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אָן

𐤀𐤍

ʼân

H575 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

An interrogative particle or adverb denoting inquiry about place or direction, primarily translated as 'where?' or 'whither?' occurring especially in poetic, rhetorical, or urgent supplications. It expresses a seeking of location, direction, or sometimes the state or circumstance of a person or object.

Semantic Range

where?, whither?, to what place?, in what direction?, hither and thither, now (in a sense of immediacy in some contexts), seeking whereabouts, questioning the presence or location of someone or something

Root / Etymology

Formed as a contraction of אַיִן (ayin), meaning 'where?' or 'nothingness', reinforcing inquiry about absence or seeking a place. The root is linked to the concept of non-existence or location sought or lacks specification; thus, אָן focuses on querying location or direction, distinct from roots meaning 'to go' or 'to approach.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

אָן primarily appears in poetic, literary, or heightened rhetorical contexts, such as laments, prayers, or direct appeals (e.g., in Psalms or prophetic discourse). Its usage is often urgent or emotional, calling attention to the unknown or seeking divine response (e.g., 'Where are You?', 'Whither shall I go?'). It is found both independently and in phrase combinations ('ān zeh', 'ān anî'). During the monarchic and exilic periods, it symbolized distress or bewilderment as Israelite or Judahite speakers sought answers, understanding, or deliverance. English translations sometimes narrow its sense to merely spatial inquiry, but the Hebrew can express emotional or existential desperation. The word is distinct from אֵי (ʾê), which also means 'where?' but is less intense or dramatic. Later Jewish usage carries these nuances into liturgical poetry and lamentations, where אָן resonates with questions of presence or divine absence. Early English Bibles sometimes render it as 'whither' or 'where', but its full emotive and interrogative force is often understated.

Translation Consistency

primary "where" 34 occurrences

H575 is an interrogative adverb primarily asking about place or direction. "Where" is the natural, modern English equivalent that covers the usual senses (where?/whither?/to what place?), fits poetic and urgent contexts, and matches the predominant renderings in the attestations.

Alternatives (9 occurrences):
"how" (2x) "will" (2x) "when" (1x) "anywhere" (1x) "or anywhere" (1x) "how long" (1x) "you" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or אָנָה; contracted from אַיִן; where?; hence, whither?, when?; also hither and thither; [phrase] any (no) whither, now, where, whither(-soever).

Bantu Hebrew

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

Root Family

אין (ʼayin) — to be absent, to not exist, to lack, to be void

Root אין to be not, to lack, to be absent (root level core meaning); to seek place or location (derived)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H369 אַיִן there is not
H370 אַיִן from where?

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H575-02 אָ֣נָה anah HD Where where? where? 28
H575-07 וְ/אָ֣נָה veanah HC/Ti and where and where? and where? 5
H575-03 אָ֥נֶה aneh HD anywhere where? where? 3
H575-06 וָ/אָֽנָה vaanah HC/Ti and hither and where? and where? 3
H575-01 אָ֣ן an HTi Where where? where? 2
H575-04 מֵ/אַ֖יִן meayin HR/Tn nor there from where? from where? 1
H575-05 מ/אן mn HR/Ti From where where? where? 1

Occurrences in Scripture

43 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H575-07 Genesis 16:8 וְ/אָ֣נָה veanah HC/Ti and where and where? and where?
H575-07 Genesis 32:18 וְ/אָ֣נָה veanah HC/Ti and where and where? and where?
H575-02 Genesis 37:30 אָ֥נָה anah HD where where? where?
H575-02 Exodus 16:28 אָ֨נָה֙ anah HD until when where? when
H575-02 Numbers 14:11 אָ֥נָה anah HD how where? how
H575-02 Numbers 14:11 אָ֨נָה֙ anah-2 HD how where? how
H575-02 Deuteronomy 1:28 אָנָ֣ה anah HD Where where? where?
H575-02 Joshua 2:5 אָ֥נָה anah HD where where? where?
H575-02 Joshua 18:3 אָ֨נָה֙ anah HD long where? where?
H575-02 Judges 19:17 אָ֥נָה anah HD Where where? where?
H575-01 1 Samuel 10:14 אָ֣ן an HTi Where where? where?
H575-02 2 Samuel 2:1 אָ֥נָה anah HD Where where? where?
H575-02 2 Samuel 13:13 אָ֤נָה anah HD where where? where?
H575-03 1 Kings 2:36 אָ֥נֶה aneh HD anywhere where? anywhere
H575-06 1 Kings 2:36 וָ/אָֽנָה vaanah HC/Ti and hither and where? or anywhere
H575-03 1 Kings 2:42 אָ֣נֶה aneh HD anywhere where? where?
H575-06 1 Kings 2:42 וָ/אָ֔נָה vaanah HC/Ti anywhere and where? and where?
H575-05 2 Kings 5:25 מ/אן mn HR/Ti From where where? where?
H575-04 2 Kings 5:25 מֵ/אַ֖יִן meayin HR/Tn nor there from where? from where?
H575-03 2 Kings 5:25 אָ֥נֶה aneh HD hither where? where?
H575-06 2 Kings 5:25 וָ/אָֽנָה vaanah HC/Ti nor thither and where? and where?
H575-02 2 Kings 6:6 אָ֣נָה anah HD where where? where?
H575-07 Isaiah 10:3 וְ/אָ֥נָה veanah HC/Ti and where and where? and where?
H575-02 Jeremiah 15:2 אָ֣נָה anah HD where where? where?
H575-02 Jeremiah 47:6 אָ֖נָה anah HD when where? where?
H575-02 Ezekiel 21:21 אָ֖נָה anah HD whither where? where?
H575-02 Habakkuk 1:2 אָ֧נָה anah HD how long where? how long
H575-02 Zechariah 2:6 אָ֖נָה anah HD where where? where?
H575-02 Zechariah 5:10 אָ֛נָה anah HD Where where? where?
H575-02 Psalms 13:2 אָ֣נָה anah HD O where? where?
H575-02 Psalms 13:2 אָ֓נָה anah-2 HD O where? where?
H575-02 Psalms 13:3 אָ֨נָה anah HD LORD where? where?
H575-02 Psalms 13:3 אָ֓נָה anah-2 HD shall where? where?
H575-02 Psalms 62:4 אָ֤נָה anah HD will you where? will you
H575-02 Psalms 139:7 אָ֭נָ֥ה anah HD Where where? where?
H575-07 Psalms 139:7 וְ֝/אָ֗נָה veanah HC/Ti or where and where? and where?
H575-01 Job 8:2 אָ֥ן an HTi will where? will
H575-02 Job 18:2 אָ֤נָה anah HD when where? where?
H575-02 Job 19:2 אָ֭נָה anah HD will where? will
H575-02 Song of Songs 6:1 אָ֚נָה anah HD Where where? where?
H575-02 Song of Songs 6:1 אָ֚נָה anah-2 HD Where where? where?
H575-07 Ruth 2:19 וְ/אָ֣נָה veanah HC/D and where and where? and where?
H575-02 Nehemiah 2:16 אָ֣נָה anah HD where where? where?
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