English · KJV
H2596

חָנַךְ

chânak /khaw-nak'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaning(compare חָנַק); properly, to narrow; figuratively, to initiate or discipline
KJV usagededicate, train up.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of chânak — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word chânak, represented by H2596, is a primitive root meaning to narrow, and figuratively, to initiate or discipline. It is used to mean dedicate or train up. It appears 5 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, indicating a specific but significant application.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H2596 is applied to both places and people. It describes the formal dedication of the temple by Solomon, an event of immense national importance where "the king and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the LORD" 1 Kings 8:63. The term is also used in a legal context within the law of Moses, which makes provision for a man who has built a new house but has "not dedicated it" to return home from battle Deuteronomy 20:5. Figuratively, the word is famously used to describe formative instruction, as in the command to "Train up a child in the way he should go" Proverbs 22:6.

Related Words & Concepts

The act of dedication often occurred alongside sacrificial offerings, linking H2596 to related terms:

  • H2076 zâbach (to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice); kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay.): This action verb is directly connected to the dedication of the temple, where Solomon "offered" thousands of oxen and sheep 1 Kings 8:63.
  • H2077 zebach (from זָבַח; properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act); offer(-ing), sacrifice.): This noun refers to the "sacrifice" itself which was presented to God during the temple dedication ceremony 2 Chronicles 7:5.

Theological Significance

The application of H2596 highlights several key principles:

  • Setting Apart Sacred Space: The word is used for the formal inauguration of the temple (1 Kings 8:63, 2 Chronicles 7:5) and even a new personal home Deuteronomy 20:5, marking these places as set apart for their intended purpose.
  • Formative Instruction: Its use in Proverbs extends the concept of dedication from a physical building to a person's life. To "train up a child" is to dedicate them to a righteous path from their earliest moments Proverbs 22:6.
  • Initiation and First Use: The underlying sense of "initiate" is evident in Deuteronomy 20:5, where the builder of a house is given the right to be the first to dedicate and enjoy it, establishing its purpose.

Summary

In summary, H2596 conveys a potent concept of initiation and dedication. While its usage is infrequent, it bridges the physical act of consecrating a structure like the temple and the moral act of shaping a human life for a specific path. The word demonstrates how a single idea of "narrowing" or "initiating" can apply to both the most sacred of buildings and the foundational instruction of a child.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 5 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יַּחְנְכוּ
  • חֲנֹךְ
  • יַחְנְכֶ
  • חֲנָכ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H2076 זָבַח a primitive root; to slaughter an animal (usually in sacrifice); kill, offer, (do) sacrifice, slay. H2077 זֶבַח from זָבַח; properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act); off

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 4 verses across 4 of the 39 books. 4 books tie for most frequent (1 verse each); never once in the other 35.

1
Deuteronomy
1
1 Kings
1
2 Chronicles
1
Proverbs

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.