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חֲנֻכָּא

𐤇𐤍𐤊𐤀

chănukkâʼ

H2597 noun

SILEX Entry

Root חנך to dedicate, to inaugurate, to initiate, to train

Definition

Consecration, especially the act of dedicating or inaugurating something for sacred use. Primarily used in reference to the formal dedication of an altar, temple, or other religious structure. In Aramaic contexts, refers to religious or ceremonial inauguration, particularly as a communal or public event.

Semantic Range

dedication, consecration, inauguration, the event or ritual of making something sacred, especially an altar or temple

Root / Etymology

From the Aramaic root חנך, which also appears in Hebrew as חנך (ḥ-n-k), meaning 'to dedicate, to initiate, to train.' חֲנֻכָּא is the Aramaic noun form, corresponding to Hebrew חֲנֻכָּה (ḥănukkāh), both meaning 'dedication' or 'consecration.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֲנֻכָּא occurs as an Aramaic noun in post-exilic biblical books, reflecting the influence of Aramaic as the lingua franca during the Persian period and later. It is principally used for the dedication of the altar (see Ezra 6:16-17) during the reconstruction of the Jerusalem temple under Persian authorization. The Hebrew counterpart, חֲנֻכָּה, appears in similar contexts for dedications in earlier periods (e.g., altar dedication in Numbers 7). Later, חֲנֻכָּה became associated with the Maccabean rededication of the temple, although this later festival postdates the core biblical usage. Modern translations often simply render חֲנֻכָּא as 'dedication,' but the term includes both the act and the communal event of dedicating something sacred. It is distinct from חָנַף ('defile, profane') and from other terms like מִסְבֵּחַ ('altar'), which denote the object being dedicated rather than the event or process.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to חֲנֻכָּה; consecration; dedication.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

חנך (ḥ-n-k) — to dedicate, to inaugurate, to initiate, to train

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2441 חֵךְ her palate
H2585 חֲנוֹךְ Dedicated one
H2593 חָנִיךְ his initiated men
H2596 חָנַךְ he dedicated it
H2598 חֲנֻכָּה dedication ceremony

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H2597-02 לַ/חֲנֻכַּ֣ת lachanukat AR/Ncfsc for the dedication for the dedication of 3
H2597-01 חֲנֻכַּ֛ת chanukat ANcfsc the dedication of dedication of 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H2597-02 Daniel 3:2 לַ/חֲנֻכַּ֣ת lachanukat AR/Ncfsc to the dedication of for the dedication of
H2597-02 Daniel 3:3 לַ/חֲנֻכַּ֣ת lachanukat AC/Ncfsc to the dedication for the dedication of
H2597-01 Ezra 6:16 חֲנֻכַּ֛ת chanukat ANcfsc the dedication of dedication of
H2597-02 Ezra 6:17 לַ/חֲנֻכַּת֮ lachanukat AR/Ncfsc for the dedication for the dedication of
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