← H2595 H2597 →

חָנַךְ

𐤇𐤍𐤊

chânak

H2596 verb

SILEX Entry

Root חנך to dedicate, to initiate, to inaugurate

Definition

To dedicate formally (an object, building, altar) to a particular ritual or cultic use; in extended usage, to initiate, inaugurate, or set apart for a special function. Occasionally, in metaphorical contexts, to train or initiate a person, particularly a youth, in a prescribed course or practice. The semantic range includes the act of dedicating physical spaces, the ceremonial initiation of use, and, less commonly, the notion of beginning or starting a process in a formative sense.

Semantic Range

to initiate or dedicate (a building, altar, house) for sacred use; to inaugurate; to devote something to a function; to begin or establish; metaphorically, to train or set someone, especially a youth, on a prescribed path

Root / Etymology

Root חנך. The root meaning is "to dedicate, inaugurate, initiate." Some scholars have suggested a connection to narrowing or pressing, but the primary lexical usage in Biblical Hebrew centers on acts of dedication or initiation, particularly in ritual or communal contexts. The verb חָנַךְ is the verbal base from which the noun חֲנֻכָּה (dedication, inauguration) derives.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חָנַךְ most frequently refers to dedicatory acts involving sacred space or objects (e.g., the dedication of the altar in Num 7:10; the dedication of Solomon's Temple in 1 Kings 8:63). Its less common usage in Proverbs 22:6—'train up a child'—represents a metaphorical extension from establishing or initiating a place to establishing or forming a person’s character at the outset of life. Over time, the verbal form in post-biblical Hebrew (and in later Jewish tradition) solidifies the sense of formal dedication or initiation, becoming the basis for the noun חֲנֻכָּה (Hanukkah) in the sense of festival of dedication. The rare sense of "train" or "initiate a person" never displaces the primary meaning of dedicating places or objects, which dominates biblical usage. English translations sometimes narrow or broaden the sense; 'dedicate' often fits physical objects while 'train' or 'initiate' attempts to capture metaphorical use, albeit this is relatively rare in biblical contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; (compare חָנַק); properly, to narrow; figuratively, to initiate or discipline; dedicate, train up.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

חנך (ḥ-n-k) — dedication, initiation, inauguration

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2441 חֵךְ her palate
H2585 חֲנוֹךְ Dedicated one
H2593 חָנִיךְ his initiated men
H2597 חֲנֻכָּא dedication of
H2598 חֲנֻכָּה dedication ceremony

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2596-03 וַֽ/יַּחְנְכוּ֙ vayachenekhu HC/Vqw3mp and dedicated and they dedicated 2
H2596-02 חֲנֹ֣ךְ chanokhe HVqv2ms Train Dedicated One 1
H2596-01 חֲנָכ֔/וֹ chanakho HVqp3ms/Sp3ms dedicated it he dedicated it 1
H2596-04 יַחְנְכֶֽ/נּוּ yachenekhenu HVqi3ms/Sp3ms dedicate it he will dedicate him 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2596-01 Deuteronomy 20:5 חֲנָכ֔/וֹ chanakho HVqp3ms/Sp3ms dedicated it he dedicated it
H2596-04 Deuteronomy 20:5 יַחְנְכֶֽ/נּוּ yachenekhenu HVqi3ms/Sp3ms dedicate it he will dedicate him
H2596-03 1 Kings 8:63 וַֽ/יַּחְנְכוּ֙ vayachenekhu HC/Vqw3mp and dedicated and they dedicated
H2596-02 Proverbs 22:6 חֲנֹ֣ךְ chanokhe HVqv2ms Train Dedicated One
H2596-03 2 Chronicles 7:5 וַֽ/יַּחְנְכוּ֙ vayachenekhu HC/Vqw3mp and they dedicated and they dedicated
← H2595 Hebrew Lexicon H2597 →