חַנּוּן (chan.nun)
chan.nun
gracious
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 12 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Definition
Definition
Brown-Driver-Briggs
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read that God is gracious, we are hearing about His character before He ever responds to our actions. This word describes a generosity that flows from who He is, not from what we have earned. It means He chooses to show kindness even when the situation might call for strict justice. This assurance allows us to approach Him with honesty about our struggles, knowing His nature is defined by mercy.
This truth offers deep comfort during times of failure or confusion. You do not need to perform perfectly to be received; His grace meets you in your brokenness. The biblical writers repeatedly returned to this description because it anchors their hope. It reminds us that our standing with God rests on His faithful character, which remains constant regardless of our changing circumstances.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 12 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [is] gracious5×
- gracious3×
- and/ gracious3×
- [the] gracious1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חַנּ֣וּן3×
- חַנּ֤וּן2×
- חַנּ֖וּן2×
- וְ/חַנּ֑וּן2×
- חַנּ֧וּן1×
- חַנּ֥וּן1×
- וְ/חַנּ֣וּן1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 34:6
Yahweh passed by before him, and proclaimed, “Yahweh! Yahweh, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth,
This verse establishes the foundational definition of God's character after the golden calf incident, showing grace precedes legal requirement.
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Psalms 103:8
Yahweh is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness.
David uses this term to encourage personal worship by reminding the reader that God's slowness to anger is a gift for daily life.
-
Jonah 4:2
He prayed to Yahweh, and said, “Please, Yahweh, wasn’t this what I said when I was still in my own country? Therefore I hurried to flee to Tarshish, for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and you relent of doing harm.
Jonah quotes this attribute to complain about God's mercy toward Nineveh, revealing how difficult it can be for humans to accept divine grace toward enemies.