חֲנַמְאֵל (cha.nam.el)
cha.nam.el
Hanamel
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
חֲנַמְאֵל, meaning "God is gracious," appears only four times in the Hebrew Bible, all within the book of Jeremiah. He is identified as the son of Shallum and a cousin of the prophet Jeremiah. This familial connection places him directly within the social circle of one of Israel’s most prominent prophets during the final years of the Judahite monarchy.
The significance of Hanamel lies in his role in Jeremiah 32, where he acts as the catalyst for a symbolic act of obedience. Facing the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem, Jeremiah is imprisoned. It is Hanamel who comes to him with a legal offer: he urges Jeremiah to buy a field in Anathoth, exercising the family right of redemption described in Levitical law. This request serves as a divine prompt, turning a mundane property transaction into a powerful sign of hope.
By purchasing land in a city under enemy control, Hanamel participates in a prophetic demonstration that restoration is possible even in times of judgment. The narrative uses his action to affirm God’s promise that houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land. His brief appearance highlights how ordinary family duties can intersect with divine purpose, offering a tangible sign of future recovery for a people in exile.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels like a siege, with walls closing in and future prospects shrinking, it is easy to lose hope. Hanamel’s story reminds us that God often uses ordinary family connections to bring specific guidance. He did not perform a grand miracle; he simply exercised his legal right to buy land from his cousin Jeremiah. In doing so, he became the instrument of a divine promise that restoration would eventually come.
This narrative invites you to look for God’s hand in the mundane details of your relationships and responsibilities. Even when circumstances seem hopeless, obedience to small, practical steps can serve as a tangible sign of faith. By trusting in God’s word through these everyday interactions, we participate in the larger story of His enduring grace and future recovery.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Hanamel4×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- חֲנַמְאֵ֨ל1×
- חֲנַמְאֵ֥ל1×
- חֲנַמְאֵ֣ל1×
- חֲנַמְאֵ֗ל1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 32:8
“So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to Yahweh’s word, and said to me, ‘Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.’ “Then I knew that this was Yahweh’s word.
This verse confirms that Hanamel’s visit was not a coincidence but a direct fulfillment of Yahweh’s word, linking human action to divine timing.
-
Jeremiah 32:7
‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the right of redemption is yours to buy it.”’”
Here Hanamel initiates the transaction by reminding Jeremiah of his family right of redemption, setting the stage for a prophetic act of faith.
-
Jeremiah 32:9
I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
The completion of the purchase with seventeen shekels of silver turns a legal obligation into a concrete symbol of hope amid judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Hanamel in the Bible?
Why did Hanamel ask Jeremiah to buy his field?
What is the significance of Hanamel’s action?
Every Occurrence (4 verses across 1 books)
Jeremiah 4 verses
‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, “Buy my field that is in Anathoth; for the…
Jeremiah 32:8“So Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to Yahweh’s word, and said to me, ‘Please buy…
Jeremiah 32:9I bought the field that was in Anathoth of Hanamel my uncle’s son, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of…
Jeremiah 32:12and I delivered the deed of the purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel…