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חֲנִית

𐤇𐤍𐤉𐤕

chănîyth

H2595 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A spear or lance; specifically, a long-handled weapon with a pointed metal tip used for thrusting or throwing in combat. In biblical contexts, 'חֲנִית' typically denotes a weapon of war carried by soldiers, leaders, or champions, especially for close- or mid-range battle. The term frequently appears as the personal weapon of prominent warriors, indicating status or martial readiness.

Semantic Range

spear, lance, javelin, pole weapon, military weapon (general), symbol of status or leadership in warfare

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root חנה (ḥ-n-h), which fundamentally means 'to set, pitch, encamp.' The connection to 'חֲנִית' likely comes through the idea of 'setting' or 'fixing' a weapon or object, here applied to a stick with a pointed head set into it—a spear. The derivation is transparent in form, though the semantic shift from 'to encamp' to 'spear' is based on the notion of setting or planting something upright.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֲנִית appears most prominently in narratives about warfare, particularly as the favored weapon of individuals such as Saul (e.g., 1 Samuel 18:10–11, 19:9–10). The term is distinct from related Hebrew weapons—'חֵ֫רֶב' (ḥérev, sword), 'כִּידוֹן' (kidon, javelin/dart), and 'רֹ֫מַח' (romach, lance)—which can have overlapping or varied meanings in different contexts. In most cases, חֲנִית refers to a spear sizable and weighted enough for melee combat, yet also suitable for throwing, as indicated by some narratives. Its function and shape were likely distinct from lighter, shorter javelins used for longer-range throwing. English translations generally render the term as 'spear,' 'javelin,' or 'lance,' but these carry different connotations in modern military terminology; the biblical חֲנִית appears to be a versatile weapon combining features of both polearms and throwing spears. Over time, the term's martial association persisted, and it did not develop a significant metaphorical or ceremonial usage in biblical literature.

Translation Consistency

primary "spear" 48 occurrences

Most common and natural English rendering in the data (38 of 48 occurrences). 'Spear' cleanly covers the semantic range (spear/lance/javelin/pole-weapon) and works as a neutral, everyday term for a soldier’s weapon or symbol of status. Other synonyms (lance, javelin) are rarer and more specific, so using 'spear' gives consistent, clear translations while allowing normal inflection (spear/spears) where needed.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

lemma חֲניִת second vowel, corrected to חֲנִית; from חָנָה; a lance (for thrusting, like pitching a tent); javelin, spear.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

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

Root חנה to set, to pitch, to encamp
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2583 חָנָה Favored One (feminine)
H2588 חָנוּת the vaulted cells
H4264 מַחֲנֶה in the encampment
H4266 מַחֲנַיִם Two Camps-ward
H8465 תַּחַן to Tachan

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2595-03 חֲנִית֙ chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear 13
H2595-06 הַ/חֲנִית֙ hachanit HTd/Ncfsa the spear the set spear the spear 10
H2595-05 חֲנִית֛/וֹ chanito HNcfsc/Sp3ms his spear his spear his spear 8
H2595-11 וַ/חֲנִית֖/וֹ vachanito HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms and his spear and his spear and his spear 3
H2595-01 בַּֽ/חֲנִית֙ bachanit HRd/Ncfsa with the spear spear with the spear 2
H2595-02 בַּ/חֲנִיתֽ/וֹ bachanito HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his own spear with his spear with his spear 2
H2595-09 וּ/בַ/חֲנִ֣ית uvachanit HC/R/Ncfsa and with a spear and with a spear and with a spear 2
H2595-10 וַ/חֲנִ֔ית vachanit HC/Ncfsa and spear and spear and spear 2
H2595-12 וַ/חֲנִיתֽוֹתֵי/הֶם֙ vachanitoteyhem HC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp and-their-spears and their spears and their spears 2
H2595-04 חֲנִיתֶֽ/ךָ chanitekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms of your spear your spear your spear 1

Occurrences in Scripture

48 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2595-03 1 Samuel 13:19 חֲנִֽית chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear
H2595-10 1 Samuel 13:22 וַ/חֲנִית֙ vachanit HC/Ncfsa nor spear and spear and spear
H2595-05 1 Samuel 17:7 חֲנִית֗/וֹ chanito HNcfsc/Sp3ms his spear his spear his spear
H2595-05 1 Samuel 17:7 חֲנִית֔/וֹ chanito-2 HNcfsc/Sp3ms of his spear his spear his spear
H2595-09 1 Samuel 17:45 וּ/בַ/חֲנִ֣ית uvachanit HC/R/Ncfsa and with a spear and with a spear and with a spear
H2595-09 1 Samuel 17:47 וּ/בַ/חֲנִ֖ית uvachanit HC/R/Ncfsa nor by spear and with a spear and with a spear
H2595-13 1 Samuel 18:10 וְ/הַ/חֲנִ֖ית vehachanit HC/Td/Ncfsa and the spear and the spear and the spear
H2595-06 1 Samuel 18:11 הַ/חֲנִ֔ית hachanit HTd/Ncfsa the spear the set spear the spear
H2595-11 1 Samuel 19:9 וַ/חֲנִית֖/וֹ vachanito HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms and his spear and his spear and his spear
H2595-01 1 Samuel 19:10 בַּֽ/חֲנִית֙ bachanit HRd/Ncfsa with the spear spear with the spear
H2595-06 1 Samuel 19:10 הַ/חֲנִ֖ית hachanit HTd/Ncfsa the spear the set spear the spear
H2595-06 1 Samuel 20:33 הַ/חֲנִ֛ית hachanit HTd/Ncfsa the spear the set spear the spear
H2595-03 1 Samuel 21:9 חֲנִ֣ית chanit HNcfsa a spear set spear set spear
H2595-11 1 Samuel 22:6 וַ/חֲנִית֣/וֹ vachanito HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms and his spear and his spear and his spear
H2595-11 1 Samuel 26:7 וַ/חֲנִית֥/וֹ vachanito HC/Ncfsc/Sp3ms and his spear and his spear and his spear
H2595-01 1 Samuel 26:8 בַּ/חֲנִ֤ית bachanit HRd/Ncfsa with the spear spear with the spear
H2595-06 1 Samuel 26:11 הַ/חֲנִ֜ית hachanit HTd/Ncfsa spear the set spear the spear
H2595-06 1 Samuel 26:12 הַ/חֲנִ֜ית hachanit HTd/Ncfsa spear the set spear the spear
H2595-03 1 Samuel 26:16 חֲנִ֥ית chanit HNcfsc spear set spear set spear
H2595-08 1 Samuel 26:22 ה/חנית hchnyt HTd/Ncfsa the spear the spear the spear
H2595-03 1 Samuel 26:22 חֲנִ֣ית chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear
H2595-05 2 Samuel 1:6 חֲנִית֑/וֹ chanito HNcfsc/Sp3ms his spear his spear his spear
H2595-06 2 Samuel 2:23 הַ/חֲנִ֜ית hachanit HTd/Ncfsa the spear the set spear the spear
H2595-06 2 Samuel 2:23 הַֽ/חֲנִית֙ hachanit-2 HTd/Ncfsa the spear the set spear the spear
H2595-05 2 Samuel 21:19 חֲנִית֔/וֹ chanito HNcfsc/Sp3ms of his spear his spear his spear
H2595-03 2 Samuel 23:7 חֲנִ֑ית chanit HNcfsa of-spear set spear set spear
H2595-05 2 Samuel 23:18 חֲנִית֔/וֹ chanito HNcfsc/Sp3ms his spear his spear his spear
H2595-03 2 Samuel 23:21 חֲנִ֔ית chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear
H2595-06 2 Samuel 23:21 הַ/חֲנִית֙ hachanit HTd/Ncfsa the spear the set spear the spear
H2595-02 2 Samuel 23:21 בַּ/חֲנִיתֽ/וֹ bachanito HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his own spear with his spear with his spear
H2595-06 2 Kings 11:10 הַ/חֲנִית֙ hachanit HTd/Ncfsa the spears the set spear the spear
H2595-12 Isaiah 2:4 וַ/חֲנִיתֽוֹתֵי/הֶם֙ vachanitoteyhem HC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp and-their-spears and their spears and their spears
H2595-12 Micah 4:3 וַ/חֲנִיתֹֽתֵי/הֶם֙ vachanitoteyhem HC/Ncfpc/Sp3mp and-their-spears and their spears and their spears
H2595-03 Nahum 3:3 חֲנִ֔ית chanit HNcfsa of spear set spear set spear
H2595-04 Habakkuk 3:11 חֲנִיתֶֽ/ךָ chanitekha HNcfsc/Sp2ms of your spear your spear your spear
H2595-03 Psalms 35:3 חֲנִ֣ית chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear
H2595-03 Psalms 46:10 חֲנִ֑ית chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear
H2595-03 Psalms 57:5 חֲנִ֣ית chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear
H2595-03 Job 39:23 חֲנִ֣ית chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear
H2595-03 Job 41:18 חֲנִ֖ית chanit HNcfsa spear set spear set spear
H2595-05 1 Chronicles 11:11 חֲנִית֛/וֹ chanito HNcfsc/Sp3ms his spear his spear his spear
H2595-05 1 Chronicles 11:20 חֲנִית֔/וֹ chanito HNcfsc/Sp3ms his spear his spear his spear
H2595-03 1 Chronicles 11:23 חֲנִית֙ chanit HNcfsa a spear set spear a spear
H2595-06 1 Chronicles 11:23 הַ/חֲנִית֙ hachanit HTd/Ncfsa the spear the set spear the spear
H2595-02 1 Chronicles 11:23 בַּ/חֲנִיתֽ/וֹ bachanito HR/Ncfsc/Sp3ms with his own spear with his spear with his spear
H2595-10 1 Chronicles 12:35 וַ/חֲנִ֔ית vachanit HC/Ncfsa and spear and spear and spear
H2595-05 1 Chronicles 20:5 חֲנִית֔/וֹ chanito HNcfsc/Sp3ms of his spear his spear his spear
H2595-07 2 Chronicles 23:9 הַֽ/חֲנִיתִים֙ hachanitim HTd/Ncfpa the spears the spears the spears
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