Original Word: חֵן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Chen
Pronunciation: khane
Phonetic Spelling: (khane)
KJV: Hen
NASB: Hen
Word Origin: [the same as H2580 (חֵן - favor)]

1. grace
2. Chen, a figurative name for an Israelite

Hen

The same as chen; grace; Chen, a figurative name for an Israelite -- Hen.

see HEBREW chen

Word Origin
from chanan
Definition
"favor," a contemporary of Zerubbabel
NASB Translation
Hen (1).

II. חֵן proper name, masculine (favour) — contemporary of Zerubbabel Zechariah 6:14, so RV SS We, but RVm Ew Hi Ke Or grace, favour, kindness.

Name and Meaning

Chen (transliterated Hen) embodies the idea of favor, kindness, or grace. As a personal name it signals the bearer’s relationship to God’s benevolence and hints at the gracious character of the divine work being described.

Biblical Occurrence

Zechariah 6:14 is the sole appearance of Chen in Scripture: “The crowns are to be held in the temple of the LORD as a memorial to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah.”

Here Chen is one of four Judean exiles who bring silver and gold from Babylon, enabling Zechariah to fashion a regal-headdress for Joshua the high priest.

Historical Context in Zechariah

1. Post-exilic setting: Zechariah ministers after the decree of Cyrus, encouraging the returned remnant to rebuild the temple.
2. Vision/action prophecy: Zechariah 6:9-15 combines a symbolic act (crowning Joshua) with a future promise (the coming Branch).
3. The donors: Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Chen represent faithful Jews still in Babylon who channel their resources to Jerusalem. Their names are permanently enshrined in the temple, underscoring the unity of dispersed and returned communities in the restoration project.
4. Possible identification: Many scholars link Chen with “Josiah” of Zechariah 6:10, viewing the difference as variant spelling; whether one individual or two, the focus remains on sacrificial generosity.

Theological Significance

• Grace memorialized: By naming Chen (“favor”) in the inscription, the prophet ties the crown—and thus the entire oracle—to God’s grace. Restoration is not earned; it is bestowed.
• Participation in God’s plan: The memorial crowns remind every worshiper that divine favor is mediated through willing human instruments.
• Stewardship of gifts: The physical contributions of exiles become a lasting testimony to the LORD’s provision, urging every generation to place resources at His disposal.

Messianic and Eschatological Overtones

The crowned high priest prefigures a royal-priestly Messiah:
• “He will be a priest on His throne” (Zechariah 6:13).
• The Branch unites offices that under the old covenant were always separate, pointing ahead to Jesus Christ, the only true King-Priest (Hebrews 7:1-3).
• Chen’s name, memorialized beside the Branch prophecy, quietly proclaims that the coming salvation is grounded in divine favor, not human merit (John 1:16-17; Ephesians 2:8-9).

Lessons for Ministry and Faith

– Embrace grace: Every act of service must flow from received favor, not self-promotion.

– Remember the givers: God values anonymous faithfulness; the temple housed their memorial long after their lives ended.

– Support kingdom work across distances: The exiles’ generosity shows that physical location never limits spiritual participation (Philippians 4:15-17).

– Anticipate the Branch: Present obedience gains its meaning from future consummation. The crowns pointed forward; so do our present labors (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Related Names and Themes

Other Hebrew names built on the same root—Hannah, Hanan, Hananiah—likewise highlight God’s gracious dealings. Together they weave a thematic thread of unmerited favor running from Genesis through Revelation, culminating in the “grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Revelation 22:21).

Summary

Though appearing only once, Chen anchors a pivotal prophetic act that binds grace, generosity, temple restoration, and Messianic hope into a single snapshot. His name reminds every reader that from exile to consummation, the entire redemptive account rests on divine favor.

וּלְחֵ֖ן ולחן ū·lə·ḥên uleChen ūləḥênInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts