חֲנִינָה (cha.ni.nah)
cha.ni.nah
favor
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun chaninah means favor or compassion. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Jeremiah 16:13. This single occurrence places the word in a context of divine judgment and promised exile. God declares that He will cast His people out of the land because they have forsaken Him.
Its rarity makes this usage significant. The word captures a specific quality of merciful regard, often linked with grace or pity. In Jeremiah, it underscores the tension between God’s justice and His compassionate nature. Translators typically render it as "favor" or "compassion," reflecting its root sense of unmerited kindness.
Understanding chaninah highlights how biblical authors describe God’s attitude toward His people, even in moments of discipline. It reminds readers that divine judgment does not erase the possibility of future mercy. The word stands as a quiet witness to the enduring nature of God’s favor.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word chaninah appears only once in the Old Testament, found in Jeremiah 16:13. In this verse, God speaks of casting His people into exile because they have turned away from Him. The text says He will show them no chaninah, a term that means favor or compassionate regard. This single usage highlights the seriousness of breaking covenant with God.
Yet this rarity also draws our attention to the depth of what is being withheld. Favor is not something we earn; it is a gift of grace. When Scripture speaks of God withholding favor, it reminds us that relationship with Him requires humility and repentance. The absence of chaninah in judgment makes its presence in restoration even more precious.
For your faith life, this word invites you to cherish the unmerited kindness God shows you daily. Even when circumstances feel distant from His blessing, remember that His favor rests on those who seek Him with a sincere heart. It is a quiet assurance that grace remains available to all who turn back.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- favor1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲנִינָֽה\׃\ \ס1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 16:13
Therefore I will cast you out of this land into the land that you have not known, neither you nor your fathers. There you will serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’
This verse uses chaninah to describe the specific favor God withholds from His people during judgment, emphasizing that exile results from forsaking Him.