חַנָּה
Channah, an Israelitess
Definition
Channah (Hannah) is the name of a significant Israelite woman, the mother of the prophet Samuel. Her story is told in 1 Samuel 1-2, where she is introduced as one of the two wives of Elkanah. The name itself means 'favor' or 'grace,' reflecting her experience of receiving God's favor in answer to her fervent prayer for a child after years of barrenness. She is most remembered for her vow to dedicate her son to God's service, which she faithfully fulfilled by bringing the young Samuel to serve at the tabernacle in Shiloh (1 Samuel 1:11, 1:24-28).
Biblical Usage
The name Channah is used exclusively in the narrative of 1 Samuel 1-2, appearing 11 times. It is used to identify her in relation to her husband Elkanah (1 Samuel 1:2), her rival wife Peninnah (1 Samuel 1:2), and her personal interactions, including her prayer at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:9-18) and the subsequent birth and naming of her son Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20). The usage consistently portrays her as a central, pious figure in the transition to Israel's monarchic period.
Etymology
The proper noun חַנָּה (Channâh) is derived from the Hebrew root חָנַן (ḥānan, H2603), meaning 'to be gracious,' 'to show favor,' or 'to have mercy.' It is a feminine form related to the masculine name חָנָן (Chanan, H2605). The name is essentially a passive participle, meaning 'favored one' or 'graced one,' directly connecting her identity to the divine grace she received.
Semantic Range
Hannah's story is theologically rich, illustrating themes of divine providence, faithful prayer, and covenantal dedication. Her heartfelt, silent prayer (1 Samuel 1:13) models authentic communication with God. Her song of thanksgiving (1 Samuel 2:1-10) is a profound theological hymn about God's reversal of human fortunes and his sovereign power, which prefigures the Magnificat of Mary in the New Testament (Luke 1:46-55). Her act of dedicating Samuel establishes a paradigm of parental commitment to God's purposes.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, a woman's primary value was often tied to her ability to bear children, particularly sons. Hannah's barrenness (1 Samuel 1:2) was a source of profound social shame and personal grief, exacerbated by the taunts of her rival wife. Her story highlights the cultural pressure of this reality. Furthermore, her making a Nazirite-like vow for her unborn son (1 Samuel 1:11) and her husband's immediate support of it (1 Samuel 1:23) reflect the religious and familial structures of the time.
רָחֵל (Rāḥēl, H7354) — Another matriarch (Rachel) who also experienced barrenness and prayed fervently for children (Genesis 30:1).
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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