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אָנָּא

𐤀𐤍𐤀

ʼânnâʼ

H577 particle

SILEX Entry

Root uncertain to entreat, to make an urgent request, to beseech

Definition

Polite particle introducing an urgent entreaty, request, or plea; used to add force, politeness, or earnestness to commands, prayers, or appeals. Often translated as 'please,' 'I beseech you,' or 'O, now,' but its function is to convey an intense request that is contextually either supplicatory or imperative.

Semantic Range

entreaty particle, urgent plea, polite request, exclamatory introduction to prayer or petition, supplicatory particle

Root / Etymology

Root vulnerable; some suggest derivation from אָנָּא as a contraction of more archaic interjections or particles (etymology uncertain). Not connected with root constructions like אהב (to love) or נא (please), though second root theories propose links to the particle נא. Its usage is idiomatic and formulaic in Biblical Hebrew, resisting dissection into productive roots.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אָנָּא appears almost exclusively in poetic, liturgical, or heightened speech contexts (e.g., prayers, urgent requests to YHWH or superiors, narrative appeals for pardon or help). In early and classical Israelite literature, it is used especially in address to deity (e.g., ‘O YHWH, I beseech you...’), later sometimes addressed to human authorities. Its primary function is to indicate deep humility, urgency, or earnestness in the request. Often paired with verbs of petitioning (e.g., שָׁמַע ‘hear,’ יָשַׁע ‘save’), especially in Psalms, Samuel, and Kings. Over time, polite entreaty particles like אָבִּית אוֹ רַק ‘please’ in modern Hebrew somewhat superseded the force of אָנָּא. English translations using 'beseech,' 'pray thee,' or 'O' capture some force, but often add archaic or theological overtones not intrinsic to the Hebrew idiom.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

lemma אָנּאָ second vowel, corrected to אָנָּא; or אָנָּה; apparent contracted from אַהֲבָה and נָא; oh now!; I (me) beseech (pray) thee, O.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אנא (ʾ-n-ʾ) — entreaty, urgent appeal, earnest request

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H577-01 אָ֣נָּ֡א ana HTe Please I entreat 7
H577-02 אָנָּ֣ה anah HTj please where? 6

Occurrences in Scripture

13 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H577-01 Genesis 50:17 אָ֣נָּ֡א ana HTe I pray I entreat
H577-01 Exodus 32:31 אָ֣נָּ֗א ana HTe Please I entreat
H577-02 2 Kings 20:3 אָנָּ֣ה anah HTj Please where?
H577-02 Isaiah 38:3 אָנָּ֤ה anah HTj please where?
H577-02 Jonah 1:14 אָנָּ֤ה anah HTj please where?
H577-02 Jonah 4:2 אָנָּ֤ה anah HTj please where?
H577-02 Psalms 116:4 אָנָּ֥ה anah HTj I-pray where?
H577-02 Psalms 116:16 אָֽנָּ֣ה anah HTj O where?
H577-01 Psalms 118:25 אָנָּ֣א ana HTe Please I entreat
H577-01 Psalms 118:25 אָֽנָּ֥א ana-2 HTe Please I entreat
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