קְנַז
𐤒𐤍𐤆
Qenaz
H7073 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Kenaz: A personal name used for multiple figures in the Hebrew Bible, referring both to an Edomite chief and to two Israelites. The meaning of the name is uncertain but has been associated with the idea of hunting based on conjectured root connections; however, the evidence for this is limited. As a proper noun, it designates individuals and, secondarily, their descendants or associated clans.
Semantic Range
proper name for Edomite chief, proper name for Israelite(s), clan name, personal name across tribal and ethnic lines
Root / Etymology
From a root uncertain; possible association has been made with a root (unused in the Hebrew Bible) meaning 'to hunt' or 'hunter,' but this connection rests on later comparative linguistic data and is not universally accepted. Most likely, the name is a personal or clan name of non-Israelite (specifically Edomite) origin, later used among Israelites as well.
Historical & Contextual Notes
'Kenaz' (קְנַז) is first attested as the name of an Edomite chief (Genesis 36:11, 36:15, 36:42), associated with the descendants of Esau, indicating a likely Edomite origin. The name later appears in an Israelite context: Kenaz as a son of Eliphaz, and as the father of Othniel and contemporary of Caleb (Joshua 15:17, Judges 1:13, 1 Chronicles 4:13). This crossing of ethnic/geographic boundaries signals either the adoption of names or possible intermarriage or clan assimilation in the early tribal period. Some scholars have argued a potential link between the name and the Semitic root meaning 'to hunt,' but this derivation is speculative due to the lack of a Hebrew verbal root כ־נ־ז. English translations render it as 'Kenaz,' preserving the proper name without attempting a meaning. The conflation of identity (Edomite chief and Israelite figures) should not be confused with a single ethnic group; historical and biblical context should guide interpretation of the referents.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from an unused root meaning to hunt; hunter; Kenaz, the name of an Edomite and of two Israelites; Kenaz.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כנז (k-n-z) — uncertain; possibly related to hunting (conjectural)
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7073-01 |
קְנַֽז | qenaz | HNp |
Kenaz | Kenaz | 9 |
H7073-02 |
וּ/קְנַֽז | uqenaz | HC/Np |
and Kenaz | and Kenaz | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
11 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7073-02 |
Genesis 36:11 | וּ/קְנַֽז | uqenaz | HC/Np |
and Kenaz | and Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
Genesis 36:15 | קְנַֽז | qenaz | HNp |
Kenaz | Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
Genesis 36:42 | קְנַ֛ז | qenaz | HNp |
Kenaz | Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
Joshua 15:17 | קְנַ֖ז | qenaz | HNp |
Kenaz | Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
Judges 1:13 | קְנַ֔ז | qenaz | HNp |
of Kenaz | Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
Judges 3:9 | קְנַ֔ז | qenaz | HNp |
Kenaz | Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
Judges 3:11 | קְנַֽז | qenaz | HNp |
of Kenaz | Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:36 | קְנַ֖ז | qenaz | HNp |
Kenaz | Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:53 | קְנַ֛ז | qenaz | HNp |
Kenaz | Kenaz |
H7073-01 |
1 Chronicles 4:13 | קְנַ֔ז | qenaz | HNp |
of Kenaz | Kenaz |