בַּעַל חָנָן
𐤁𐤏𐤋 𐤇𐤍𐤍
Baal Chanan
H1177 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Personal name meaning 'Baal has shown favor' or 'lord of favor,' most likely referring to the divinity Baal as the agent of grace or favor. The name occurs as that of an Edomite leader and also as an official serving King David. The lexical meaning arises from the combination of two elements commonly found in West Semitic theophoric names: Ba‘al (a title or deity) and ḥānān (showed favor).
Semantic Range
(personal name) Baal has shown favor, lord of favor, possessor of grace; theophoric name signifying favor or grace of Baal; name of Edomite chief; name of Judahite official under David
Root / Etymology
A compound of בַּעַל (Ba‘al, 'lord,' often functioning as a divine title, especially in reference to the Canaanite storm god) and חָנָן (ḥānān, a verb meaning 'to show favor, be gracious'). Thus, the name means 'Baal has been gracious' or 'Baal has shown favor.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
בַּעַל חָנָן appears as the name of an Edomite chief in Genesis 36:38–39 and 1 Chronicles 1:49–50, set in the pre-monarchic, patriarchal context, indicating the integration of theophoric names referencing Baal among Edomites. In 1 Chronicles 27:28, בַּעַל חָנָן is the name of a Judahite (member of the tribe of Judah) official in charge of olive and sycamore trees under King David, showing that similar name construction persisted among Israelites but likely no longer bore the same theological import. The use of the element 'Ba‘al' in personal names was common not only among Canaanites and Edomites but also among Israelites—especially in earlier periods—prior to heightened opposition to Baal worship in later monarchic and prophetic literature. English translations preserve the name as 'Baal-hanan,' but may obscure the underlying theophoric and semantic implications, especially regarding the changing attitudes to Baal as a deity in Israelite culture. Later in Jewish tradition, direct use of Baal as an element in Israelite names diminished in favor due to its pagan associations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from בַּעַל and חָנַן; possessor of grace; Baal-Chanan, the name of an Edomite, also of an Israelite; Baal-hanan.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
בעל, חנן (b-ʿ-l; ḥ-n-n) — to possess, to rule, lordship; to show favor, to be gracious
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1177-01 |
בַּ֥עַל | baal | HNp |
Baal | Baal-has-shown-favor | 5 |
H1177-02 |
חָנָ֖ן | chanan | HNp |
-hanan | Baal has shown favor | 5 |
Occurrences in Scripture
10 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H1177-01 |
Genesis 36:38 | בַּ֥עַל | baal | HNp |
Baal | Baal-has-shown-favor |
H1177-02 |
Genesis 36:38 | חָנָ֖ן | chanan | HNp |
hanan | Baal has shown favor |
H1177-01 |
Genesis 36:39 | בַּ֣עַל | baal | HNp |
Baal-hanan | Baal-has-shown-favor |
H1177-02 |
Genesis 36:39 | חָנָ֣ן | chanan | HNp |
Hanan | Baal has shown favor |
H1177-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:49 | בַּ֥עַל | baal | HNp |
Baal | Baal-has-shown-favor |
H1177-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:49 | חָנָ֖ן | chanan | HNp |
Hanan | Baal has shown favor |
H1177-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:50 | בַּ֣עַל | baal | HNp |
Baal | Baal-has-shown-favor |
H1177-02 |
1 Chronicles 1:50 | חָנָ֔ן | chanan | HNp |
-hanan | Baal has shown favor |
H1177-01 |
1 Chronicles 27:28 | בַּ֥עַל | baal | HNp |
Baal | Baal-has-shown-favor |
H1177-02 |
1 Chronicles 27:28 | חָנָ֖ן | chanan | HNp |
-hanan | Baal has shown favor |