Original Word: חָנַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: chanan
Pronunciation: khaw-nan'
Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-nan')
KJV: beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior
2. to favor, bestow
3. causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)

beseech, fair, be, find, show favorable, be deal, give, grant graciously,

A primitive root (compare chanah); properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. Move to favor by petition) -- beseech, X fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, X very.

see HEBREW chanah

I. חָנַן verb shew favour, be gracious (Late Hebrew id., Aramaic חֲנַן ; Arabic yearn towards, long for, be merciful, compassionate, favourable, inclined towards; Sabean חן in proper name חן מסבררהם DHM^{Epigr. Denkm. 40}; Phoenician חנן in חן favour, and proper name as אלחנן, חננבעל; Assyrian in derivatives annu, grace, favour, unninu, têninu nannu, id., Lotz^TP Zim^{BP 23, 66}) —

Qal Perfect חָנַן Genesis 33:5; suffix חַנַּ֫נִי Genesis 33:11; יְ֯חַנַּנִי 2 Samuel 12:22; חַנֹּתִי Exodus 33:19; חָנָ֑נוּ Lamentations 4:16; Imperfect יֶחֱנַן Amos 5:15; יָחֹן Deuteronomy 28:50; וַיָּ֫חָן 2 Kings 13:23; suffix יָחְנְךָ Genesis 43:29; Isaiah 30:19; וִיחֻנֶּךָָ Numbers 6:25; יְחֻנֶּנּוּ Isaiah 27:11; Job 33:24; יְחָנֵּנוּ Psalm 67:2; Psalm 123:2; Malachi 1:9; תָּחֹן Psalm 59:6; suffix תְּחָנֵּם Deuteronomy 7:2; אָחֹן Exodus 33:19; Imperative suffix חָנֵּנִי Psalm 4:2 17t. Psalms; חָנְנֵנִי Psalm 9:14 (Baer pts. חַנְנֵנִי); חָנֵּנוּ Isaiah 33:2; Psalm 123:3 (twice in verse); חָנּוּנוּ Judges 21:22; חָנּנִֻי Job 19:21 (twice in verse); Infinitive absolute חָנוֺן Isaiah 30:19; construct חַנּוֺת Psalm 77:10; חֶנְנָהּ Psalm 102:14; חֲנַנְכֶם Isaiah 30:18; Participle חֹנֵן Proverbs 14:31; חוֺנֵן Psalm 37:21 5t. Psalms, Proverbs — favour, shew favour; 1 of man:

a. Judges 21:22 favour us with them (2 accusative; i.e. by giving them to us).

b. in dealing with the poor, needy, and orphans, absolute Psalm 37:21; Psalm 37:26 = Psalm 112:5; with accusative Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 19:17; Proverbs 28:8;

c. לְ Psalm 109:12.

c. by considering and sparing, with accusative Deuteronomy 7:2; Deuteronomy 28:50; Lamentations 4:16; Job 19:21 (twice in verse).

2 of God,

a. in the bestowal of favours, with accusative Genesis 33:11 (E), Genesis 43:29 (J), Numbers 6:25 (P), 2 Samuel 12:22; double accusative Genesis 33:5 (E), תּוֺרָֽתְךָ חָנֵּנִי be gracious unto me (in giving) thy law Psalm 119:29.

b. usually in the bestowal of redemption from enemies, evils, and sins; absolute Psalm 77:10, elsewhere with accusative Exodus 33:19 (twice in verse) (JE), Amos 5:15; 2 Kings 13:23; Isaiah 27:11; Isaiah 30:18,19 (twice in verse); Isaiah 33:2; Malachi 1:9; Psalm 4:2; Psalm 6:3; Psalm 9:14; Psalm 25:16; Psalm 26:11; Psalm 27:7; Psalm 30:11; Psalm 31:10; Psalm 41:5; Psalm 41:11; Psalm 51:3; Psalm 56:2; Psalm 57:2 (twice in verse); Psalm 59:6; Psalm 67:2; Psalm 86:3; Psalm 86:16; Psalm 102:14; Psalm 119:58; Psalm 119:132; Psalm 123:2; Psalm 123:3 (twice in verse); Job 33:24. — Job 19:17 see II. חנן

Niph`al Perfect2feminine singular נֵחַנְתְּ Jeremiah 22:23 be pitied (compare נֵאַר √ארר) but ᵐ5 ᵑ6 ᵑ9 express groan (i.e. נֶאֱנַחְתְּ), which is favoured by context, and adopted by Hi Ew Gf Gie and others

Pi`el Imperfect3masculine singular make gracious, favourable כִּייְֿחַנֵּן קוֺלוֺ Proverbs 26:25.

Poe`l Imperfect3masculine singular direct favour to (Ges^{§ 55}, 1) וְאֶתעֲֿפָרָהּ יְחֹנֵנוּ Psalm 102:15; Participle מְחוֺנֵן עֲנָיִ֯ים Proverbs 14:21.

Hoph`al Imperfect יֻחַן be shewn favour, consideration Isaiah 26:10; Proverbs 21:10.

Hithpa`el Perfect2masculine singular הִתְחַנַּנְתָּה 1 Kings 9:3 5t. Perfect; Imperfect וַיִּתְחַנֵּן 2 Kings 1:13; וַתִּתְחַנֶּןֿ Esther 8:3; אֶתְחַנָּ֑ן Psalm 30:9 #NAME?t. Imperfect; Infinitive לְהִתְחֶנֶּןֿ Esther 4:8; בְּהִתְחַנְנוֺ Genesis 42:21 — seek or implore favour:

1 of man, with אֶל Genesis 42:21 (E) 2 Kings 1:13; with לְ Job 19:16; Esther 4:8; Esther 8:3.

2 of God, with אֶלֿ Deuteronomy 3:23; 1 Kings 8:33,47 2Chronicles 6:37; Job 8:5; Psalm 30:9; Psalm 142:2; with לְ Hosea 12:5; Job 9:15; with לפני 1 Kings 8:59; 1 Kings 9:3; 2Chronicles 6:24.

II. [חָנַן] be loathsome (compare Arabic x. foetorem emisit (puteus); Syriac rancid); — only וְחַנֹּתִ֫י לִבְנֵי בִטְנִי Job 19:17 and I am loath-some to the sons of my womb ("" זָרָה see II. זור), so RVm Ew De Di and others (On the tone see De.)

[חֲנַן] verb shew favour (see Biblical Hebrew); —

Pa`el Infinitive with aff. person מִחַן (K^{§ K:46, 3 a}) Daniel 4:24 (compare Biblical Hebrew

Po`. Proverbs 14:21).

Hithpa. implore favour (of God; so Biblical Hebrew Hithpa`el), Participle מִתְחַנֵּן Daniel 6:12.

Root Idea: Undeserved Favor and Kindness

ḥanan expresses the free, heartfelt inclination of a superior to show favor, compassion, or generosity to one in need. The emphasis lies on unearned mercy, not contractual obligation. Whenever the verb appears, the recipient stands in dependence; the giver, most frequently the Lord, acts out of His own character.

The Lord as the Primary Giver of Grace

The vast majority of occurrences portray Yahweh extending grace:

• In Moses’ intercession after Israel’s sin with the golden calf, he prays, “If I have indeed found favor in Your sight, my Lord, please let my Lord go with us… pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance” (Exodus 34:9). Moses hinges Israel’s future on divine ḥanan, not their merit.

• David testifies, “For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You” (Psalm 86:5). The verb anchors Yahweh’s forgiving nature in His gracious initiative.

• In prophetic warning, the Lord still invites repentance: “Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He rises to show you compassion” (Isaiah 30:18). Divine justice and grace operate harmoniously, upholding covenant faithfulness.

Human Appeals for Grace

Petitioners frequently plead, “Be gracious to me”:

• Lament: “Be gracious to me, O God, for men crush me” (Psalm 56:1).

• Penitence: “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving devotion” (Psalm 51:1).

• Need for healing: “O Lord my God, I cried to You, and You healed me” (Psalm 30:2).

These prayers model humble dependence, teaching believers to ground requests in God’s character rather than personal righteousness.

Grace within Covenant Context

ḥanan is never arbitrary. It flows from the covenant name Yahweh and His steadfast love (ḥesed). In Numbers 6:24-26 the priestly blessing combines divine protection, shining face, and graciousness, encapsulating covenant privilege. The blessing prepares the canonical foundation for Paul’s closing benedictions centuries later.

Liturgical Centrality in Psalms

Roughly one-third of all uses occur in Psalms, shaping Israel’s worship. Refrains such as “Turn to me and be gracious to me” (Psalm 119:132) or “The Lord is gracious and compassionate” (Psalm 145:8) teach successive generations to celebrate and seek grace. Corporate singing engraved the concept upon the nation’s heart.

Prophetic Appeals and Eschatological Hope

Prophets employ ḥanan to hold out hope beyond judgment:

• “I will strengthen the house of Judah… for I will have compassion on them” (Zechariah 10:6).

• “I will pour out on the house of David… a spirit of grace and supplication” (Zechariah 12:10), foreshadowing the outpouring at Pentecost and ongoing gospel proclamation.

Grace is thus both present reality and future promise, culminating in the messianic age.

Ethical Implications for God’s People

Receiving divine ḥanan obligates believers to imitate it:

• “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord” (Proverbs 19:17).

• “He who is gracious to the needy honors Him” (Proverbs 14:31).

Social justice rooted in grace proclaims God’s character to the nations.

Typological Fulfillment in Jesus Christ

The Gospel of John declares, “The Word became flesh… full of grace and truth… For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:14,17). What ḥanan anticipates, charis embodies. The cross satisfies justice so grace may abound, echoing Exodus 34:6-7 in perfected form.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

1. Preaching: Emphasize God’s gracious initiative as the foundation of salvation and sanctification.
2. Counseling: Direct the penitent to pray Psalm 51, relying on grace rather than self-effort.
3. Worship planning: Integrate songs and readings that highlight divine favor, reinforcing assurance.
4. Outreach: Extend practical kindness, reflecting the grace believers have received (Ephesians 4:32).

Selected Occurrence Index

Genesis 33:5; Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:6-9; Numbers 6:25; Deuteronomy 3:23-25; 2 Samuel 12:22; 1 Kings 8:33-34; 2 Chronicles 6:25-27; Nehemiah 1:11; Job 19:21; Psalm 4:1; 6:2; 9:13; 25:16; 41:4,10; 51:1; 57:1; 67:1; 86:3,16; 102:13; 119:29,58,132; 123:2-3; 142:1; Proverbs 14:21,31; 19:17; Isaiah 30:18-19; 33:2; 49:8; 55:7; Jeremiah 26:19; Amos 5:15; Zechariah 4:7; 12:10; Malachi 1:9.

Conclusion

ḥanan threads through the Old Testament as a golden strand of divine kindness, from patriarchal narratives to prophetic promises. It grounds Israel’s worship, shapes ethical conduct, and prepares the way for the full revelation of grace in Jesus Christ, encouraging every generation to seek the Lord who delights to be gracious.

אֶתְחַנֶּן־ אֶתְחַנָּֽן׃ אָחֹ֔ן אחן אתחנן־ אתחנן׃ בְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹ בהתחננו הִתְחַנַּ֙נְתִּי֙ הִתְחַנַּ֣נְתָּה התחננתה התחננתי וְ֝חַנֹּתִ֗י וְהִֽתְחַנְּנ֛וּ וְהִֽתְחַנְּנ֣וּ וְחַנֹּתִי֙ וְחַנַּ֥נִי וְחָ֫נֵּ֥נִי וְחָנֵּ֑נִי וְחָנֵּ֥נִי וְחָנֵּֽנִי׃ וִֽיחָנֵ֑נוּ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ וַיְחֻנֶּ֗נּוּ וַיִּתְחַנֵּ֤ן וַיִּתְחַנֶּן־ וַיָּחָן֩ וַתִּתְחַנֶּן־ וָאֶתְחַנַּ֖ן וּמְחוֹנֵ֖ן ואתחנן והתחננו וחנני וחנני׃ וחנתי ויחן ויחנך׃ ויחננו ויתחנן ויתחנן־ ומחונן ותתחנן־ ח֝וֹנֵ֗ן ח֣וֹנֵֽן חַנַּ֥נִי חָ֝נֵּ֗נִי חָֽנְנֵ֬נִי חָנ֤וֹן חָנֵּ֑נִי חָנֵּ֑נוּ חָנֵּ֖נוּ חָנֵּ֗נִי חָנֵּ֣נִי חָנֵּ֣נוּ חָנֵּ֤נִי חָנֵּ֥נִי חָנֵּֽנִי׃ חָנַ֥ן חָנָֽנוּ׃ חָנֻּ֣נִי חָנֻּ֬נִי חָנּ֣וּנוּ חֹנֵ֥ן חוֹנֵ֣ן חוֹנֵ֥ן חונן חנון חנונו חנן חננו חננו׃ חנני חנני׃ חננני יְחַנֵּ֣ן יְחָנֵּ֥נוּ יְחֹנֵֽנוּ׃ יְחֻנֶּֽנּוּ׃ יֶֽחֱנַ֛ן יָחְנְךָ֖ יָחְנְךָ֙ יָחֹֽן׃ יֻחַ֖ן יֻחַ֤ן יחן יחן׃ יחנך יחנן יחננו יחננו׃ לְ֝חֶֽנְנָ֗הּ לְהִֽתְחַנֶּן־ לְחוֹנֵ֖ן לַֽחֲנַנְכֶ֔ם להתחנן־ לחונן לחננה לחננכם נֵּחַנְתְּ֙ נחנת שֶׁיְּחָנֵּֽנוּ׃ שיחננו׃ תְחָנֵּֽם׃ תִּתְחַנָּֽן׃ תָּחֹ֨ן תחן תחנם׃ תתחנן׃ ’ā·ḥōn ’āḥōn ’eṯ·ḥan·nān ’eṯ·ḥan·nen- ’eṯḥannān ’eṯḥannen- aChon bə·hiṯ·ḥan·nōw behitchanNo bəhiṯḥannōw chaNan chaNanu chaneNeni chanNani chanNenu chanNuni chanNunu chaNon choNen chonneni etchanNan etchannen ḥā·nā·nū ḥā·nan ḥā·nə·nê·nî ḥā·nō·wn ḥan·na·nî ḥān·nê·nî ḥān·nê·nū ḥān·nu·nî ḥān·nū·nū ḥānan ḥānānū ḥānənênî ḥannanî ḥānnênî ḥānnênū ḥānnunî ḥānnūnū ḥānōwn hiṯ·ḥan·nan·tāh hiṯ·ḥan·nan·tî hitchanNantah hitchanNanti hiṯḥannantāh hiṯḥannantî ḥō·nên ḥō·w·nên ḥōnên ḥōwnên la·ḥă·nan·ḵem lachananChem laḥănanḵem lə·ḥen·nāh lə·hiṯ·ḥan·nen- lə·ḥō·w·nên lechenNah lechoNen ləḥennāh lehitchannen ləhiṯḥannen- ləḥōwnên nê·ḥant nechanT nêḥant še·yə·ḥān·nê·nū šeyəḥānnênū sheiyechanNenu tā·ḥōn taChon tāḥōn ṯə·ḥān·nêm techanNem ṯəḥānnêm tiṯ·ḥan·nān titchanNan tiṯḥannān ū·mə·ḥō·w·nên umechoNen ūməḥōwnên vaetchanNan vaiyaChan vaiyitchanNen vattitchannen vaychunNennu vechanNani vechannoTi vechonNeni vehitchanneNu vichaNenu VichunNeka wā’eṯḥannan wā·’eṯ·ḥan·nan wat·tiṯ·ḥan·nen- wattiṯḥannen- way·ḥun·nen·nū way·yā·ḥān way·yiṯ·ḥan·nên way·yiṯ·ḥan·nen- wayḥunnennū wayyāḥān wayyiṯḥannên wayyiṯḥannen- wə·ḥan·na·nî wə·ḥān·nê·nî wə·ḥan·nō·ṯî wə·hiṯ·ḥan·nə·nū wəḥannanî wəḥānnênî wəḥannōṯî wəhiṯḥannənū wî·ḥā·nê·nū wî·ḥun·ne·kā wîḥānênū wîḥunnekā yā·ḥə·nə·ḵā yā·ḥōn yacheneCha yaChon yāḥənəḵā yāḥōn yə·ḥān·nê·nū yə·ḥan·nên ye·ḥĕ·nan yə·ḥō·nê·nū yə·ḥun·nen·nū yechanNen yechanNenu yecheNan yechoNenu yechunNennu yəḥannên yəḥānnênū yeḥĕnan yəḥōnênū yəḥunnennū yu·ḥan yuChan yuḥanInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts