Grace

chānan

When we encounter the word grace, we are again on holy ground. No other word sums up biblical theology and, therefore, the Christian faith, as does grace. The Hebrew verb is chānan (2603), and the noun is chēn (2580). Related to the Akkadian enēnu and hanānu (“to grant a favor”), chānan means “to be gracious, considerate, show favor” and “depicts a heartfelt response by someone who has something to give to one who has a need.” It is often used for people being gracious to each other, as when Job asked his friends to “pity” him (Job 19:21), and for people having pity on the poor (Prov. 19:17).

It is the theological use, of course, that is the most significant. Like mercy, grace is always to the spiritually helpless, those who cannot save themselves. The psalmist cries out to God because of his solitude (Ps. 25:16), his suffering (31:9), and his sin (51:1, chānan is “mercy”). Further, we see God’s graciousness in protection (Gen. 6:8ff), prosperity (33:11), and even progeny (33:5). And we should not ignore that this is all according to God’s sovereign will alone, as He “will be gracious to whom [He] will be gracious” (Exod. 33:19).

It’s also fascinating to note that this word, and its derivatives, form the basis for the names of several people in Scripture, such as Hannah and Johanan, for example. Those names have in turn given us several of their own derivatives that we use today, such as Anna, Ann, and several versions of John. God’s people are, indeed, struck by the power and depth of this word.

Finally, as one authority also observes, “In many ways, chānan combines the meaning of the Greek charis (with the general classical Greek sense of ‘charm’ or ‘graciousness’) and the NT sense of ‘undeserved favor’ or ‘mercy.’” The Septuagint, in fact, often renders chānan as charis (5485G). Further, as the OT chānan is associated with Messiah, so, too, is the NT charis coupled with the person and work of Jesus Christ, for He is the ultimate manifestation of the grace of God.

I hope you will meditate on just how wondrous God’s grace is, and that it alone is why you are one of His own from “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4).

Scriptures for Study: Identify the recipient of grace in each of the following: Genesis 18:3; 19:19; Exodus 33:12, 13; Ezra 9:8 (techinnāh, 8467, from chānan).