אָנַח
𐤀𐤍𐤇
ʼânach
H584 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To sigh or groan audibly, especially as an involuntary response to distress, pain, grief, or despair; the term primarily denotes the expression of deep emotional or physical suffering, marked by a heavy, audible sigh. The verb often appears to convey an internal heaviness outwardly, especially in response to loss, oppression, anxiety, or lamentation. In poetic and prophetic literature, it may also serve to characterize communal lament or individual complaint.
Semantic Range
to sigh deeply, to groan in pain or sorrow, to utter a lamenting sigh, to mourn audibly, to expel breath in distress
Root / Etymology
Root: אָנַח (ʼ-n-ch). Derived from the basic Semitic root conveying the action of exhaling heavily or sighing with emotion. Cognate forms appear in other Semitic languages, such as Akkadian anāḫu ('to sigh, to moan') and Aramaic אֲנַח ('to sigh'), supporting a consistent sense of audible, heavy exhalation tied to suffering or sorrow.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Although the core meaning is 'to sigh' or 'groan,' the term is more than a physical act; it is predominantly associated with deep emotional pain or existential distress, often triggered by affliction, mourning, or the weight of circumstances. In narrative, poetic, and prophetic texts, אָנַח may be used to describe the response of individuals (e.g., those in mourning or captivity) or the collective sorrow of a people. The term is distinct from גָּנַח (ganach) and נָהַק (nahak), other roots for groaning, which can carry nuances of intensity or animal-like sound. English translations such as 'sigh' or 'groan' can sometimes understate the profundity and involuntary nature of the response in Hebrew usage. The lament conveyed by אָנַח is often embedded in Israelite expressions of grief or crisis, with significant overlap in psalms or prophetic oracles depicting communal suffering. In post-exilic and later periods, the term continued to be used for deep sighs of distress or contrition, but the emotional range remains anchored in audible expression of pain.
Translation Consistency
The primary sense is an audible, heavy sigh or lament—often expressive of pain, grief, or distress. 'Groan' best captures that audible, mournful emission in natural English and matches the majority of existing renderings, so it will provide consistent, natural-sounding translations for all forms of H584.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to sigh; groan, mourn, sigh.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.
Root Family
אנח (ʼănûw) — to be, to exist (as inferred in pronoun formation; otherwise root meaning is not semantically active)
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H584-05 |
נֶאֱנָחִ֑ים | neenachim | HVNsmpa |
groan | the groaning-ones | the groaning-ones | 2 |
H584-06 |
נֶּאֶנְחָ֣ה | neenechah | HVNp3fs |
groans | she was groaned | it groans | 2 |
H584-01 |
הַ/נֶּֽאֱנָחִים֙ | haneenachim | HTd/VNsmpa |
who sigh | the ones groaning | who groan | 1 |
H584-02 |
הֵֽאָנַ֑ח | heanach | HVNv2ms |
groan | Groan! | Groan | 1 |
H584-03 |
נֶאֱנָ֑ח | neenach | HVNrmsa |
groan | the one being groaned | groaning one | 1 |
H584-04 |
נֶאֱנָחָ֣ה | neenachah | HVNsfsa |
I groan | being groaned out | I groan | 1 |
H584-07 |
נֶאֶנְח֖וּ | neenechu | HVNp3cp |
sigh | they have groaned | they have groaned | 1 |
H584-08 |
תֵּֽאָנַ֖ח | teanach | HVNi2ms |
groan | you will groan | you will groan | 1 |
H584-09 |
וַ/יֵּאָנְח֧וּ | vayeanechu | HC/VNw3mp |
And the children of Israel groaned | and they groaned | and they groaned | 1 |
H584-10 |
יֵאָ֥נַֽח | yeanach | HVNi3ms |
groan | he will be groaned | he will groan | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
12 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H584-09 |
Exodus 2:23 | וַ/יֵּאָנְח֧וּ | vayeanechu | HC/VNw3mp |
And the children of Israel groaned | and they groaned | and they groaned |
H584-07 |
Isaiah 24:7 | נֶאֶנְח֖וּ | neenechu | HVNp3cp |
sigh | they have groaned | they have groaned |
H584-01 |
Ezekiel 9:4 | הַ/נֶּֽאֱנָחִים֙ | haneenachim | HTd/VNsmpa |
who sigh | the ones groaning | who groan |
H584-02 |
Ezekiel 21:11 | הֵֽאָנַ֑ח | heanach | HVNv2ms |
groan | Groan! | Groan |
H584-08 |
Ezekiel 21:11 | תֵּֽאָנַ֖ח | teanach | HVNi2ms |
groan | you will groan | you will groan |
H584-03 |
Ezekiel 21:12 | נֶאֱנָ֑ח | neenach | HVNrmsa |
groan | the one being groaned | groaning one |
H584-06 |
Joel 1:18 | נֶּאֶנְחָ֣ה | neenechah | HVNp3fs |
the beasts groan | she was groaned | it groans |
H584-10 |
Proverbs 29:2 | יֵאָ֥נַֽח | yeanach | HVNi3ms |
groan | he will be groaned | he will groan |
H584-05 |
Lamentations 1:4 | נֶאֱנָחִ֑ים | neenachim | HVNsmpa |
groan | the groaning-ones | the groaning-ones |
H584-06 |
Lamentations 1:8 | נֶאֶנְחָ֖ה | neenechah | HVNp3fs |
groans | she was groaned | she groaned |
H584-05 |
Lamentations 1:11 | נֶאֱנָחִים֙ | neenachim | HVNsmpa |
groan | the groaning-ones | the groaning-ones |
H584-04 |
Lamentations 1:21 | נֶאֱנָחָ֣ה | neenachah | HVNsfsa |
I groan | being groaned out | I groan |