Lexical Summary
Chanani: Hanani
Original Word:חֲנָני
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Chananiy
Pronunciation:khan-aw-nee'
Phonetic Spelling:(khan-aw-nee')
KJV: Hanani
NASB:Hanani
Word Origin:[fromH2603 (חָנַן - To be gracious)]
1. gracious
2. Chanani, the name of six Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Hanani
Fromchanan; gracious; Chanani, the name of six Israelites -- Hanani.
see HEBREWchanan
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
chananDefinitionthe name of several Isr.
NASB TranslationHanani (11).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(perhaps abbreviated from following); —
1 Kings 16:1,7; 2Chronicles 16:7; 19:2; 20:34.
Nehemiah 1:2;Nehemiah 7:2.
1 Chronicles 25:4,25.
Nehemiah 12:36.
Ezra 10:20.
Topical Lexicon
OverviewThe name חֲנָני (Hanani) is borne by at least four distinct individuals in the Old Testament, appearing eleven times across the historical books. Together they illustrate prophetic courage, musical service, priestly repentance, and administrative faithfulness.
Hanani the Seer of Judah
2 Chronicles 16:7–10 portrays Hanani as a “seer” who confronted King Asa after the king enlisted Aram’s help instead of relying on the LORD. His fearless rebuke—“Because you have relied on the king of Aram and not on the LORD your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped from your hand” (verse 7)—cost him imprisonment (verse 10) but solidified the prophetic principle that trust in worldly alliances invites divine displeasure. Hanani’s ministry extended to the next generation through his son Jehu, also a prophet (1 Kings 16:1;2 Chronicles 19:2), confirming a legacy of speaking truth to power.
Hanani the Father of Jehu
In1 Kings 16:1, 7 and2 Chronicles 19:2; 20:34, Hanani is referenced as the father of Jehu the prophet. These notices root Jehu’s authority in a prophetic household, suggesting that Hanani’s faithfulness influenced national history beyond his own lifetime. The chronicler’s final allusion—“recorded in the Chronicles of Jehu son of Hanani” (2 Chronicles 20:34)—shows that the family preserved written testimonies of God’s dealings with the kings.
Hanani the Musician
1 Chronicles 25:4, 25 lists Hanani among the sons of Heman whom David appointed “for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps, lyres, and cymbals” (25:1). As the seventeenth lot (25:4) and later leading the eighteenth course (25:25), this Hanani contributed to the temple’s twenty-four-course rotation that maintained unbroken praise. His inclusion highlights how prophetic utterance and musical excellence met in Davidic worship.
Hanani the Post-Exilic Priest
Ezra 10:20 names Hanani among the priests who had intermarried with foreign women and who “pledged to send away their wives” (Ezra 10:19). His willingness to repent safeguarded the sanctity of the priesthood and underscored the call to covenant purity that marked Ezra’s reforms.
Hanani the Brother of Nehemiah
Nehemiah’s memoir opens: “Hanani, one of my brothers, arrived from Judah” (Nehemiah 1:2). His report of Jerusalem’s broken walls stirred Nehemiah’s famous prayer and the subsequent rebuilding mission. Later Nehemiah “put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem… because he was a faithful man who feared God more than most” (Nehemiah 7:2). Hanani’s integrity and reverence qualified him for civic oversight during a fragile phase of restoration. He also joined the dedicatory procession with musical instruments (Nehemiah 12:36), linking administrative responsibility with joyful worship.
Ministry Significance
Prophetic Accountability
Hanani the seer embodies the divine mandate to confront ungodly compromise, proving that even righteous kings must bow to the covenant.
Generational Influence
By fathering Jehu, Hanani shows how faithfulness can shape successive ministries and preserve inspired history.
Worship Leadership
The musician Hanani reminds believers that skilled artistry, grounded in prophecy, magnifies God’s glory in corporate worship.
Holiness and Repentance
The priest Hanani demonstrates that leaders must model repentance, ensuring that worship is not corrupted by disobedience.
Faithful Governance
Nehemiah’s brother illustrates that civic administration belongs in the hands of those whose primary loyalty is to God.
Theological Themes
1. Reliance on the LORD versus human alliances (2 Chronicles 16).
2. The perpetuation of prophetic witness across generations.
3. Integration of worship, work, and governance under God’s authority.
4. The necessity of personal and corporate repentance for covenant fidelity.
5. Fear of God as the core qualification for leadership (Nehemiah 7:2).
Lessons for Today
• Confront sin even when costly; God honors fearless obedience.
• Cultivate households that nurture prophetic and worship gifts.
• Ensure that artistic service springs from a consecrated heart.
• Repent promptly to restore fellowship and influence.
• Select leaders for spiritual character, not merely administrative skill.
Hanani’s scattered mentions weave a single tapestry: God raises diverse servants—prophets, musicians, priests, administrators—who, despite differing roles, share one indispensable trait: unwavering devotion to the LORD.
Forms and Transliterations
חֲנָ֔נִי חֲנָ֖נִי חֲנָ֗נִי חֲנָ֘נִי֮ חֲנָ֜נִי חֲנָ֣נִי חנני לַחֲנָ֔נִי לחנני chaNani ḥă·nā·nî ḥănānî la·ḥă·nā·nî lachaNani laḥănānî
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