H2603a H2603a
To show favor, be gracious, have mercy; in Hitpael, to implore grace or supplicate; the root of chen ('grace') and channun ('gracious').
Chanan is the verbal heart of the Hebrew grace vocabulary — the root from which chen ('favor, grace'), channun ('gracious'), and techinnah ('supplication') all spring. In its Qal form, it describes the free, unearned act of bestowing kindness, most characteristically by God: 'I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious' (Exod 33:19) is the definitive statement of divine sovereignty in mercy. The Hitpael reflexive flips the perspective entirely, giving voice to the desperate human petition for that grace — Moses 'implored' God (Deut 3:23), Solomon prayed that Israel might 'make supplication' when exiled (1 Kgs 8:33, 47). Arabic hanna ('to yearn toward, be compassionate') preserves the emotional warmth at the root's core, while Korean 은혜를 베풀다 ('to bestow grace') and Swahili -hurumia ('to have compassion on') each illuminate a facet. The psalmist's cry channeni ('be gracious to me!') — the single most common prayer-word in the Psalms — captures the whole theology in one imperative.
Senses
1. be gracious, show favor (Qal) — Qal: to be gracious, show favor, have mercy — the core sense at 55 occurrences, overwhelmingly with God as subject. The paradigm passage is Exod 33:19 where Yahweh declares sovereign freedom in bestowing grace, and the Aaronic blessing invokes it: 'May the LORD be gracious to you' (Num 6:25). The Psalms account for the largest share, with channeni ('be gracious to me!') as a standard prayer opening (Ps 4:1; 6:2; 9:13; 25:16; 26:11; 27:7; 30:10; 31:9; 51:1; 56:1; 57:1; 86:3; 119:29, 58, 132). Spanish ten misericordia de mí, French fais-moi grâce, and German sei mir gnädig all confirm the mercy-petition frame. When humans are the agents (Gen 33:5, 11; 43:29), the sense softens to 'deal kindly with' — Jacob's acknowledgment that God 'has graciously given' his children. 55×
AR["ارْحَمْني","ارْحَمْنِي","اِرحَمني","اِرْحَمْنِي","وَ-ارْحَمْنِي","وَارْحَمْنِي","يَتَحَنَّنُ"]·ben["অনুগ্রহ-কর","অনুগ্রহ-কর-আমাকে","অনুগ্রহ-করো-আমাকে","এবং-আমাকে-অনুগ্রহ-কর","এবং-আমাকে-অনুগ্রহ-করুন","এবং-দয়া-করো-আমাকে","ও-অনুগ্রহ-কর","কৃপা-কর","কৃপা-কর-আমাকে","দয়া-করো-আমাকে","দয়ালু"]·DE["Krieg-gnädig","und-Krieg-gnädig"]·EN["and-be-gracious-to-me","be-gracious-to-me","he-is-gracious","is-gracious"]·FR["et-fais-moi-grâce","faire-grâce","fais-moi-grâce"]·heb["ו-חון-אותי","ו-חנני","חון-אותי","חונן","חנני"]·HI["अनुग्रह-कर-मुझ-पर","अनुग्रह-करता-है","और-अनुग्रह-कर-मुझ-पर","और-कृपा-कर-मुझ-पर","और-दया-कर-मुझ-पर","दया-कर","दया-कर-मुझ-पर","मुझ-पर-दया-कर"]·ID["Kasihanilah-aku","dan-kasihanilah-aku","kasihanilah-aku"]·IT["abbi-pieta'-di-me","e-abbi-pieta'-di-me","fu-benigno"]·jav["Kawelasna-kula","Melas-asih-a-kula","Melas-asih-ana-kula","Mugi-melasi-kula","kawelasna-kula","lan-kawelasna-kula","lan-welasna-kula","melas-asih-a-kula","melasi","mugi-melasi-kula","saha-melas-asih-ana-kula"]·KO["그리고-은혜-베푸소서-나-에게","그리고-은혜를-베푸소서","은혜-베푸소서-나-를","은혜-베푸소서-나-에게","은혜를-베푸소서","은혜베푸소서-나-를","은혜베푸소서-나-에게","은혜베풀도다"]·PT["Tem-misericórdia-de-mim","Tem-piedade-de-mim","e-tem-misericórdia-de-mim","e-tem-piedade-de-mim","tem-misericórdia","tem-misericórdia-de-mim","tem-piedade-de-mim"]·RU["и-помилуй-меня","милует","помилуй-меня"]·ES["Ten-misericordia-de-mí","Ten-piedad-de-mí","ten-misericordia-de-mí","ten-piedad-de-mí","tiene-piedad","y-ten-misericordia-de-mí","y-tenme-misericordia"]·SW["Nihurumie","Unihurumie","huhurumia","na-kunihurumia","na-unihurumie","nifadhili","nihurumie","unihurumie"]·TR["Merhamet-et-bana","merhamet-eder","merhamet-et","merhamet-et-bana","ve-merhamet-et","ve-merhamet-et-bana"]·urd["اور-رحم-کر-مجھ-پر","رحم-کر","رحم-کر-مجھ-پر","رحم-کرتا-ہے","رَحم-کَر-مُجھ","مجھ-پر-رحم-کر"]
Gen 33:5, Gen 33:11, Gen 43:29, Exod 33:19, Exod 33:19, Num 6:25, Deut 28:50, Judg 21:22, 2 Sam 12:22, 2 Sam 12:22, 2 Kgs 13:23, Job 19:21 (+38 more)
2. implore favor, supplicate (Hitpael) — Hitpael reflexive: to implore favor, make supplication, plead for grace — 17 occurrences capturing the human side of the grace encounter. Moses 'entreated' God to enter the promised land (Deut 3:23); Solomon's temple prayer envisions Israel 'making supplication' in exile (1 Kgs 8:33, 47, 59); Esther prepared to 'plead with' the king for her people (Esth 8:3). The reflexive morphology is semantically telling — one 'graces oneself' before the powerful, presenting oneself as a petitioner. Arabic yatadarra'u ('to humble oneself in petition') and Korean 간청하다 ('to earnestly entreat') both select supplication-specific vocabulary distinct from the Qal's bestowal sense. The theological architecture is elegant: the same root governs both giving and asking for grace. 17×
AR["أَتَضَرَّعُ","أَتَضَرَّعُ-","تَتَضَرَّعُ","تَضَرَّعْتَ","تَضَرَّعْتُ","حِينَ-تَوَسَّلَ-إِلَيْنَا","لِ-تَتَضَرَّعَ","وَ-تَضَرَّعَتْ","وَ-تَضَرَّعُوا","وَتَضَرَّعَ","وَتَضَرَّعَ-","وَتَضَرَّعْتُ"]·ben["অনুনয়-করতে","অনুনয়ে","আমি-অনুনয়-করব","আমি-অনুনয়-করি-","আমি-বিনতি-করি","আর-মিনতি-করে","এবং-অনুনয়-করলাম","এবং-মিনতি-করবে","এবং-মিনতি-করল","এবং-মিনতি-করল-","ও-মিনতি-করল-","তুমি-বিনতি-কর","মিনতি-করি।","মিনতি-করেছি","মিনতি-করেছিলে"]·DE["Krieg-gnädig","[אתחנן]","[והתחננו]","[ויתחנן]","[ותתחנן]","[להתחנן]","[תתחנן]","als-er-flehte","du-pleaded","ich-pleaded","und-ich-pleaded","und-pleaded","und-sie-plead"]·EN["I-implore","I-must-plead","I-plead-for-grace","I-pleaded","I-pleaded-for-mercy","and-I-pleaded","and-make-supplication","and-pleaded","and-sought-favor-","and-they-plead","to-beg-","when-he-pleaded-with","you-plead-for-grace","you-pleaded"]·FR["[והתחננו]","[ותתחנן]","[להתחנן]","et-faire-grâce","et-ils-plead","et-je-plaida","et-pleaded","faire-grâce","je-pleaded","quand-il-supplia-avec","tu-pleaded"]·heb["אתחנן","ב-התחננו-ו","הִתְחַנַּנְתָּ","התחננתי","ו-אתחנן","ו-התחנן","ו-התחנן-","ו-התחננו","ו-תתחנן","ל-התחנן","תתחנן"]·HI["और-उसने-बिनती-की-","और-गिड़गिड़ाया","और-बिनती-करें","और-विनती-करें","और-विनती-करेंगे","और-विनती-की","गिड़गिड़ाएगा","गिड़गिड़ाने-में-उसके","गिड़गिड़ाया-मैंने","तूने-विनती-की","मैं-उससे-विनती-करता-हूँ","मैं-गिड़गिड़ाऊँगा","मैं-बिनती-करता-हूँ","विनती-करने","विनती-की-मैंने"]·ID["Dan-aku-memohon","aku-bermohon","aku-memohon","aku-memohon-belas-kasihan","dan-memohon","engkau-memohon-belas-kasihan","engkau-mohonkan","ketika-ia-memohon","untuk-memohon"]·IT["[והתחננו]","[ותתחנן]","[להתחנן]","avere-pietà","e-avere-grazia","e-essi-supplica","e-io-pleaded","e-supplicò","fu-benigno","io-supplicò","quando-egli-pleaded-con","tu-supplicò"]·jav["kanggé-nyuwun-sih-","kawula-nyuwun-","kawula-nyuwun-kawelasan","kawula-suwunaken","kula-nyuwun-kawelasan","kula-nyuwun-sih-rahmat","lan-Kawula-nyuwun","lan-nyuwun","lan-nyuwun-kawelasan","lan-nyuwun-sih","lan-nyuwun-sih-","nalika-nyuwun","panjenengan-nyuwun-kawelasan","panjenengan-suwunaken"]·KO["간구하기-위해-","간구하였돀다","간청하나니-","간청한다면","간청할-때","그리고-간구하면","그리고-간청하였느니라-","그리고-간청했다","그리고-내가-간구하였다","그리고-애원했다-","내-가-간구한다","내가-간구하였다","내가-애걸하리라","너가-간구하였다"]·PT["e-suplicarem","e-suplicou","em-suplicar-ele","para-suplicar-","suplicarei","suplicares","suplicaria","suplicaste","suplico","supliquei","¶ E-supliquei"]·RU["И-молил-я","будешь-умолять","буду-умолять","и-будут-умолять","и-воззовут","и-умолял","и-умолял-","и-умоляла-","когда-умолял-он","умолял","умолял-ты","умолял-я","умолять-","умоляю","умоляю-"]·ES["al-suplicarnos","le-suplico-","para-suplicar","suplicarás,","suplicaré","suplicaré.","suplicaste","suplico","supliqué","y-le-suplicó-","y-suplicaren","y-suplicarán","y-suplicó","y-supliqué"]·SW["Nikamsihi","akakumukia","akisema","hii","kumsihi-","kuondoa","na-akamwomba-","na-akaomba","na-wakaomba-dua","niliomba-rehema","nimeomba","ninamsihi","ninasihi","nitamsihi","uliomba","utamsihi"]·TR["ve-yakarırlarsa","ve-yalvardi","ve-yalvardı-","ve-yalvardım","ve-yalvarırlarsa","yalvardım","yalvardın","yalvardığında","yalvarmak-için-","yalvarırsan","yalvarırım","yalvarırım-","yalvarıyorum"]·urd["التجا-کروں","التجا-کرے","اور-التجا-کریں","اور-التجا-کی","اور-منت-کریں","اور-منت-کی","اور-منت-کی-","اور-میں-نے-منت-کی","تُو-نے-التجا-کی","جب-منت-کرتا-تھا-وہ","منت-کرنا","میں منت کرتا ہوں-","میں-التجا-کرتا-ہوں","میں-مناجات-کرتا-ہوں","میں-نے-التجا-کی"]
Gen 42:21, Deut 3:23, 1 Kgs 8:33, 1 Kgs 8:47, 1 Kgs 8:59, 1 Kgs 9:3, 2 Kgs 1:13, 2 Chr 6:24, 2 Chr 6:37, Esth 4:8, Esth 8:3, Job 8:5 (+5 more)
3. be shown favor (Hofal passive) — Hofal passive: to be shown favor, be granted grace — 2 occurrences where the subject receives gracious treatment without agency. In Prov 21:10 the neighbor of the wicked 'finds no favor' in his eyes; in Isa 26:10 'though the wicked is shown favor, he does not learn righteousness.' Arabic yurhamu ('is shown mercy') and the passive construction confirm a genuine voice-based distinction. These passages make a pointed theological observation: grace can be bestowed (Qal), desperately sought (Hitpael), and even passively received (Hofal) — yet still be refused. 2×
AR["يُرْحَمُ"]·ben["অনুগ্রহ-করা-হলে","দয়া-পায়"]·DE["[יחן]"]·EN["Is-shown-favor","shown-favor"]·FR["faire-grâce"]·heb["יוחן","יחון"]·HI["दया-की-जाए","दया-दिखाई-जाती-है"]·ID["Dikasihanilah","dikasihani"]·IT["avere-pieta","avere-pietà"]·jav["dipun-sih","dipunkasihi"]·KO["은혜를-만나지","은혜를-받아도"]·PT["Fosse-agraciado","achará-favor"]·RU["если-помилован","помилован-будет"]·ES["Se-tenga-piedad-de","halla-gracia"]·SW["Atahurumiwa","hajutahurumia"]·TR["Merhamet-edilir","merhamet-görür"]·urd["رحم-ملتا-ہے","رحم-کیا-جائے"]
4. show compassion, have pity (Piel intensive) — Piel intensive: to show compassion, have pity — 2 occurrences where the action carries intensified emotional depth. In Ps 102:14 the servants of God 'have compassion on' Zion's stones, and in Prov 14:21 the one who 'is gracious to the poor' is called blessed. Arabic rahimu ('show deep mercy') and Korean 불쌍히 여기다 ('regard with pity') both select compassion-specific vocabulary rather than generic favor words. The Piel intensification transforms coolly sovereign favor into warm-hearted pity — a different emotional register from the Qal, though the same root. 2×
AR["وَ-راحِمُ","يَرحَمون"]·ben["এবং-যে-দয়া-করে","তারা-দয়া-করে"]·DE["Krieg-gnädig","[ומחונן]"]·EN["but-he-who-is-gracious-to","they-have-pity"]·FR["et-faire-grâce","faire-grâce"]·heb["ו-מחונן","יחוננו"]·HI["उन्हें-प्रिय-है","और-दया-करनेवाला"]·ID["mereka-kasihi","tetapi-yang-mengasihani"]·IT["e-avere-pietà","fu-benigno"]·jav["lan-tiyang-kang-welas-asih","sami-ngasihi"]·KO["그러나-꺍히-여기는-자-는","사랑하였도다"]·PT["e-quem-se-compadece-de","têm-compaixão"]·RU["а-милующий","жалеют"]·ES["tienen-compasión","y-el-que-tiene-misericordia-de"]·SW["lakini-anayewarehemu","wanayahurumia"]·TR["acıyorlar","ve-merhamet-eden"]·urd["اور-رحم-کرنے-والا","ترس-کھاتے-ہیں"]
5. sense 5 — A likely Hifil or Piel form meaning to make gracious or pleasant — 1 occurrence at Prov 26:25 where someone 'makes his voice gracious' (i.e., speaks pleasantly, charmingly) to deceive. Spanish hace agradable ('makes pleasant') captures the adjectival-causative nuance well. This is a rare extension of the root from interpersonal mercy to aesthetic pleasantness — the voice is 'graced,' made appealing. The context is deeply ironic: the same root that voices desperate prayer to God here describes the smooth-talking deceiver. 1×
AR["يُلَطِّفُ"]·ben["সে-মধুর-করে"]·DE["[יחנן]"]·EN["he-makes-gracious"]·FR["faire-grâce"]·heb["יחנן"]·HI["मधुर-करे"]·ID["ia-berbicara-dengan-ramah"]·IT["avere-pietà"]·jav["ngalem"]·KO["은혜롭게-하면-그가"]·PT["suaviza"]·RU["услаждает"]·ES["hace-agradable"]·SW["anafanya-tamu"]·TR["yumuşlatırsa"]·urd["میٹھی-کرے"]
6. sense 6 — A disputed form at Jer 22:23 — 1 occurrence where the MT reading nachant ('you groaned/you will groan') is parsed by some as a Niphal of chanan but may actually derive from a different root (nachan or 'anach, 'to groan'). Spanish gemirás ('you will groan') and English 'you will groan' both point away from the grace/favor semantic field entirely. The context describes the anguish of those nesting in the cedars of Lebanon when judgment comes. Most modern lexicographers reassign this to a separate root, but its traditional inclusion under chanan preserves an instructive textual-critical puzzle. 1×
AR["تَئِنِّينَ"]·ben["তুমি-কাতরাবে"]·DE["[נחנת]"]·EN["you-will-groan"]·FR["faire-grâce"]·heb["נחנת"]·HI["कराहोगी-तू"]·ID["akan-mengerang"]·IT["avere-pieta"]·jav["panjenengan-sambat"]·KO["네가-신음하리라"]·PT["gemerias"]·RU["застонешь"]·ES["gemirás"]·SW["utalia"]·TR["inleyeceksin"]·urd["کراہے-گی"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)H0935 1. come, arrive (Qal) (2413×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)G1473 1. first person singular pronoun (2084×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H3318 1. Qal: go out, depart, come forth (891×)H7725 1. to return, come/go back (Qal) (874×)H5927 1. go up, ascend (Qal) (779×)H7971 1. to send, dispatch (Qal) (701×)G2064 1. come / arrive (physical movement toward) (588×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H5307 1. Qal: fall down physically (339×)H5375 1. Qal: to lift up, raise (330×)H5975 1. to stand, stand up (310×)H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H5674a 1. Qal: pass by, pass through (256×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† I. חָנַן vb. show favour, be gracious (NH id., Aramaic חֲנַן, ܚܰܢ; Arabic حَنَّ yearn towards, long for, be merciful, compassionate, favourable, inclined towards; Sab. חן in n.pr. חן מסבררהם DHMEpigr. Denkm. 40; Ph. חנן in חן favour, and n.pr. as אלחנן, חננבעל; Assyrian in deriv. annu, grace, favour, unninu, têninu nannu, id., LotzTP ZimBP 23, 66)— Qal Pf. חָנַן Gn 33:5; sf. חַנַּ֫נִי Gn 33:11;…