אֳנִיָּה
𐤀𐤍𐤉𐤄
ʼŏnîyâh
H591 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A large watercraft designed for transport or commerce by sea or river; primarily denotes a seagoing or riverine vessel, typically one capable of carrying cargo or passengers. The term may refer to a commercial trading vessel, fleet ship, or any large boat for navigation in deeper waters, in contrast to smaller boats or rafts.
Semantic Range
ship, vessel, large boat, merchant ship, cargo ship, trading vessel, seafaring craft, fleet ship
Root / Etymology
From the root אני, whose core meaning relates to 'vessel' or 'ship.' The precise derivation is debated, but it is likely related to ancient Semitic terms for vessel, possibly through Akkadian or North-West Semitic cognates. The feminine form אֳנִיָּה (ʼŏnîyâh) derives from the masculine base, emphasizing the individual ship as a distinct unit rather than a type or class.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אֳנִיָּה is used predominantly in contexts relating to sea or river trade, naval movement, or descriptions of fleets. It occurs most frequently in poetic, prophetic, or wisdom literature (e.g., Psalms, Proverbs, Ezekiel, Isaiah), often to evoke imagery of wealth, danger, or foreign contact. The term is distinct from other nautical words such as צִי (tsi, 'fleet') or סִפִּינָה (sippînāh, 'small boat'), which may denote either collective naval forces or smaller vessels. During Israelite and Judahite periods, the ownership or use of ships often symbolized international commerce, particularly with Phoenician or Egyptian powers, as Israelite/Judahite maritime activity was limited. Later, in exilic and post-exilic texts, the imagery of אֳנִיָּה expands to include themes of exile, return, or eschatological hope (e.g., ships bringing sons from afar). English translations typically render the word as 'ship,' but this may flatten the nuance between types of vessels and the social or economic connotation attached in Hebrew contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of אֳנִי; a ship; ship(-men).
Bantu Hebrew
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אני (ʾ-n-y) — ship, vessel for water transport, to carry by ship
Word Forms
11 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H591-06 |
אֳנִיּ֔וֹת | oniot | HNcfpa |
ships | ships | 19 |
H591-02 |
בָּ/אֳנִיּוֹת֒ | baoniot | HR/Ncfpa |
in-ships | in ships | 4 |
H591-07 |
אֳנִיָּ֥ה | oniyah | HNcfsa |
of a ship | seagoing vessel | 1 |
H591-05 |
מֵ/אָנִיּֽוֹתֵי/הֶ֗ם | meanioteyhem | HR/Ncfpc/Sp3mp |
from their ships | from their seafaring vessels | 1 |
H591-03 |
בָּֽ/אֳנִיָּה֙ | baoniyah | HRd/Ncfsa |
were in the ship | in a seagoing vessel | 1 |
H591-11 |
אוניות | vnyvt | HNcfpa |
ships | seafaring vessels | 1 |
H591-04 |
כָּ/אֳנִיּ֣וֹת | kaoniot | HR/Ncfpc |
like ships | of ships | 1 |
H591-08 |
וּ/בָ/אֳנִיּ֖וֹת | uvaoniot | HC/R/Ncfpa |
and-with-ships | and in seafaring ships | 1 |
H591-09 |
וָ/אֳנִיּ֤וֹת | vaoniot | HC/Ncfpc |
and the ships | and seafaring vessels of | 1 |
H591-01 |
אָנִיָּ֣ה | aniyah | HNcfsa |
a ship | ship | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
32 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H591-06 |
Genesis 49:13 | אֳנִיּ֔וֹת | oniot | HNcfpa |
for ships | ships |
H591-02 |
Deuteronomy 28:68 | בָּ/אֳנִיּוֹת֒ | baoniot | HR/Ncfpa |
in-ships | in ships |
H591-06 |
Judges 5:17 | אֳנִיּ֑וֹת | oniot | HNcfpa |
ships | ships |
H591-06 |
1 Kings 9:27 | אֳנִיּ֔וֹת | oniot | HNcfpa |
of ships | ships |
H591-06 |
1 Kings 22:49 | אֳנִיּ֨וֹת | oniot | HNcfpc |
ships | ships |
H591-06 |
1 Kings 22:49 | אֳנִיּ֖וֹת | oniot-2 | HNcfpa |
ships | ships |
H591-02 |
1 Kings 22:50 | בָּ/אֳנִיּ֑וֹת | baoniot | HR/Ncfpa |
in-ships | in ships |
H591-06 |
Isaiah 2:16 | אֳנִיּ֣וֹת | oniot | HNcfpc |
ships | ships |
H591-06 |
Isaiah 23:1 | אֳנִיּ֣וֹת | oniot | HNcfpc |
O ships | ships |
H591-06 |
Isaiah 23:14 | אֳנִיּ֣וֹת | oniot | HNcfpc |
O ships | ships |