כְּנָנִי
𐤊𐤍𐤍𐤉
Kᵉnânîy
H3662 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Kenani – a personal name designating an Israelite individual, likely with the meaning 'planted' based on root association. The form appears as a proper noun designating a specific person in genealogical or community contexts. The word functions as a masculine personal name with potential to express characteristics associated with being 'established' or 'set in place.'
Semantic Range
proper name (Israelite man); planted one; (possible implied sense) established; nominal usage in genealogical or liturgical contexts
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root כָּנַן (k-n-n), which generally means 'to plant, establish, set up.' כְּנָנִי is a theophoric or descriptive personal name in Hebrew, perhaps meaning 'He (God) has planted' or simply 'planted one.' The base root conveys the sense of being set or established, and the personal name form is a nominalization of this theme.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, כְּנָנִי occurs as a personal name, notably in Nehemiah 9:4, where Kenani is listed among Levites participating in public prayer or worship leadership during the Second Temple (post-exilic) period. There is no evidence of the term being used for a group identity, nationality, or broader concept—its use is purely as a proper name. English translations sometimes render it 'Chenani,' following transliteration traditions. This name is unrelated to the similar-sounding 'Canaanite,' which has a different root and meaning. The semantic field reflects Israelite naming patterns in the Second Temple era, which often associated personal names with divine acts such as planting or establishing. Standard translations tend to obscure the root meaning, focusing only on the transliteration of the name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from כָּנַן; planted; Kenani, an Israelite; Chenani.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
כנן (k-n-n) — to plant, to establish, to set in place
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H3654 | כֵּן | the fastening parasites |
| H3657 | כַּנָּה | and a cultivated plant |
| H3663 | כְּנַנְיָה | And Yah-has-established |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3662-01 |
כְנָ֑נִי | khenani | HNp |
Chenani | Planted One | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H3662-01 |
Nehemiah 9:4 | כְנָ֑נִי | khenani | HNp |
Chenani | Planted One |