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חֲנִינָה

𐤇𐤍𐤉𐤍𐤄

chănîynâh

H2594 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חנן to be gracious, to show favor, to show mercy

Definition

Kindness or favor shown to another, particularly as an act of clemency, compassion, or mercy; denotes the act of granting undeserved favor or relief, often in a formal or interpersonal context. The term is used to describe an attitude or disposition characterized by generosity, leniency, or indulgence, and can refer to the resulting state of being favored or treated with kindness.

Semantic Range

graciousness, favor, clemency, pardon, mercy, kindness, indulgence

Root / Etymology

From the root חנן (ḥ-n-n), which fundamentally means 'to be gracious', 'to show favor', or 'to act kindly toward.' The noun חֲנִינָה ('chănîynâh') is a feminine abstract form, denoting the quality or act of showing favor or mercy. The verb root conveys the action of granting grace or bestowing favor, while the noun encapsulates the resultant act, gift, or quality of such grace.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The word חֲנִינָה is rare in the Hebrew Bible, occurring in contexts often associated with the granting of pardon or mercy, especially by a superior to a subordinate (e.g., a king pardoning a subject). Its semantic field overlaps with other terms for mercy and compassion, such as רַחֲמִים (raḥamim), but חֲנִינָה emphasizes the aspect of gracious favor, especially from someone in authority. In later Hebrew, especially post-biblical and rabbinic usage, חֲנִינָה comes to denote pardon or clemency in legal or social relations. Where English translations sometimes employ 'graciousness,' 'mercy,' or 'favor,' these do not always capture the sense of relief from penalty or the granting of undeserved favor, which is nuanced in biblical contexts. English terms like 'pardon' or 'clemency' may also be used in translation, especially where the context refers to legal or interpersonal relief.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from חָנַן; graciousness; favour.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חנן (ḥ-n-n) — to be gracious, to show favor, to show mercy

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

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2594-01 חֲנִינָֽה chaninah HNcfsa favor gracious favor 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 total occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2594-01 Jeremiah 16:13 חֲנִינָֽה chaninah HNcfsa favor gracious favor
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