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אֲנָא

𐤀𐤍𐤀

ʼănâʼ

H576 pronoun

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain self-reference, first-person singular, I

Definition

First person singular independent pronoun—'I,' 'as for me,' used by speakers to refer to themselves. It is an Aramaic equivalent to the Hebrew אֲנִי, used as the subject of a sentence for emphasis or simple self-reference. The form is characteristic of first-person speech and narrative, with occasional emphatic or contrastive usage (e.g., 'But as for me...').

Semantic Range

I, as for me, emphatic first-person subject

Root / Etymology

Root: uncertain. The form אֲנָא (ʼănâʼ) is of Aramaic origin, corresponding functionally to the Hebrew pronoun אֲנִי (ʼǎnî, 'I'). The connection to a Semitic pronominal base is evident but reconstructed etymology of the form is uncertain. Cognate forms appear across Northwest Semitic languages (e.g., Syriac ܐܶܢܳܐ ʼenā, Ugaritic ʼnk), reflecting a proto-Semitic *ʾanāku or similar pronoun stem, with the Aramaic form showing characteristic vowel patterns.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, אֲנָא appears only in Aramaic portions (Daniel, Ezra) and serves as the ordinary first person singular pronoun. Its use distinguishes Aramaic narrative from standard Hebrew, where אֲנִי or less commonly אָנֹכִי serve the same syntactic role. Emphatic pronoun forms in Aramaic (אֲנָא) often introduce personal declarations, prayers, or testimonies (e.g., Daniel 2:23). In later Jewish Aramaic (Targumim, Dead Sea Scrolls), the form remains the standard for self-reference. English Bibles often render the term as 'I' or 'as for me,' with little distinction from its Hebrew counterparts, but in its original context, it signals Aramaic linguistic setting, not a theological or religious identity. The form should not be confused with Judean or Israelite ethnic indicators; it is strictly a grammatical self-reference. Contrast with Hebrew אֲנִי and אָנֹכִי, and note the occasional cross-linguistic variation in emphasis and nuance between these pronoun forms within Semitic languages.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) or אֲנָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to אֲנִיlemma אֲנַי second vowel, corrected to אֲנִי; I; I, as for me.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אין (ʾ-y-n) — non-existence, absence, lack; seeking location

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1156 בְּעָא and there is not
H369 אַיִן there is not
H370 אַיִן from where?
H371 אִין and is it not?
H575 אָן where?

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H576-01 אֲנָ֔ה anah APp1cs I where? 14
H576-02 וַ/אֲנָ֗ה vaanah AC/Pp1cs And I and Anah 2

Occurrences in Scripture

16 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H576-01 Daniel 2:8 אֲנָ֔ה anah APp1cs I where?
H576-01 Daniel 2:23 אֲנָ֔ה anah APp1cs I where?
H576-02 Daniel 2:30 וַ/אֲנָ֗ה vaanah AC/Pp1cs But as for me and Anah
H576-01 Daniel 3:25 אֲנָ֨ה anah APp1cs I where?
H576-01 Daniel 4:1 אֲנָ֣ה anah APp1cs I where?
H576-01 Daniel 4:4 אֲנָה֙ anah APp1cs I where?
H576-01 Daniel 4:6 אֲנָ֣ה anah APp1cs I where?
H576-01 Daniel 4:15 אֲנָ֖ה anah APp1cs I where?
H576-01 Daniel 4:27 אֲנָ֤ה anah APp1cs I where?
H576-01 Daniel 4:31 אֲנָ֨ה anah APp1cs I where?
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