξανανι, ᵐ5^L Ξωνενιας (B omitted)

Topical Lexicon

Identification and Name Variants

Kenani (כְנָנִי, Strong’s 3662) appears once in the Hebrew text at Nehemiah 9:4 as the name of a Levite who assisted in the great covenant–renewal assembly after the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s wall. Some English versions (e.g., King James Version) preserve the transliteration “Chenani,” while the Berean Standard Bible, following an alternate pointing, reads “Pethahiah.” The reading “Kenani” is supported by the consonantal text and by early Jewish tradition; therefore most lexicons list the form under its own entry.

Historical Setting

The event of Nehemiah 9 occurs on the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month (Tishri) in 444 B.C., only weeks after the public reading of the Law on the first day of the same month (Nehemiah 8 – 10). Having heard Scripture and celebrated the Feast of Booths, the returned exiles gathered again for corporate confession and covenant affirmation. The people stood on a rise in the public square, faced the newly repaired wall, and “they cried out with a loud voice to the LORD their God” (Nehemiah 9:4). Eight Levites led the assembly; Kenani is listed alongside Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, and Bani (second occurrence). Their presence highlights the Levitical responsibility to teach, interpret, and model obedience to the Law (Deuteronomy 33:10; 2 Chronicles 17:7-9).

Role in the Covenant-Renewal Ceremony

1. Leading Public Intercession – The Levites first “cried out” (qaraʾ) in lament and confession (Nehemiah 9:4). The verb denotes both volume and urgency, underlining sincere repentance.
2. Guiding Worship – Immediately afterward, the same leaders exhorted the people: “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting” (Nehemiah 9:5). The Levites then chanted one of the longest recorded prayers in Scripture (Nehemiah 9:5-37), recounting creation, the Abrahamic covenant, the Exodus, wilderness provision, conquest, exile, and mercy. Kenani therefore helped articulate Israel’s redemptive history and call the nation back to covenant fidelity.
3. Signing the Covenant – Though Kenani’s name does not appear among the later sealers in Nehemiah 10, the Levites as a class affixed their names, indicating his implicit participation in binding Israel to renewed obedience regarding marriage, Sabbath, and temple support (Nehemiah 10:28-39).

Levitical Ministry Significance

Kenani’s solitary reference illustrates several abiding principles of Levitical service:
• Mediation – Levites bridged the gap between priestly ritual and lay understanding, giving voice to communal confession and praise (Numbers 8:14-19).
• Instruction – Their proclamation of Israel’s account made theology practical, placing contemporary sin and hope within God’s steadfast plan (Nehemiah 8:7-8; 9:4-38).
• Accountability – By leading in repentance before the reading of the Law and by participating in covenant ratification, they modeled submission to Scripture’s authority.

Theological Reflection

Kenani’s brief appearance testifies that Scripture records even seemingly minor servants to underscore the collective nature of covenant obedience. The narrative demonstrates:
• The sufficiency of Scripture – The Levites’ prayer is saturated with biblical history, showing confidence in God’s revealed acts and words as the basis for present appeals (Psalm 119:160).
• The continuity of God’s mercy – Though the people confessed repeated rebellion, the refrain “in Your great compassion You did not abandon them” (Nehemiah 9:19) assures readers that divine faithfulness endures.
• The necessity of corporate repentance – Genuine renewal required national acknowledgment of sin, guided by spiritual leaders like Kenani. New Testament parallels appear in Acts 2:37-42, where leadership catalyzes collective repentance and covenant entry.

Lessons for Contemporary Believers

1. No service is insignificant. Kenani’s name surfaces only once, yet his obedience contributed to one of Israel’s pivotal spiritual awakenings (1 Corinthians 15:58).
2. Worship and confession must remain Scripture-centered. The Levites’ prayer shows that recounting God’s Word fuels genuine contrition and worship (Colossians 3:16).
3. Spiritual leaders should call God’s people to covenant faithfulness, not merely perform ritual duties (Hebrews 13:17).

Related Entries and Cross-References

• Jeshua (Nehemiah 8:7; 9:4) – fellow Levite leader
• Sherebiah (Nehemiah 8:7; 12:24) – teacher of the Law
• Covenant Renewal – Exodus 24; Deuteronomy 29; 2 Kings 23; Nehemiah 10
• Prayer of the Levites – Nehemiah 9:5-37

Kenani stands as an enduring reminder that God records the faithfulness of every servant who lifts up His name and calls His people to heartfelt devotion.

Forms and Transliterations

כְנָ֑נִי כנני cheNani ḵə·nā·nî ḵənānî

Englishman's Concordance

Nehemiah 9:4
HEB: שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה בָּנִ֣י כְנָ֑נִי וַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֙ בְּק֣וֹל
NAS: Bani [and] Chenani, and they cried
KJV: Bani, [and] Chenani, and cried
INT: Sherebiah Bani Chenani cried voice

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 3662
1 Occurrence

ḵə·nā·nî — 1 Occ.