חֲנַן
to favor or (causatively) to entreat
Definition
The Aramaic verb חֲנַן (chănan) means to show favor, mercy, or grace, often in the context of a superior granting kindness to a subordinate. In its two biblical occurrences, it can express the act of a person seeking such favor through supplication (Daniel 6:11) or the action of a ruler being urged to show mercy (Daniel 4:27). It is the direct Aramaic counterpart to the more common Hebrew verb חָנַן (chanan, H2603), carrying the same core idea of gracious, unmerited benevolence.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only in the Aramaic portions of the book of Daniel. In Daniel 4:27, King Nebuchadnezzar is counseled to 'show mercy to the poor' as an act of righteous rulership. In Daniel 6:11, Daniel prays and 'makes supplication' before God, seeking divine favor. Both uses highlight a plea for or an act of gracious treatment from a position of authority.
Etymology
This is an Aramaic verb corresponding directly to the Hebrew root חָנַן (chanan, H2603), which means 'to be gracious' or 'to show favor.' The root conveys the fundamental concept of granting a favorable disposition or kindness, often unearned. Its appearance in Biblical Aramaic shows the shared semantic field between Hebrew and Aramaic for expressing grace and mercy.
Semantic Range
Though used only twice, this word is theologically significant as the Aramaic expression for divine or royal grace. It connects to the core biblical theme of God's unmerited favor. In Daniel, it appears in contexts of human repentance (Daniel 4:27) and faithful prayer (Daniel 6:11), modeling the proper human posture of dependence on a gracious superior. Understanding this term enriches reading by linking the Aramaic pleas for mercy directly to the vast Hebrew vocabulary of God's grace (chesed, rachamim).
In the ancient Near Eastern context, showing 'favor' (chănan) was a key virtue of kings and deities, expected to maintain social and cosmic order. A ruler's mercy demonstrated strength and justice, not weakness. Daniel's use of the term reflects this cultural understanding, where appeals to a higher power for gracious intervention were a standard part of religious and political life.
חָנַן (chanan, H2603) — The primary Hebrew equivalent, used extensively for God's gracious action. סְלַח (selach, H5545) — focuses specifically on forgiveness or pardon, a subset of showing favor. רָחַם (racham, H7355) — emphasizes compassion or pity, often with a maternal connotation.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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