Hebrew word · Strong's H2603

חָנַן

chânan · khaw-nan' · verb · “to be gracious, show favor”

In a sentence

Chanan means to be gracious, show favor, have mercy. The root of chen (grace) — the verb of God's kindness to the undeserving in the Old Testament.

Chanan describes the act of showing grace — a stronger to a weaker, a free gift. It is the verb behind the priestly blessing's «the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious (chanan) to you.»

The Psalms cry out: «Be gracious to me, O God.» The Old Testament's word for unmerited favor stands behind the New Testament's charis.

Strong's reference

Definition: properly, to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior; to favor, bestow; causatively to implore (i.e. move to favor by petition)

KJV usage: beseech, [idiom] fair, (be, find, shew) favour(-able), be (deal, give, grant (gracious(-ly), intreat, (be) merciful, have (shew) mercy (on, upon), have pity upon, pray, make supplication, [idiom] very.

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Numbers 6:25 “may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;” Psalms 51:1 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.