בֶּן־חָנָן (ben-cha.nan)
ben-cha.nan
Ben-hanan
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Ben-hanan identifies a specific individual mentioned in the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, recorded only once in the Hebrew Bible at 1 Chronicles 4:20. He is listed as the son of Shimon and the brother of Amnon, Rinnah, and Tilon, placing him within the complex family structures that trace the lineage of Judah during the period of the Divided Monarchy.
Linguistically, the name combines two common Hebrew elements: ben, meaning "son," and chanan, which relates to favor or grace. This construction yields the meaning "son of favor." While many biblical names express theological sentiments or devotion to God, this particular compound functions primarily as a personal identifier within a long list of ancestors, highlighting the importance of individual identity even in brief genealogical records.
The scarcity of references underscores how much of Israel’s history is preserved through these detailed family trees. By recording Ben-hanan alongside his siblings, the text affirms the continuity of the tribal line. The name itself serves as a quiet reminder of the cultural practice of embedding blessings or attributes into personal identity, connecting the individual to broader themes of divine grace without requiring explicit narrative commentary.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Names in the Bible often carry deep meaning, pointing to who a person is or what God has done. The name Ben-hanan means "son of favor," combining the words for son and grace. In 1 Chronicles 4:20, this name appears in a list of Shimon’s sons. It shows that even in long genealogies, each individual matters to God.
These family records are not just dry lists of names. They show how God kept track of His people through generations. When you see Ben-hanan named as a son of favor, it reminds us that grace is part of our identity too. We are all children who receive favor from God, no matter how small or large our role in history seems.
This verse helps us see the value of every person in God’s family tree. It encourages us to trust that God knows and names each of us with purpose. His favor is not limited to famous leaders but extends to all who are part of His people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hanan1×
- Ben-1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חָנָ֖ן1×
- בֶּן\־1×
Key Verses
-
I Chronicles 4:20
The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben Hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth, and Ben Zoheth.
This verse lists Ben-hanan among the sons of Shimon, showing his place in the tribe of Judah's lineage as a son of favor.