Lexical Summary chanik: Trained Original Word: חָנִיךְ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance trained From chanak; initiated; i.e. Practiced -- trained. see HEBREW chanak NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as chek Definition trained, tried, experienced NASB Translation trained men (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [חָנִיךְ] adjective trained, tried, experienced, only plural suffix חֲנִיכָיו יְלידֵי בֵיתוֺ, Genesis 14:14 i.e. his tried and trusty men, born in his house. Topical Lexicon Root Concept of Dedication and Training The noun חָנִיךְ conveys the idea of one who has been initiated, instructed, or formally dedicated to a task. Its verbal root is shared with verbs that describe “training” or “dedicating” (as in Proverbs 22:6 and Deuteronomy 20:5), revealing a thematic link between preparation and consecration. Thus, the word carries both pedagogical and covenantal overtones: the individual is not only skilled but also set apart for a larger purpose. Historical Context in Genesis Genesis 14 records Abram’s pursuit of the coalition that captured Lot. Verse 14 states, “And when Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he mobilized the three hundred eighteen trained men born in his household, and pursued them as far as Dan.” This lone appearance portrays חָנִיךְ as a selected corps within Abram’s larger retinue—men who were drilled, disciplined, and ready for rapid deployment. Identity of the Trained Men 1. Household-born: They were native to Abram’s estate, suggesting covenantal loyalty rather than hired service. Abram’s Household as Proto-Covenant Community Genesis portrays Abram’s household as a microcosm of the future nation: circumcised (Genesis 17:23–27), instructed, and mission-minded. The presence of the חָנִיךְ illustrates how covenant households can blend vocational skill with spiritual fidelity, foreshadowing Israel’s later expectation that every tribe field both warriors and worshipers (Numbers 1:3; Deuteronomy 20:1–4). Military Preparedness and Divine Dependence While the men were competent, Scripture attributes victory to the LORD. Melchizedek blesses Abram: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand” (Genesis 14:19–20). The passage holds training and divine sovereignty together, demonstrating that human readiness is meant to operate under God’s providential rule. Foreshadowing Israel’s Martial Capacity The concept of a dedicated, well-trained minority anticipates Israel’s later élite units—such as the thirty valiant men of David (2 Samuel 23:13–17) and the standing guard described in 1 Chronicles 27. In each case, disciplined service functions within the overarching narrative of God’s redemptive plan. Spiritual Application in Discipleship and Ministry New Testament writers pick up the motif of deliberate preparation: Like Abram’s חָנִיךְ, believers today are called to intentional formation that combines knowledge, skill, and dedication to the Lord’s mission. Household Leadership and Multi-Generational Faithfulness Abram’s example encourages heads of families to treat their homes as centers of both nurture and readiness. Proverbs 22:6 enjoins parents to “Train up a child in the way he should go,” tying the root idea of חָנִיךְ to everyday discipleship. Ephesians 6:4 echoes the same responsibility for fathers in the church era. Typological Reflections Abram’s rescue of Lot anticipates the Messiah’s work: Summary Although appearing only once, חָנִיךְ provides a window into the fusion of training, dedication, and covenant loyalty. In Genesis it underscores Abram’s capacity to muster a prepared, faithful contingent; in theology it becomes a lens for understanding how God shapes His people—then and now—for both physical and spiritual engagement in His redemptive purposes. Forms and Transliterations חֲנִיכָ֜יו חניכיו chaniChav ḥă·nî·ḵāw ḥănîḵāwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 14:14 HEB: וַיָּ֨רֶק אֶת־ חֲנִיכָ֜יו יְלִידֵ֣י בֵית֗וֹ NAS: he led out his trained men, born KJV: he armed his trained [servants], born INT: his relative armed his trained born his house 1 Occurrence |
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