Word Study for H7077 (קָנַן) | Strong's Concordance

qânan /kaw-nan'/ Ask about this word

Roota primitive root

Meaningto erect; but used only as denominative from קֵן; to nestle, i.e. build or occupy as anest

KJV usagemake...nest.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of qânan — 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 qânan, represented by H7077, is a primitive root defined as: to erect; but used only as denominative from קֵן; to nestle, i.e. build or occupy as a nest; make...nest. This specific verb appears 5 times across 5 unique verses in the Bible, focusing on the act of creating a dwelling or nest.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H7077 describes both the literal act of animals creating a home and a powerful metaphor for human habitation and security. In Psalms, it is used to describe God's created order, where "the birds make their nests" as a natural part of life Psalms 104:17. The prophets use this image to convey deeper meanings. Jeremiah warns the "inhabitant of Lebanon" who makest thy nest in the cedars, using the image to depict a false sense of security in a lofty position Jeremiah 22:23. Similarly, Ezekiel describes a great nation as a towering tree where the "fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs," symbolizing the shelter and dominion of a great empire Ezekiel 31:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words expand on the theme of dwelling and habitation:

H3427 yâshab: This root means to sit down, dwell, or remain. It is used in parallel with H7077 to describe those who occupy a place of security, such as the inhabitant of Lebanon who makes a nest Jeremiah 22:23 or the great nations that dwelt under the shadow of a symbolic tree Ezekiel 31:6.
H7931 shâkan: Meaning to reside or permanently stay, this word signifies a more settled or permanent dwelling. In a call for survival, the people of Moab are told to leave the cities and dwell in the rock, imitating the dove that makes her nest in a place of safety Jeremiah 48:28.
H1004 bayith: This word for house or family provides a direct parallel to the concept of a nest. In the same verse that mentions birds making nests, it states that for the stork, "the fir trees are her house" Psalms 104:17, equating the nest with a home.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H7077 is centered on the concepts of security, refuge, and divine judgment.

Creation and Divine Order: The act of nesting is presented as part of God's well-ordered creation, where He provides a place for every creature. The birds that make their nests are a testament to the natural provisions established by God Psalms 104:17.
Metaphor for Security: A nest symbolizes a place of safety and habitation. This is used to describe the refuge sought by the people of Moab in the rocks Jeremiah 48:28 and the dependent nations finding shelter under a powerful empire Ezekiel 31:6.
Symbol of Pride and Judgment: The image of a high nest can represent human pride and a false sense of security that invites divine judgment. The inhabitants of Lebanon are rebuked for making their nest in the cedars, trusting in their elevated status rather than God Jeremiah 22:23. Similarly, Isaiah prophesies a place of desolation where the great owl will make her nest, a sign of ruin and abandonment Isaiah 34:15.

Summary

In summary, H7077 moves beyond the simple act of a bird building its home. It serves as a potent biblical metaphor for the human search for security and a place to dwell. Whether describing the beauty of God's provision in nature, the refuge found in times of trouble, or the dangerous pride of a nation, qânan illustrates how the concept of a nest carries significant meaning related to themes of creation, security, and judgment.

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 4 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.

יְקַנֵּנוּ
תְּקַנֵּן
קִנְנוּ
קִנְּנָה

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 5 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Jeremiah (2 verses); never once in the other 35.

Psalms

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Ezekiel

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.