חַנָּתֹן
Channathon, a place in Palestine
Definition
Channathon is a proper noun referring to a town in the territory of the tribe of Zebulun, located in northern Israel. It is mentioned only once in the Bible as a landmark on the border of Zebulun's inheritance (Joshua 19:14). The name itself means 'favored' or 'gracious,' likely describing the location's favorable or pleasant characteristics. As a geographical marker, its primary significance is in defining the tribal allotments following the Israelite conquest of Canaan.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Joshua 19:14. It appears in a list of border towns defining the territory allotted to the tribe of Zebulun. The usage is purely geographical and administrative, serving as a specific point on the tribal boundary. There are no other occurrences or patterns of usage in different contexts.
Etymology
The name Channathon (חַנָּתֹן) is derived from the Hebrew root חָנַן (ḥānan, H2603), which means 'to be gracious,' 'to show favor,' or 'to be merciful.' It is a place-name formed from this root, likely in a participial or gentilic form, meaning 'favored place' or 'place of grace.' This follows a common pattern in Semitic languages where locations are named for perceived attributes or blessings.
Semantic Range
In its original context, Channathon was a real town in ancient Israel, part of the tribal geography established after the conquest. Place names in the ancient Near East often reflected physical characteristics (e.g., springs, hills) or desired divine favor. A name meaning 'favored' might indicate the town was situated in a fertile or strategically advantageous location, seen as a blessing. Its mention solely as a border marker suggests it was a known locality for the original audience, helping them visualize the tribal boundaries.
No direct synonyms as a proper place name. Related conceptually to other border towns in Zebulun's inheritance listed in Joshua 19:10-16, such as Sarid (H8301) and Daberath (H1705).
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.
Full methodology & sources →