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עָנִי

𐤏𐤍𐤉

ʻânîy

H6041 adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Describes a person who is in a state of affliction, distress, or hardship—socially, economically, or emotionally. Refers to one who is poor, oppressed, or experiencing suffering and deprivation. In some contexts, designates those marginalized or lacking power and resources. The semantic range covers both physical need (poverty, material deprivation) and experiential suffering (afflicted, downtrodden), and can also, but less commonly, refer to humility as a result of hardship, rather than personal virtue.

Semantic Range

afflicted, oppressed, poor, needy, destitute, downtrodden, marginalized, humble (as resultant state from affliction), suffering one

Root / Etymology

From the root ענה (ʻ-n-h), which primarily means 'to be bowed down, afflicted, humbled, answer.' The word עָנִי is a substantive form referring to someone who is afflicted or in a lowly state. Related to, but distinct from, עָנָו (ʻānāv, 'humble, meek'), which more strongly denotes inward disposition or humility. The connection suggests the semantic field of being brought low, usually by external circumstances.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In pre-exilic and monarchic periods, עָנִי consistently referred to individuals experiencing tangible hardship: poverty, oppression, or social powerlessness—regardless of inner disposition. The prophets often contrasted the עָנִי with the rich or powerful, using the term to underscore ethical and social responsibilities. In poetic literature (especially Psalms), עָנִי broadens to encompass both physical and existential suffering, sometimes including the theme of divine concern for such persons. The related term עָנָו eventually came to emphasize humility or meekness as a positive moral quality, especially in later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew. English translations often narrow the meaning to 'poor' or 'afflicted,' but the term also expresses a more nuanced social and existential vulnerability.

Translation Consistency

primary "afflicted" 38 occurrences

Most P2 renderings (58/79) use “afflicted,” and that term best covers the full SILEX range (poverty, oppression, suffering, downtrodden) better than the narrower “poor.” Using “afflicted” gives a single natural English word that fits typical usage and preserves the emotional and social dimensions of עָנִי.

Alternatives (11 occurrences):
"poor" (8x) "poor person" (2x) "poor one" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָנָה; (practically the same as עָנָו, although the margin constantly disputes this, making עָנָו subjective and objective); depressed, in mind or circumstances; afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

ענה (Baana) — to afflict, humble, oppress

Root ענה to be afflicted, to be bowed down, to humble, to answer
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1195 בַּעֲנָא Son of Affliction
H1196 בַּעֲנָה In Affliction
H2057 וַנְיָה Yah Answers
H3283 יָעֵן ostriches
H3284 יַעֲנָה the female ostrich

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6041-01 עָנִ֖י ani HAamsa poor I I am afflicted 38
H6041-05 עֲנִיִּ֖ים aniyim HAampa of the poor afflicted ones afflicted ones 7
H6041-03 עֲנִיֵּי aniyey HAampc of the poor afflicted ones of afflicted ones of 6
H6041-09 לֶּ/עָנִ֣י leani HRd/Aamsa for the poor to the afflicted one to the afflicted one 6
H6041-15 וְ/עָנִ֤י veani HC/Aamsa and the afflicted and an afflicted one and an afflicted one 5
H6041-11 עניים nyym HAampa the poor afflicted ones afflicted ones 4
H6041-02 עֲנִיָּ֥ה aniyah HAafsa afflicted afflicted woman afflicted woman 3
H6041-07 הֶֽ/עָנִי֙ heani HTd/Aamsa the poor the afflicted one the afflicted one 2
H6041-04 עֲ֝נִיֶּ֗י/ךָ aniyeykha HAampc/Sp2ms the poor your afflicted ones your afflicted ones 1
H6041-06 הָ/עֲנִיִּ֨ים haaniyim HTd/Aampa the afflicted the afflicted ones the afflicted ones 1

Occurrences in Scripture

79 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6041-07 Exodus 22:24 הֶֽ/עָנִי֙ heani HTd/Aamsa the poor the afflicted one the afflicted one
H6041-09 Leviticus 19:10 לֶֽ/עָנִ֤י leani HRd/Aamsa for the poor to the afflicted one to the afflicted one
H6041-09 Leviticus 23:22 לֶֽ/עָנִ֤י leani HRd/Aamsa for-the-poor to the afflicted one to the afflicted one
H6041-08 Deuteronomy 15:11 לַ/עֲנִיֶּ֛/ךָ laaniyekha HR/Aamsc/Sp2ms to your poor to your afflicted one to your afflicted one
H6041-01 Deuteronomy 24:12 עָנִ֖י ani HAamsa poor I poor
H6041-01 Deuteronomy 24:14 עָנִ֣י ani HAamsa poor I poor
H6041-01 Deuteronomy 24:15 עָנִי֙ ani HAamsa poor I poor
H6041-01 2 Samuel 22:28 עָנִ֖י ani HAamsa afflicted I I am afflicted
H6041-07 Isaiah 3:14 הֶֽ/עָנִ֖י heani HTd/Aamsa the poor the afflicted one the afflicted one
H6041-05 Isaiah 3:15 עֲנִיִּ֖ים aniyim HAampa of the poor afflicted ones the afflicted ones
H6041-03 Isaiah 10:2 עֲנִיֵּ֣י aniyey HAampc of the poor afflicted ones of afflicted ones of
H6041-02 Isaiah 10:30 עֲנִיָּ֥ה aniyah HAafsa poor afflicted woman afflicted woman
H6041-03 Isaiah 14:32 עֲנִיֵּ֥י aniyey HAampc afflicted-of afflicted ones of afflicted ones of
H6041-01 Isaiah 26:6 עָנִ֖י ani HAamsa the poor I poor one
H6041-05 Isaiah 32:7 עֲנִיִּים֙ aniyim HAampa the needy/poor afflicted ones afflicted ones
H6041-06 Isaiah 41:17 הָ/עֲנִיִּ֨ים haaniyim HTd/Aampa the afflicted the afflicted ones the afflicted ones
H6041-12 Isaiah 49:13 וַ/עֲנִיָּ֖/ו vaaniyav HC/Aampc/Sp3ms His afflicted his afflicted ones and his afflicted ones
H6041-02 Isaiah 51:21 עֲנִיָּ֑ה aniyah HAafsa afflicted afflicted woman afflicted woman
H6041-02 Isaiah 54:11 עֲנִיָּ֥ה aniyah HAafsa afflicted-one afflicted woman afflicted woman
H6041-14 Isaiah 58:7 וַ/עֲנִיִּ֥ים vaaniyim HC/Aampa and poor afflicted ones and afflicted ones
H6041-01 Isaiah 66:2 עָנִי֙ ani HAamsa humble I the afflicted one
H6041-01 Jeremiah 22:16 עָנִ֥י ani HAamsa poor I poor person
H6041-01 Ezekiel 16:49 עָנִ֥י ani HAamsa of the poor I the poor
H6041-01 Ezekiel 18:12 עָנִ֤י ani HAamsa poor I poor person
H6041-10 Ezekiel 18:17 מֵ/עָנִ֞י meani HR/Aamsa from the poor from the afflicted one from the afflicted one
H6041-15 Ezekiel 22:29 וְ/עָנִ֤י veani HC/Aamsa and the poor and an afflicted one and an afflicted one
H6041-03 Amos 8:4 עֲנִיֵּי aniyey HAampc poor afflicted ones of afflicted ones of
H6041-01 Habakkuk 3:14 עָנִ֖י ani HAamsa the poor I the poor
H6041-01 Zephaniah 3:12 עָנִ֖י ani HAamsa humble I I am afflicted
H6041-15 Zechariah 7:10 וְ/עָנִ֖י veani HC/Aamsa and poor and an afflicted one and an afflicted one
H6041-01 Zechariah 9:9 עָנִי֙ ani HAamsa humble I I am afflicted
H6041-03 Zechariah 11:7 עֲנִיֵּ֣י aniyey HAampc afflicted afflicted ones of afflicted ones of
H6041-03 Zechariah 11:11 עֲנִיֵּ֤י aniyey HAampc the poor of afflicted ones of afflicted ones of
H6041-11 Psalms 9:13 עניים nyym HAampa humble afflicted ones afflicted ones
H6041-05 Psalms 9:19 עֲ֝נִיִּ֗ים aniyim HAampa the afflicted afflicted ones the afflicted ones
H6041-01 Psalms 10:2 עָנִ֑י ani HAamsa the-poor I the poor
H6041-01 Psalms 10:9 עָנִ֑י ani HAamsa the poor I the poor
H6041-01 Psalms 10:9 עָ֝נִ֗י ani-2 HAamsa the poor I the poor
H6041-11 Psalms 10:12 עניים nyym HAampa the afflicted afflicted ones afflicted ones
H6041-05 Psalms 12:6 עֲנִיִּים֮ aniyim HAampa of the poor afflicted ones afflicted ones
H6041-01 Psalms 14:6 עָנִ֥י ani HAamsa poor I I am afflicted
H6041-01 Psalms 18:28 עָנִ֣י ani HAamsa humble I I am afflicted
H6041-01 Psalms 22:25 עָנִ֗י ani HAamsa of the afflicted I the afflicted one
H6041-15 Psalms 25:16 וְ/עָנִ֣י veani HC/Aamsa and afflicted and an afflicted one and an afflicted one
H6041-01 Psalms 34:7 עָנִ֣י ani HAamsa poor man I
H6041-01 Psalms 35:10 עָ֭נִי ani HAamsa the afflicted I the afflicted
H6041-15 Psalms 35:10 וְ/עָנִ֥י veani HC/Aamsa and the afflicted and an afflicted one and an afflicted one
H6041-01 Psalms 37:14 עָנִ֣י ani HAamsa the afflicted I the afflicted
H6041-01 Psalms 40:18 עָנִ֣י ani HAamsa poor I I am afflicted
H6041-09 Psalms 68:11 לֶ/עָנִ֣י leani HRd/Aamsa for the poor to the afflicted one to the afflicted one
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