What does גָּנַן (gānan) mean in the Bible?
גָּנַן (gānan): Divine protective enclosure: God's vigilant defense that surrounds and safeguards His covenant people completely.
Hebrew · H1598
גָּנַן
To hedge about, i.e. (generally) protect
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גָּנַןH1598
Pronunciationgānan
What does גָּנַן (gānan) mean in the Bible?
גָּנַן (gānan): Divine protective enclosure: God's vigilant defense that surrounds and safeguards His covenant people completely.
Full entry for גָּנַן (H1598) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H1598?
The BSB source-word alignment has 8 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include I will defend (4), He will shield it (1), will defend (1), will protect (1), will shield (1).
Where does גָּנַן (gānan) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at 2 Kings 19:34. Its strongest book concentrations include Isaiah (4), 2 Kings (2), Zechariah (2).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItI will defend4×2 Kings 19:34, 2 Kings 20:6, Isaiah 37:35, Isaiah 38:6
He will shield it1×Isaiah 31:5
will defend1×Zechariah 12:8
will protect1×Isaiah 31:5
will shield1×Zechariah 9:15
Show sample aligned rows
2 Kings 19:34וְגַנּוֹתִ֛יtoI will defendConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular2 Kings 20:6וְגַנּוֹתִי֙toI will defendConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularIsaiah 31:5יָגֵ֛ןtowill protectVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 31:5גָּנ֥וֹןtoHe will shield itVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteIsaiah 37:35וְגַנּוֹתִ֛יtoI will defendConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularIsaiah 38:6וְגַנּוֹתִ֖יtoI will defendConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularZechariah 9:15יָגֵ֣ןtowill shieldVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singularZechariah 12:8יָגֵ֤ןtowill defendVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row2 Kings 19:34
Aligned rows8
Books represented3
2 Kings2Isaiah4Zechariah2
Source forms
וְגַנּוֹתִ֛י2xwə·ḡan·nō·w·ṯî2 Kings 19:34, Isaiah 37:35
גָּנ֥וֹן1xgā·nō·wnIsaiah 31:5
וְגַנּוֹתִי֙1xwə·ḡan·nō·w·ṯî2 Kings 20:6
וְגַנּוֹתִ֖י1xwə·ḡan·nō·w·ṯîIsaiah 38:6
יָגֵ֛ן1xyā·ḡênIsaiah 31:5
יָגֵ֣ן1xyā·ḡênZechariah 9:15
יָגֵ֤ן1xyā·ḡênZechariah 12:8
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular4x2 Kings 19:34, 2 Kings 20:6, Isaiah 37:35, Isaiah 38:6
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular2xZechariah 9:15, Zechariah 12:8
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xIsaiah 31:5
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute1xIsaiah 31:5
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Divine protective enclosure: God's vigilant defense that surrounds and safeguards His covenant people completely.
Strong'sH1598
Lexical occurrences8 versesWord forms1 form4 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 31:5Source Gloss
to hedge about, i.e. (generally) protect
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Divine protective enclosure: God's vigilant defense that surrounds and safeguards His covenant people completely.
to hedge about, i.e. (generally) protect BDB: cover Usage: defend.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms4
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense4×
ImperfectIsa 31:5 · Zech 9:15 · Zech 12:83×
Infinitive absoluteIsa 31:51×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
God's protective action over Jerusalem, shielding it from harm
Showing 1 selected witness from 8 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
גָּנַן is a primitive root - no further derivation.