חַנִּיאֵל
𐤇𐤍𐤉𐤀𐤋
Chaniel
H2592 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A personal name meaning 'El/God has shown favor' or 'Favored by El.' Used for two distinct individuals in the Hebrew Bible, this theophoric name incorporates the divine element El (God) and the notion of bestowing grace or favor, attesting to a hope or recognition of divine benevolence. Typically used as a proper name, not as a common noun or adjective.
Semantic Range
personal name expressing 'El has shown favor', name of individuals; no non-personal use in biblical texts
Root / Etymology
From the root חנן (ḥ-n-n), 'to show favor, be gracious' and אֵל (El), the common Northwest Semitic term for 'God.' The name is formed as a theophoric compound, meaning 'El has shown favor' or 'Favored by El.' This follows a common pattern in Northwest Semitic anthroponymy (naming practices), in which divine names appear in personal names to express attributes or relationships.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The name חַנִּיאֵל (Hanniel) appears for two men in the Hebrew Bible: 1) A leader from the tribe of Ephraim assigned to assist in the land allotment (Numbers 34:23); 2) A son of Uzziel in the genealogies of Levites (1 Chronicles 7:39). Such theophoric names, combining a root of graciousness and the divine name El, are characteristic of Israelite onomastics, especially in the monarchic and post-exilic periods. Later English translations sometimes use 'Hanniel' or substitute names based on transliteration conventions. The underlying meaning relates to the broader motif of divine favor, echoing other Hebrew names like חֲנַנְיָה (Hananiah, 'Yah has shown favor'). Unlike generic grace- or favor-words, this form is strictly a personal name. English translations preserve the proper name but do not reflect its meaning. The biblical usage indicates no particular status beyond being typical among Israelite theophoric names.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from חָנַן and אֵל; favor of God; Channiel, the name of two Israelites; Hanniel.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
חנן (ḥ-n-n) — to be gracious, show favor, bestow kindness
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H1135 | בֶּן־חָנָן | he showed favor |
| H2433 | חִין | and beauty-of |
| H2580 | חֵן | favor |
| H2581 | חֵן | and to Favor |
| H2583 | חָנָה | Favored One (feminine) |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2592-02 |
וְ/חַנִּיאֵ֖ל | vechaniel | HC/Np |
and Hanniel | And El-has-shown-favor | 1 |
H2592-01 |
חַנִּיאֵ֖ל | chaniel | HNp |
Hanniel | El-has-shown-favor | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H2592-01 |
Numbers 34:23 | חַנִּיאֵ֖ל | chaniel | HNp |
Hanniel | El-has-shown-favor |
H2592-02 |
1 Chronicles 7:39 | וְ/חַנִּיאֵ֖ל | vechaniel | HC/Np |
and Hanniel | And El-has-shown-favor |