Haniel is a name found in the King James Bible, appearing 1 time in the text.
Who This Was
Haniel was a leader from the tribe of Asher, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. He is named in the genealogies of Asher recorded in 1 Chronicles 7, where he appears as a descendant of Ulla: “And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia” (1 Chronicles 7:39). According to the source note, Haniel was appointed by Moses to help divide the land of Canaan among the tribes. This places him among the men chosen to carry out the apportionment of Israel’s inheritance in the Promised Land, a task that followed the conquest of Canaan under Joshua.
The Bible itself tells us little about Haniel beyond his name and lineage. The single verse in which he appears lists him among the sons of Ulla, a family within the tribe of Asher. The Asherites were one of the northern tribes, and their territory in Canaan lay along the coastal region and inland hills of what would later be northern Israel. Haniel’s role in the division of the land, though not narrated in detail in Scripture, was part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to give the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
What Scripture says of Haniel is therefore brief: he was a son of Ulla, a member of the tribe of Asher, and—according to the source note—a leader appointed by Moses to assist in dividing the land. He is not mentioned elsewhere in the King James Bible, and no further deeds or words of his are recorded. His significance lies in his inclusion in the genealogical record and in his service in the apportionment of Israel’s inheritance.
The Name
The name Haniel is a Hebrew name. It is commonly understood to mean “God has favored me” or “grace of God,” deriving from the Hebrew elements *ḥanan* (to be gracious, to show favor) and *El* (God). This meaning is well established and consistent with other biblical names built on the same root, such as Hananiah and Hannah. The name thus carries a testimony to God’s grace and favor, though Scripture does not comment on why Haniel’s parents gave him this name.
A Closing Thought
Haniel’s life reminds us that faithfulness is often quiet. He is named only once, yet he was entrusted with a real task in the settling of God’s people in the land. Most of us will not be remembered by many, and our deeds may go unrecorded in any book but heaven’s. That is enough. Like Haniel, we are called to serve where God places us, whether our part is large or small, and to leave the outcome to the God whose grace gave us our name and our place among His people.
At a Glance
- Gender: Male
- Testament: Old
- Mentions in the KJV: 1
Where It Appears in Scripture
- 1 Chronicles 7:39 — And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.