Original Word: חֲניִת
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: chaniyth
Pronunciation: khaw-neeth'
Phonetic Spelling: (khan-eeth')
KJV: javelin, spear
NASB: spear, spears
Word Origin: [from H2583 (חָנָה - camped)]

1. a lance (for thrusting, like pitching a tent)

javelin, spear

From chanah; a lance (for thrusting, like pitching a tent) -- javelin, spear.

see HEBREW chanah

Word Origin
from chanah
Definition
a spear
NASB Translation
spear (40), spears (7).

חֲנִית noun feminine spear (as flexible? see Thes); — absolute חֲנִית 2 Samuel 13:19 26t.; construct id. 1 Samuel 26:16 (so 1 Samuel 26:22 Qr, where Kt has article); suffix חֲנִיתָ֑ךָ Habakkuk 3:11; חֲנִיתוֺ 1 Samuel 17:7 (twice in verse) + 11 t. + 2 Samuel 23:8, see below; plural חֲנִיתִים2Chronicles 23:9; חֲנִיתוֺתֵיהֶם Isaiah 2:4 = חֲנִיתֹתֵיהֶם Micah 4:3; —

1 spear, as hurled 1 Samuel 18:10,11; 1 Samuel 19:9,10 (twice in verse); 1 Samuel 20:33; held by king 1 Samuel 22:6; sign of king's presence 1 Samuel 26:7,8,11,12,16,22 (see RS^{K 171}); also 2 Samuel 1:6; 2 Samuel 2:23; 2 Samuel 21:19; 2 Samuel 23:18,21 (3 t. in verse); 1 Chronicles 11:11 = 2 Samuel 23:8, where read הוּא עוֺרֵר אֶתחֲֿנִיתוֺ (for הוּא עֲדִינוֺ הָעֶצְנִו֯) according to Ew Th Ke Klo Dr (not We), 1 Chronicles 11:20,23 (3 t. in verse); plural 2Chronicles 23:9; often "" חֶרֶב 1 Samuel 13:19,22; 1 Samuel 17:45,47; 1 Samuel 21:9; Isaiah 2:4 = Micah 4:3; Nahum 3:3; "" שְׁלָטִים 2 Kings 11:10; "" צִנָּה 1 Chronicles 12:35 (Baer); מַסָּע Job 41:18; סְגֹד Psalm 35:3; "" קֶשֶׁת Psalm 46:10.

2. a. shaft of spear is ׳עֵץ ח 2 Samuel 23:7; 1 Chronicles 20:5 + 1 Samuel 17:7 Qr (doubtless right; Kt חץ).

b. spear-head ׳לַהֶבֶת ח 1 Samuel 17:7, compare ׳לַהַב ח Job 39:23; ׳בְּרַק ח Nahum 3:3; Habakkuk 3:11.

c. butt of spear ׳אַחֲרֵי ח 2 Samuel 2:23.

3 metaphor of teeth of lions Psalm 2Sam 57:5 ("" חצים; figurative of Psalmist's enemies).

Overview

חֲנִית (spear, javelin) appears roughly forty-seven times across the Hebrew Scriptures, almost half of them in the books of Samuel and Chronicles. In narrative it is the characteristic long-shafted weapon of champions, kings and seasoned soldiers; in poetry and prophecy it becomes a poetic emblem both of deadly power and of eschatological peace.

Military Function in Israel’s History

1. Weapon of the Giant. 1 Samuel 17 portrays Goliath’s spear as so massive that “its iron point weighed six hundred shekels” (1 Samuel 17:7). The text magnifies the Philistine threat while setting the stage for David’s faith to triumph over human strength (17:45).
2. Symbol of Royal Might. Saul is repeatedly shown with spear in hand (1 Samuel 18:10; 19:9; 26:7). The weapon underscores his martial authority and, tragically, his murderous jealousy as he tries to pin David to the wall (18:11; 19:10).
3. Battle in the Civil War. Abner kills Asahel “with the butt of his spear” (2 Samuel 2:23), demonstrating how even the non-lethal end could become deadly.
4. Deeds of the Mighty Men. Spear-feats mark several of David’s elite warriors: Abishai “raised his spear against three hundred men and killed them” (2 Samuel 23:18); Benaiah wrests a spear from an Egyptian “and killed him with his own spear” (23:21). Elhanan strikes down Goliath’s kin, also identified by a spear “like a weaver’s beam” (2 Samuel 21:19; 1 Chronicles 20:5).

Symbol of Authority and Identity

Saul’s spear stuck in the ground by his head (1 Samuel 26:7) functions like a royal scepter. When David absconds with it, he proves that he could have taken Saul’s life yet spared him (26:12, 22). The episode shows that power rightly exercised is restrained by covenant fidelity.

Instrument of Faith Testing and Deliverance

David’s refusal of Saul’s armor (1 Samuel 17:38-39) and his declaration, “It is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves” (17:47), establish a theological principle echoed throughout Scripture: deliverance is from the LORD, not from human armaments.

Poetic and Prophetic Usage

• Job 39:23; 41:26 employ spear imagery to accent the fearlessness of horse and Leviathan.
• Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3 look forward to the messianic era when nations “beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” Conversely Joel 3:10 calls the nations to reverse the process in preparation for judgment, highlighting divine sovereignty over history’s wars and peaces.

Typological and Theological Themes

1. Mercy over Retribution. The spared king (1 Samuel 26) foreshadows the Gospel pattern in which rightful judgment is withheld for a season of grace.
2. Weakness Overcoming Strength. David versus Goliath anticipates the cross, where apparent weakness overthrows cosmic powers (compare 1 Corinthians 1:25).
3. Royal Weapon Turned Against Its Bearer. Saul’s misuse of his spear contributes to his downfall, illustrating that authority divorced from obedience self-destructs.
4. Ultimate Disarmament. The prophetic vision of disarming spears points to the Prince of Peace whose reign fulfills the hope of universal shalom.

Practical Ministry Applications

• Leadership: Power must be tempered by covenant-keeping; unchecked passion (Saul) wounds others and the leader himself.
• Spiritual Warfare: Dependence on human implements fails; victory comes through faithfulness to God’s promises (David).
• Peacemaking: The call to beat spears into pruning hooks encourages believers to labor for reconciliation, anticipating the consummation of the kingdom.

Key Representative References

Genesis 49:5 (metaphorical), Joshua 8:18-26; 1 Samuel 13:19-22; 17:7, 47; 18:10-11; 19:9-10; 20:33; 21:9; 22:6; 26:7-22; 2 Samuel 2:23; 21:16-19; 23:18-21; 1 Chronicles 11:11, 20; 20:5; Job 39:23; 41:26; Isaiah 2:4; Joel 3:10; Micah 4:3.

Conclusion

Across Scripture חֲנִית moves from a terrifying tool of war to a surrendered implement of peace. Its trajectory mirrors the biblical storyline in which God subdues human violence, ultimately establishing a kingdom where no spear is needed, for “nation will no longer take up the sword against nation” (Isaiah 2:4).

בַּֽחֲנִית֙ בַּחֲנִ֤ית בַּחֲנִיתֽוֹ׃ בחנית בחניתו׃ הַֽחֲנִית֙ הַֽחֲנִיתִים֙ הַחֲנִ֔ית הַחֲנִ֖ית הַחֲנִ֛ית הַחֲנִ֜ית הַחֲנִית֙ החנית החניתים וְהַחֲנִ֖ית וַחֲנִ֔ית וַחֲנִית֖וֹ וַחֲנִית֙ וַחֲנִית֣וֹ וַחֲנִית֥וֹ וַחֲנִיתֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ וַחֲנִיתֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙ וּבַחֲנִ֖ית וּבַחֲנִ֣ית ובחנית והחנית וחנית וחניתו וחניתותיהם וחניתתיהם חֲנִ֑ית חֲנִ֔ית חֲנִ֖ית חֲנִ֣ית חֲנִ֥ית חֲנִֽית׃ חֲנִית֑וֹ חֲנִית֔וֹ חֲנִית֗וֹ חֲנִית֙ חֲנִית֛וֹ חֲנִיתֶֽךָ׃ חנית חנית׃ חניתו חניתך׃ ba·ḥă·nî·ṯōw ba·ḥă·nîṯ bachaNit bachaniTo baḥănîṯ baḥănîṯōw chaNit chaniTecha chaniTo ha·ḥă·nî·ṯîm ha·ḥă·nîṯ ḥă·nî·ṯe·ḵā ḥă·nî·ṯōw ḥă·nîṯ hachaNit hachaniTim haḥănîṯ haḥănîṯîm ḥănîṯ ḥănîṯeḵā ḥănîṯōw ū·ḇa·ḥă·nîṯ ūḇaḥănîṯ uvachaNit vachaNit vachaniTo vachanitoteiHem vehachaNit wa·ḥă·nî·ṯō·ṯê·hem wa·ḥă·nî·ṯō·w·ṯê·hem wa·ḥă·nî·ṯōw wa·ḥă·nîṯ waḥănîṯ waḥănîṯōṯêhem waḥănîṯōw waḥănîṯōwṯêhem wə·ha·ḥă·nîṯ wəhaḥănîṯInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts