Lexical Definition

‎חָנָן‎ Chânân (khaw-nawn') Hanan ^N:N-M-P
from ‎חָנַן‎; favor

Canan.

• § Canan or Hanan = "he is merciful"
• Chanan, the name of seven Israelites

1) one of the chief people of the tribe of Benjamin
2) last of the 6 sons of Azel, a descendant of Saul
3) son of Maachah, one of David's mighty warriors
4) father of some sons who returned from exile with Zerubbabel
5) one of the Levites who assisted Ezra in his public exposition of the law
6) one of the heads of the people who also sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
7) another of the chief laymen who also sealed the covenant with Nehemiah
8) son of Zaccur, grandson of Mattaniah whom Nehemiah made one of the storekeepers of the provisions collected as tithes. Same as 5 ?
9) son of Igdaliah

Extended Information

• A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.8.7

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎חָנָן‎ proper name, masculine (gracious; compare Sabean ‎חנן‎, Phoenician ‎חנא‎) —

1. one of the warriors of David 1Chr 11:43.

2. one of the heads of families of Nethinim Ezra 2:46 = Neh 7:49.

3. names of Levites Neh 8:7; Neh 10:11*; Neh 13:3.

4. chiefs of the people:
a. Neh 10:23*.
b. Neh 10:27*.

5. Benjamite name 1Chr 8:23; 1Chr 8:38; 1Chr 9:44 (compare proper name, of a location ‎בֵּית חָנָן‎, Mishna ‎כְּפַר חָנָן‎).

6. ‎אִישׁ הָאֱלֹהִים‎ head of a prophetic guild, ‎בְּנֵי חָנָן‎ Jer 35:4.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References

Profile

Male • Returned leader • A Levite who helped explain the Law to the people.

Man living at the time of Exile and Return

Hanan, a Levite, assisted Ezra in teaching the Law to the people during the post-exilic period.

• A man living at the time of Exile and Return, first mentioned at Neh.8.7;
• only referred to as Hanan חָנָן.

Hanan is mentioned in Nehemiah 8:7 as one of the Levites who helped Ezra, the priest and scribe, in explaining the Law to the people. After the return from Babylonian exile, Ezra read the Book of the Law to the assembled Israelites during the Feast of Tabernacles (Nehemiah 8:1-3). Hanan, along with several other Levites, stood beside Ezra and helped the people understand the Law, translating and explaining it clearly (Nehemiah 8:7-8). This event marked a significant moment in the spiritual revival of the post-exilic community, as the people rediscovered and recommitted themselves to the teachings of the Law. In Nehemiah 10:10, Hanan is also listed among the Levites who signed the covenant to follow the Law of God, demonstrating his commitment to the spiritual renewal of the people.

All entries for Hanan: חָנָן