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חָנָה

𐤇𐤍𐤄

chânâh

H2583 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חנה to encamp, to pitch (tents), to set up a temporary dwelling

Definition

To set up camp or establish a temporary encampment, typically by pitching tents; more broadly, to dwell or reside in a temporary or mobile fashion. In military, pastoral, and migratory contexts, to encamp or to station oneself or one's group, often with an implication of impermanence or readiness to move. Occasionally, to lay siege or station troops in a location. The verb reflects an act rather than a state, focusing on the process and intentionality of settling somewhere temporarily.

Semantic Range

to set up camp, to pitch tents, to encamp (nomadic or military), to station troops, to lay siege, to dwell temporarily, to halt one's journey for a time; metaphorically, to settle briefly, to take up temporary residence

Root / Etymology

Root חנה, likely relating to the core action of 'bending down,' 'settling,' or 'inclining' in the sense of drawing toward a location to rest. Distinct from חנן (to be gracious), though sometimes compared morphologically; actual lexical development is independent. Derived forms often denote camps, encampments, or places prepared for sojourning.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָנָה is most commonly used for encampment situations in the Pentateuch (e.g., Israelite camps during the wilderness period). In military contexts, especially in narratives describing sieges or battle preparations, it denotes the positioning or establishment of a camp in proximity to another group or city. The verb always implies a provisional or mobile living situation, distinct from יָשַׁב (to dwell, settle permanently). In later periods (e.g., prophetic or historical books describing Assyrian or Babylonian campaigns), חָנָה is used for armies laying siege or stationing in preparation for attack, emphasizing the temporariness and strategic purpose. English translations sometimes fail to differentiate between the nuances of nomadic encampment and military siege, both of which are contextually significant in the Hebrew Bible. Unlike roots indicating permanent residence, חָנָה retains the idea of impermanence and preparedness for movement. In poetic texts, may be used metaphorically for God's presence 'encamping' with people.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (compare חָנַן); properly, to incline; by implication, to decline (of the slanting rays of evening); specifically, to pitch atent; gen. to encamp (for abode or siege); abide (in tents), camp, dwell, encamp, grow to an end, lie, pitch (tent), rest in tent.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חנה (ḥ-n-h) — encamping, pitching tents, setting up temporary dwelling

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2588 חָנוּת the vaulted cells
H2595 חֲנִית spear
H4264 מַחֲנֶה in the encampment
H4265 מַחֲנֵה־דָן encampment of
H4266 מַחֲנַיִם Two Camps-ward

Word Forms

23 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2583-16 וַ/יַּחֲנ֣וּ vayachanu HC/Vqw3mp and they encamped and they encamped 80
H2583-23 יַחֲנֽוּ yachanu HVqi3mp shall camp they will encamp 14
H2583-18 וַ/יִּ֥חַן vayichan HC/Vqw3ms and encamped and he encamped 10
H2583-21 וְ/הַ/חֹנִים֙ vehachonim HC/Td/Vqrmpa and-those-camping and the ones encamping 5
H2583-04 חָנ֤וּ chanu HVqp3cp encamp they encamped 5
H2583-08 חֹנִ֣ים chonim HVqrmpa camping encamping ones 5
H2583-09 הַ/חֹנִ֖ים hachonim HTd/Vqrmpa encamping the encamping ones 4
H2583-01 חָנָה chanah HVqp3ms had encamped Favored One (feminine) 2
H2583-19 וְ/חָנִ֥יתִי vechaniti HC/Vqq1cs and-I-will-encamp and I set up camp 2
H2583-07 חֹנֶ֥ה choneh HVqrmsa encamps encamping one 2

Occurrences in Scripture

143 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2583-18 Genesis 26:17 וַ/יִּ֥חַן vayichan HC/Vqw3ms and encamped and he encamped
H2583-18 Genesis 33:18 וַ/יִּ֖חַן vayichan HC/Vqw3ms and encamped and he encamped
H2583-16 Exodus 13:20 וַ/יַּחֲנ֣וּ vayachanu HC/Vqw3mp and encamped and they encamped
H2583-22 Exodus 14:2 וְ/יַחֲנוּ֙ veyachanu HC/Vqj3mp and encamp let them encamp
H2583-12 Exodus 14:2 תַחֲנ֖וּ tachanu HVqi2mp you shall encamp you will encamp
H2583-08 Exodus 14:9 חֹנִ֣ים chonim HVqrmpa camping encamping ones
H2583-16 Exodus 15:27 וַ/יַּחֲנוּ vayachanu HC/Vqw3mp and they encamped and they encamped
H2583-16 Exodus 17:1 וַֽ/יַּחֲנוּ֙ vayachanu HC/Vqw3mp and they encamped and they encamped
H2583-07 Exodus 18:5 חֹנֶ֥ה choneh HVqrmsa was encamped encamping one
H2583-16 Exodus 19:2 וַֽ/יַּחֲנ֖וּ vayachanu HC/Vqw3mp and they encamped and they encamped
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