Hananiah

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. One of the singer Heman's 14 sons; chief of the 16th of the 24 courses into which the 288 Levite musicians were divided by king David; employed chiefly to "lift up the horn" ( 1 Chronicles 25:4-5;  1 Chronicles 25:23).

2.  2 Chronicles 26:11.

3.  Jeremiah 36:12.

4. Son of Azur, the prophet of Gibeon, a priests' city (Jeremiah 28). In the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign Hananiah, in opposition to Jeremiah, foretold that Jeconiah and the captives at Babylon would return with all the vessels of the Lord's house within two years. This hope rested on Pharaoh Hophra (Apries). Judah already had designed a league with Edom, Ammon, Moab, Tyre, and Sidon against Babylon. Their ambassadors had therefore come to Jerusalem, but were sent back with yokes and a divine message from Jeremiah that their several masters must submit to Nebuchadnezzar's yoke, to whom God had given these lands and the very beasts of the field, or else be punished with sword, famine, and pestilence (Jeremiah 27).

Hananiah broke off the yokes on Jeremiah's neck, in token of God's breaking off Nebuchadnezzar's yoke. Compare  1 Kings 22:11-24-25. Jeremiah said Amen, praying it might be so; but warned him that for the broken wooden yokes he should have iron yokes, adding "Hananiah, the Lord hath not sent thee, but thou makest this people trust in a lie ... therefore ... this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord. So Hananiah died the same year in the 7th month." In Zedekiah's 6th year the league with Pharaoh Hophra tempted Zedekiah to open revolt in violation of his oath to Nebuchadnezzar ( Ezekiel 17:12-20).

A temporary raising of the siege of Jerusalem, through the Egyptian ally, was soon followed by the return of the Chaldaean army, the capture of Jerusalem, and the blinding of Zedekiah and his removal to Babylon ( Ezekiel 37:5). Each claimant to inspiration, as Hananiah, must stand two tests: does his prophecy accord with past revelations of God's word? does the event verify it? Hananiah failed in both. Moreover, he promised sinners peace and safety without repentance. Hananiah's namesake in New Testament is a similar warning in stance of God' s vengeance on the man "whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Acts 5); a foretaste of the final retribution ( Revelation 22:15).

5.  Jeremiah 37:13.

6.  1 Chronicles 8:24.

7. (See Shadrach ; Ananias Of the house of David ( Daniel 1:3;  Daniel 1:6-7;  Daniel 1:11;  Daniel 1:19;  Daniel 2:17).

8.  1 Chronicles 3:19. Identified by some with Joanna (the Jah or Jehovah being put at the beginning instead of at the end, as in Hanan-jah, "graciously given by Jehovah"),  Luke 3:27.

9.  Ezra 10:28.

10.  Exodus 30:22-28;  1 Chronicles 9:30;  Nehemiah 3:8;  Nehemiah 3:30, compare .

11.  Nehemiah 12:12.

12. Ruler of the palace (as Eliakim "over the house" of Hezekiah) along with Hanani, Nehemiah's brother, at Jerusalem.  Nehemiah 7:2-3, "a faithful man who feared God above many." (See Eliakim .) Had charge concerning setting watches, and opening and shutting the city gates. Prideaux argues from this Nehemiah at this time returned to Persia; but his presence in Jerusalem some time after the wall's completion is implied in  Nehemiah 7:5-65;  Nehemiah 8:9;  Nehemiah 10:1. Moreover, Gesenius (from  Nehemiah 2:8) thinks Habbirah in  Nehemiah 7:2 means not the governor's ( Tirshatha ) palace, but the fortress of the Lord's "house"; in this case Hananiah was a priest. But the charge as to the city gates implies a civil, not a sacerdotal, office. The Hebrew for "over ( Al ) Jerusalem" may mean simply "concerning."

13.  Nehemiah 10:23.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

HANANIAH (‘Jahweh has been gracious’). 1. One of the sons of Shashak, of the tribe of Benjamin (  1 Chronicles 8:24-25 ). 2. One of the sons of Heman, who could ‘prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals’ (  1 Chronicles 25:6 ), though their special function seems to have been the use of the horn (  1 Chronicles 25:1;   1 Chronicles 25:4;   1 Chronicles 25:6 ). 3. One of king Uzziah’s captains (  2 Chronicles 26:11 ). 4. The ‘lying prophet,’ son of Azzur the prophet, a Gibeonite, who was condemned by Jeremiah, in the reign of Zedekiah, for prophesying falsely. The prophecy of Hananiah was to the effect that king Jeconiah and the captives in Babylon would all return in two years’ time, bringing back with them the vessels of the Lord’s house which Nebuchadnezzar had carried away (cf.   Daniel 1:1-2 ). He expressed this in symbolic fashion by taking the ‘bar’ (cf.   Jeremiah 27:2 ) from Jeremiah’s neck and breaking it, with the words, ‘Thus saith the Lord: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon within two full years from off the neck of all the nations’ (  Jeremiah 28:11 ). In reply Jeremiah declares this prophecy to be false, and that because Hananiah has made the people to trust in a lie, he will die within the year. The words of Jeremiah come to pass: Hananiah dies in the seventh month (  Jeremiah 28:17 ). 5. Father of Zedekiah, one of the princes of Judah (  Jeremiah 36:12 ). 6. Grandfather of Irijah, who assisted Jeremiah (  Jeremiah 37:13 ). 7. A son of Zerubbabel (  1 Chronicles 3:19 ). 8. A priest, head of the house of Jeremiah, who returned with Nehemiah from Babylon (  Nehemiah 12:12 ). 9. Governor of ‘the castle,’ who, together with Hanani, was appointed by Nehemiah to the ‘charge over Jerusalem’ (  Nehemiah 7:2 ). 10. The friend of Daniel, who received the name Shadrach from the ‘prince of the eunuchs’ (  Daniel 1:7;   Daniel 1:11 ). Several others also bear this name, but they are not of importance (see   Ezra 10:28 ,   Nehemiah 3:8;   Nehemiah 3:30;   Nehemiah 10:23;   Nehemiah 12:41; these are not necessarily all different people).

W. O. E. Oesterley.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Hanani'ah. (Gift Of God).

1. One of the fourteen sons of Heman, and chief of the sixteenth course of singers.  1 Chronicles 25:4-5;  1 Chronicles 25:23. (B.C. 1014).

2. A general in the army of King Uzziah.  2 Chronicles 26:11.

3. Father of Zedekiah, in the reign of Jehoiakim. (B.C. Before 605).

4. Son of Azur, a Benjamite of Gibeon, and a false prophet in the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah. In the fourth year of his reign, B.C. 595, Hananiah withstood Jeremiah, the prophet, and publicly prophesied in the Temple that, within two years, Jeconiah and all his fellow captives with the vessels of the Lord's house, should be brought back to Jerusalem.  Jeremiah 28:1.

Hananiah corroborated his prophecy by taking from off the neck of Jeremiah, the yoke which he wore by divine command,  Jeremiah 27:1, and breaking it. But Jeremiah was bidden to go tell Hananiah that, for the wooden yokes which he had broken, he should make yokes of iron, so firm was the dominion of Babylon destined to be for seventy years. The prophet Jeremiah added to this rebuke the prediction of Hananiah's death, the fulfillment of which closes the history of this false prophet.

5. Grandfather of Irijah, the captain of the ward at the gate of Benjamin, who arrested Jeremiah on the charge of deserting to the Chaldeans.  Jeremiah 37:13. (B.C. Before 589).

6. Head of a Benjamite house.  1 Chronicles 8:24.

7. The Hebrew name of Shadrach. He was of the house of David, according to Jewish tradition  Daniel 1:3;  Daniel 1:6-7;  Daniel 1:11;  Daniel 1:19;  Daniel 2:17.

8. Son of Zerubbabel,  1 Chronicles 3:19, from whom Christ derived his descent. He is the same person who is, by St. Luke, called Joanna. (B.C. After 536).

9. One of the sons of Bebai, who returned with Ezra from Babylon.  Ezra 10:28. (B.C. 459).

10. A priest, one of the makers of the sacred ointments and incense, who built a portion of the wall of Jerusalem, in the days of Nehemiah.

11. Head of the priestly course of Jeremiah, in the days of Joiakim.  Nehemiah 12:12. (B.C. 610).

12. Ruler of the palace at Jerusalem, under Nehemiah. The arrangements for guarding the gates of Jerusalem were intrusted to him with Hanan, the Tirshatha's brother.  Nehemiah 7:2-3. (B.C. 446).

13. An Israelite.  Nehemiah 10:23.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Son of Heman: appointed to the service of song.  1 Chronicles 25:4,23 .

2. A captain of king Uzziah's army.   2 Chronicles 26:11 .

3. Father of Zedekiah a prince in the reign of Jehoiakim.   Jeremiah 36:12 .

4. Son of Azur and the false prophet who withstood Jeremiah. He prophesied that God would break the yoke of the king of Babylon within two years. Jeremiah denounced his prophecy as a lie: he should die within a year, which took place in the seventh month.   Jeremiah 28 .

5. Father of Shelemiah and grandfather of Irijah.   Jeremiah 37:13 .

6. Son of Shashak and a prince of the Benjamites.   1 Chronicles 8:21 .

7. The Hebrew name of SHADRACH, a companion of Daniel.   Daniel 1:6-19;  Daniel 2:17 .

8. Son of Zerubbabel.   1 Chronicles 3:19,21 . This Hananiah is supposed to be the JOANNA of  Luke 3:27 in the genealogy of the Lord Jesus.

9. One who had married a strange wife.   Ezra 10:28 .

10,11. Two who repaired the wall of Jerusalem.   Nehemiah 3:8,30 .

12. Ruler of the palace, who had charge over Jerusalem in the time of Nehemiah: he is described as a faithful man who feared God above many.   Nehemiah 7:2 .

13. One who sealed the covenant.   Nehemiah 10:23 .

14. A priest of the family of Jeremiah.   Nehemiah 12:12 .

15. Priest who assisted at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem.   Nehemiah 12:41 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Jeremiah 28:8-9 Jeremiah 28:10-11 Jeremiah 28:12-17 2 Jeremiah 36:12 3 Jeremiah 37:13 4 Daniel 1:7 1 Chronicles 3:19 1 Chronicles 8:24 7 1 Chronicles 25:4 1 Chronicles 25:23 2 Chronicles 26:11 9 Ezra 10:28 10 Nehemiah 3:8  Nehemiah 3:30 12 Nehemiah 7:2  Nehemiah 10:23 14 Nehemiah 12:12 Nehemiah 12:41

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

A false prophet, in the days of Jeremiah, whose history, though short, is so very striking and awful, that the Holy Ghost hath been pleased to appoint a whole chapter in the writings of Jeremiah to record it; as if the Lord the Spirit intended it to be frequently read in the church. Indeed, it cannot be read too often, and especially by all that minister in holy things. The chapter is the twenty-eighth of Jeremiah's ( Jeremiah 28:1-17) prophecy. I make no farther comment in this place upon it, unless it be to observe, that Hananiah's name but corresponded to this character. The word signifies the grace or gift of the Lord, from Chen or Chanan, grace; and Jah, the Lord. Hanan-Jah.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A false prophet contemporary with ( Jeremiah 28:3,17 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Hananiah'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/h/hananiah.html. 1897.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Hananiah ( Hăn'A-N Î'Ah ), Whom God Hath Given. 1. A false prophet and contemporary with Jeremiah.  Jeremiah 28:3. He died that year.  Jeremiah 28:17. There are 15 persons of (his name mentioned in the Old Testament.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A false prophet of Gibeon, who for his impious hardihood was overtaken with speedy death, according to the word of God,  Jeremiah 28:15-17 .

2. The Hebrew name of Shadrach.

3. A pious and faithful officer under Nehemiah,  Nehemiah 7:2 .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. [and Chald.] Chananyah', חֲנִנְיָה :N, also [ 1 Chronicles 25:23;  2 Chronicles 26:11;  Jeremiah 36:12] in. the prolonged form Chananya'Hu, חֲנִנְיָחוּ , whom Jehovah Has graciously Given, comp. Ananias, etc.; Sept. Ἀνανία or Ἀνανίας , Vulg. Hanania), the name of a number of men. (See Ananiah); (See Annas), etc.

1. A "son" of Shashak and chief of the tribe of Benjamin ( 1 Chronicles 8:24). B.C. apparently between 16i2 and 1093.

2. One of the sons of Heman, who (with eleven of his kinsmen) was appointed by David to superintend the sixteenth division (blowers on horns) of Levitical musicians ( 1 Chronicles 25:4;  1 Chronicles 25:23). B.C. 1014.

3. One of king Uzziah's chief military officers ( 2 Chronicles 26:11). B.C. 803.

4. The father of Shelemiah and grandfather of Irijah, which last was the guard of the gate of Benjamin who arrested Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 37:13). B.C. considerably ante 589. 5. Father of Zedekiah, which latter was one of the "princes" to whom Michaiah reported Baruch's reading of Jeremiah's roll ( Jeremiah 36:12). B.C. ante 605.

6. Son of Azur, a false prophet of Gibeon, who by opposing his prophecies to those of Jeremiah, brought upon himself the terrible sentence, "Thou shalt die This Year, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord." He died accordingly (Jeremiah 28, sq.). B.C, 595. Hananiah publicly prophesied in the Temple that within two years Jeconiah and all his fellow captives, with the vessels of the Lord's house which Nebuchadnezzar had taken away to Babylon, should be brought back to Jerusalem (Jeremiah 28): an indication that treacherous negotiations were already secretly opened with Pharaoh-Hophra (who had just succeeded Psammis on the Egyptian throne), and that strong hopes were entertained of the destruction of the Babylonian power by him. The preceding chapter ( Jeremiah 27:3) shows further that a league was already in progress between Judah and the neighboring nations of Edom, Ammon, Moab, Tyre, and Zidon, for the purpose of organizing resistance to Nebuchadnezzar, in combination no doubt, with the projected movements of Pharaoh Hophra. IInaaniah corroborated his prophecy by taking off from the neck of Jeremiah the yoke which he wore by divine command (Jeremiah 27) in token of the subjection of Judaea and the neighboring countries to the Babylonian empire), and breaking it, adding, "Thus, saith Jehovah, Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years." But Jeremiah was bid to go and tell Hananiah that for the wooden yokes which he had broken he should make yokes of iron, so firm was the dominion of Babylon destined to be for seventy years. The prophet Jeremiah added this rebuke and prediction of Hananiah's death, the fulfillment of which closes the history of this false prophet. The history of Hananiah is of great interest, as throwing much light upon the Jewish politics of that eventful time, divided as parties were into the partisans of Babylon on one hand, and Egypt on the other. It also exhibits the machinery of false prophecies, by which the irreligious party sought to promote their own policy, in a very distinct form. At the same tine, too, that it explains in general the sort of political calculation on which such false prophecies were hazarded, it supplies an important clew in particular by which to judge of the date of Pharaoh-Hophra's (or Apries's) accession to the Egyptian throne, and the commencement of his ineffectual effort to restore the power of Egypt (which had been prostrate since Necho's overthrow,  Jeremiah 46:2) upon the ruins of the Babylonian empire. The leaning to Egypt indicated by Hananiah's prophecy as having begun in the fourth of Zedekiah, had in the sixth of his reign issued in open defection from Nebuchadnezzar, and in the guilt of perjury, which cost Zedekiah his crown and his life, as we learn from  Ezekiel 17:12-20; the date being fixed by a comparison of  Ezekiel 8:1 with 20:1. The temporary success of the intrigue, which is described in Jeremiah 37, was speedily followed by the return of the Chaldaeans and the destruction of the city, according to the prediction of Jeremiah. This history of Hananiah also illustrates the manner-in which the false prophets hindered the mission, and obstructed the beneficent effects of the ministry of the true prophets, and affords a remarkable example of the way in which they prophesied smooth things, and said peace when there was no peace (compare  1 Kings 22:11;  1 Kings 22:24-25). (See Jeremiah).

7. The original name of one of Daniel's youthful companions and one of the "three Hebrew children;" better known by his Babylonian name SHADRACH ( Daniel 1:6-7).

8. Son of Zerubbabel, and father of Rephaiah; one of the paternal ancestors of Christ ( 1 Chronicles 3:19;  1 Chronicles 3:21). (See Strong's Harm. And Expos. Of The Gospels, P. 16, 17.) B.C. post 536. He is possibly the same with No 10. (See Genealogy Of Christ).

9. One of the "sons" of Bebai, an Israelite who renounced his Gentile wife after the return from Babylon ( Ezra 10:28). B.C. 459.

10. The "ruler of the palace" ( שִׂר הִבַּירה ), and the person who was associated with Nehemiah's brother Hanani in the charge of the gates of Jerusalem. (See Hanani). The high eulogy is bestowed upon him that "he was a faithful man, and feared God above many". ( Nehemiah 7:2). His office seems to have been one of authority and trust, and perhaps the same as that of Eliakim, who was "over the house" in the reign of Hezekiah. (See Eliakim). The arrangements for guarding the gates of Jerusalem were entrusted to him with Hanani, the Tirshatha's brother. Prideaux thinks that the appointment of Hanani and Hananiah indicates that at this time Nehemiah returned to Persia, but without sufficient ground. Nehemiah seems to have been continuously at Jerusalem for some-time after the completion of the wall ( Nehemiah 7:5;  Nehemiah 7:65;  Nehemiah 8:9;  Nehemiah 10:1). If, too, the term הִבַּירָה means, as Gesenius supposes, and as the use of it in  Nehemiah 2:8, makes not improbable. not the palace, but the fortress of the Temple, called by Josephus Βάρις , there is still less reason to imagine Nehemiah's absence. In this case Hananiah would be a priest, perhaps of the same family as the preceding. The rendering, moreover, of  Nehemiah 7:2-3, should probably be, "And I enjoined (or gave orders to) Hanall … and Haanaiah, the captains of the fortress Concerning Jerusalem, and said, Let not the gates," etc. There is no authority for rendering עִל by "over" He gave such an one charge Over Jerusalem." The passages quoted by Gesenius are not one of them to the point.

11. The son of "one of the apothecaries" (or makers of the sacred ointments and incense,  Exodus 30:22-38), who repaired part of the walls of Jerusalem ( Nehemiah 3:8); possibly the same with No. 9. B.C. 446.

12. A son of Shelemiah, and one of the priests who repaired those parts of the wall of Jerusalem opposite their houses ( Nehemiah 3:30). B.C. 446.

13. A priest, apparently son of Jeremiah, after the captivity ( Nehemiah 12:12); probably the same with one of those who celebrated the completion of the walls of Jerusalem ( Nehemiah 12:41). B.C. 446.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

han - a - nı̄´a ( חנניהוּ , ḥănanyāhū , חנניה , ḥănanyāh  ; Ἀνανίας , Ananı́as  ; also with aspirate, "Yahweh hath been gracious"): This was a common name in Israel for many centuries.

(1) A B enjamite ( 1 Chronicles 8:24 ).

(2) A captain of Uzziah's army ( 2 Chronicles 26:11 ).

(3) Father of one of the princes under Jehoiakim ( Jeremiah 36:12 ).

(4) One of the sons of Heman and leader of the 16th division of David's musicians ( 1 Chronicles 25:4 ,  1 Chronicles 25:23 ).

(5) Grandfather of the officer of the guard which apprehended Jeremiah on a charge of desertion ( Jeremiah 37:13 ).

(6) A false prophet of Gibeon, son of Azzur, who opposed Jeremiah, predicting that the yoke of Babylon would be broken in two years, and that the king, the people and the vessels of the temple would be brought back to Jerusalem. Jeremiah would be glad if it should be so, nevertheless it would not be. The question then arose, Which is right, Jeremiah or Hananiah? Jeremiah claimed that he was right because he was in accordance with all the great prophets of the past who prophesied evil and their words came true. Therefore his words are more likely to be true. The prophet of good, however, must wait to have his prophecy fulfilled before he can be accredited. Hananiah took off the yoke from Jeremiah and broke it in pieces, symbolic of the breaking of the power of Babylon. Jeremiah was seemingly beaten, retired and received a message from Yahweh that the bar of wood would become a bar of iron, and that Hananiah would die during the year because he had spoken rebellion against Yahweh ( Jeremiah 28 passim ).

(7) One of Daniel's companions in Babylon whose name was changed to Shadrach ( Daniel 1:7 ,  Daniel 1:11 ,  Daniel 1:19 ).

(8) A son of Zerubbabel ( 1 Chronicles 3:19 ,  1 Chronicles 3:21 ).

(9) A L evite, one of the sons of Bebai, one of those who married foreign wives ( Ezra 10:28; 1 Esdras 9:29).

(10) One of the perfumers (the King James Version "apothecaries") who wrought in rebuilding the wall under Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 3:8 ).

(11) One who helped to repair the wall above the horse gate ( Nehemiah 3:30 ). This may be the same person as number 10.

(12) A governor of the castle, i.e. the bı̄rāh or fortress, and by Nehemiah placed in charge of the whole city of Jerusalem, because "he was a faithful man, and feared God above many" (  Nehemiah 7:2 ).

(13) One of those who sealed the covenant under Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 10:23 ); a Levite.

(14) A priest who was present at the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem ( Nehemiah 12:12 ,  Nehemiah 12:41 ).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Hananiah, 1

Hanani´ah (Jehovah's goodness), a false prophet of Gibeon, who, by opposing his prophecies to those of Jeremiah, brought upon himself the terrible sentence, 'Thou shalt die this year because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord.' He died accordingly (, sq.), B.C. 596.

Hananiah, 2

Hananiah [SHADRACH]

Hananiah, 3

Hananiah, the person who was associated with Nehemiah's brother Hanani in the charge of the gates of Jerusalem. The high eulogy is bestowed upon him, that 'he was a faithful man, and feared God above many' [HANANI, 2].