Hanani is a biblical figure mentioned in the Old Testament, known for his role as a prophet and for his familial connection to Nehemiah. His name, which means "gracious" or "graciously given" in Hebrew, reflects the divine favor and responsibility associated with his life and ministry.

1. Hanani the Prophet

Hanani is first introduced in 2 Chronicles 16:7-10, where he serves as a prophet during the reign of King Asa of Judah. Hanani is sent by God to rebuke Asa for relying on the king of Aram instead of the Lord. The Berean Standard Bible records Hanani's message: "At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him: 'Because you relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand'" (2 Chronicles 16:7). Hanani's bold confrontation highlights the importance of faith and reliance on God rather than human alliances. Asa's response to Hanani's prophecy was one of anger, leading to the prophet's imprisonment, as noted in 2 Chronicles 16:10.

2. Hanani, Brother of Nehemiah

Another notable figure named Hanani is mentioned in the Book of Nehemiah. He is identified as the brother of Nehemiah, the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia and the leader of the Jewish return to Jerusalem. In Nehemiah 1:2, Hanani brings a report to Nehemiah about the dire state of Jerusalem: "Hanani, one of my brothers, came from Judah with some other men, and I questioned them about the Jewish remnant that had survived the exile, and also about Jerusalem" (Nehemiah 1:2). This report deeply moves Nehemiah, prompting him to pray and eventually seek permission from the king to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

Hanani's role in this narrative underscores his concern for the welfare of his people and the city of Jerusalem. Later, Nehemiah appoints Hanani as one of the leaders in charge of Jerusalem, recognizing his faithfulness and fear of God: "I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most men do" (Nehemiah 7:2).

3. Hanani in the Context of Faithfulness

The accounts of Hanani in the Bible emphasize themes of faithfulness, integrity, and the importance of relying on God. Whether confronting a king or reporting on the state of Jerusalem, Hanani's actions are marked by a commitment to truth and divine principles. His life serves as a reminder of the prophetic voice that calls God's people to faithfulness and the importance of leadership grounded in the fear of the Lord.Hanani

my grace; my mercy

Hanani

(gracious).

1. One of the sons of Heman, and head of the eighteenth course of the service. (1 Chronicles 25:4,25)
2. A seer who rebuked (B.C. 941) Asa king of Judah. (2 Chronicles 16:7) For this he was imprisoned. ver. 10 He or another Hanani was the father of Jehu the seer, who testified against Baasha, (1 Kings 16:1,7) and Jehoshaphat. (2 Chronicles 19:2; 20:34)
3. One of the priests who in the time of Ezra had taken strange wives. (Ezra 10:20)
4. A brother of Nehemiah, (Nehemiah 1:2) who was made governor of Jerusalem under Nehemiah. Ch. (Nehemiah 7:2)
5. A priest mentioned in (Nehemiah 12:36)

Hanani

1. A seer in the time of Asa, 955-914 B. C. imprisoned for his fidelity. He was also the father of the prophet Jehu, 1 Kings 16:1-7 2 Chronicles 16:7-10 19:2:20:34.

2. A brother of Nehemiah, who brought to Babylon an account of the wretched state of the Jews then at Jerusalem, and afterwards had charge of the gates of the city, Nehemiah 1:1-3 7:2,3, B. C. 455.

God has gratified me, or is gracious.

(1.) One of the sons of Heman (1 Chronicles 25:4, 25).

(2.) A prophet who was sent to rebuke king Asa for entering into a league with Benhadad I., king of Syria, against Judah (2 Chronicles 16:1-10). He was probably the father of the prophet Jehu (1 Kings 16:7).

(3.) Probably a brother of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1:2; 7:2), who reported to him the melancholy condition of Jerusalem. Nehemiah afterwards appointed him to have charge of the city gates.

HANANI

ha-na'-ni (chanani, "gracious"):

(1) A musician and son of Heman, David's seer, and head of one of the courses of the temple service (1 Chronicles 25:4, 25).

(2) A seer, the father of Jehu. He was cast into prison for his courage in rebuking Asa for relying on Syria (1 Kings 16:1, 7 2 Chronicles 19:2; 2 Chronicles 20:34).

(3) A priest, of the sons of Immer, who had married a foreign wife (Ezra 10:20).

(4) A brother or kinsman of Nehemiah who carried news of the condition of the Jews in Palestine to Susa and became one of the governors of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1:2; Nehemiah 7:2).

(5) A priest and chief musician who took part in the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:36).

Byron H. Dement

2607. Chanani -- the name of several Israelites
... Chanani. 2608 . the name of several Israelites. Transliteration: Chanani Phonetic
Spelling: (khan-aw-nee') Short Definition: Hanani. ... NASB Word Usage Hanani (11 ...
/hebrew/2607.htm - 6k

The Kingdom Op Judah.
... His end was less good than his beginning; he made a league with the Syrians instead
of trusting to God; and threw the prophet Hanani into prison for having ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson vii the kingdom op.htm

'A Mirror for Magistrates'
... 'And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.2.
And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a mirror for magistrates.htm

A Reformer's Schooling
... And it came to pass in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan
the palace, 2. That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/a reformers schooling.htm

Overcoming Great Difficulties
... wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers
and the Levites had been appointed, I placed my brother Hanani, the commander ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/overcoming great difficulties.htm

Nehemiah's Answer to a Call for Help
... In the twentieth year of Artaxerxes' reign, in the month of November, I((Nehemiah)
was in Shushan, the royal palace, when Hanani, one of my brothers, and ...
/.../sherman/the childrens bible/nehemiahs answer to a call.htm

National Apostasy
... This failure to trust God alone in time of need was sternly rebuked by Hanani
the prophet, who appeared before Asa with the message: ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 8 national apostasy.htm

Formation and History of the Hebrew Canon.
... the reign of Abijah, "the story" (commentary) "of the prophet Iddo" (2:Chron.13:
22); for the reign of Jehoshaphat, "the book of Jehu the son of Hanani," who is ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xv formation and history.htm

Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ...
... xv.1-8), and Hanani under Asa (2 Ghron. xvi.7-10), Jahaziel (2 Ghron. xx.14-19),
and Eliezer, son of Dodavahu (2 Ghron. xx.37), in the time of Johoshaphat. ...
/.../chapter iitiglath-pileser iii and the.htm

The Last Days of the Old Eastern World
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 9. <. ...
/.../chapter iithe last days of 2.htm

Hanani (11 Occurrences)
... gates. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HANANI. ha-na ... 36). Byron H. Dement.
Multi-Version Concordance Hanani (11 Occurrences). 1 Kings ...
/h/hanani.htm - 12k

Hanani'ah (28 Occurrences)
Hanani'ah. Hananiah, Hanani'ah. Hand . Multi-Version Concordance
Hanani'ah (28 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles 3:19 And the ...
/h/hanani'ah.htm - 14k

Hana'ni (11 Occurrences)
Hana'ni. Hanani, Hana'ni. Hananiah . ... 1 Kings 16:1 And the word of the LORD
came to Jehu the son of Hanani against Baasa, saying: (See RSV). ...
/h/hana'ni.htm - 9k

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)
... Through his brother Hanani, and perhaps from other sources (Nehemiah 1:2; 2:3),
he heard of the mournful and desolate condition of the Holy City, and was ...
/n/nehemiah.htm - 24k

Baasa (26 Occurrences)
... four years. (See JPS). 1 Kings 16:1 And the word of Jehovah came to Jehu
the son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, (See JPS). 1 Kings ...
/b/baasa.htm - 13k

Ba'asha (26 Occurrences)
... four years. (See RSV). 1 Kings 16:1 The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the
son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, (See RSV). 1 Kings 16 ...
/b/ba'asha.htm - 13k

Baasha (26 Occurrences)
... NIV). 1 Kings 16:1 The word of Yahweh came to Jehu the son of Hanani against
Baasha, saying, (WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). 1 ...
/b/baasha.htm - 16k

Prisoner (87 Occurrences)
... In the monarchical period, prophets who criticized the throne were put in prison,
eg Micaiah by Ahab (1 Kings 22:27), Hanani by Asa (2 Chronicles 16:10). ...
/p/prisoner.htm - 42k

Hananiah (28 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 25:4 Of Heman; the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel,
and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamti-Ezer ...
/h/hananiah.htm - 20k

Seer (21 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 16:7 At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said
to him, Because you have relied on the king of Syria, and have not relied on ...
/s/seer.htm - 17k

How many prophets are in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about Christian character? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about faithfulness? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus