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אָנַף

𐤀𐤍𐤐

ʼânaph

H599 verb

SILEX Entry

Root אָנף to breathe violently, to be angry, to show wrath

Definition

To be angry or enraged, to display intense displeasure or wrath; refers to the act of becoming incensed, often with the implication of a visible, outward manifestation of anger. The term may emphasize the physical signs of anger, such as heavy breathing or flaring nostrils, and is used for both human and divine subjects to describe anger intense enough to result in decisive words or actions.

Semantic Range

to become angry, to display wrath, to be enraged, to be furious, to express anger through visible signs (e.g., flaring nostrils), to become indignant

Root / Etymology

Root: אָנף (Aleph-Nun-Peh). The root meaning indicates physical expressions of anger, specifically flaring of nostrils or 'breathing hard.' The verb draws on the somatic association of anger with deep or forceful respiration, a common metaphor in many Semitic languages. The lexical meaning in its verbal form is 'to be angry,' extending from this bodily metaphor.

Historical & Contextual Notes

אָנַף occurs primarily in poetic and rhetorical contexts, often describing God's anger (e.g., Deut 1:37, Ps 106:32) and occasionally human anger (e.g., 2 Kgs 5:11). In many cases, the verb depicts a level of anger leading to serious consequences, such as judgment or punishment. The Hebrew language often uses multiple terms for anger (e.g., חָרָה and קָצַף), with אָנַף emphasizing the outward or physical display of strong fury. Unlike some other biblical Hebrew terms for anger that emphasize inner emotion, אָנַף highlights the expressiveness and visible presence of wrath. Over time, the usage does not markedly shift, but in later Hebrew (post-biblical), other roots became more common for expressing anger, and אָנַף is mostly archaic or poetic. English translations usually render it as 'be angry' or 'be wroth,' but may underplay the nuance of visible, intense anger conveyed in the Hebrew. The term does not denote general irritation, but rather a deep-seated fury with clear external indicators.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to breathe hard, i.e. be enraged; be angry (displeased).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

אנף (ʾ-n-p̄) — to breathe violently, to be angry, to show wrath

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H601 אֲנָפָה snorting wading-bird

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H599-04 תֶּאֱנַ֣ף teenaf HVqi2ms be-angry you will become enraged 3
H599-05 וַ/יִּתְאַנַּ֧ף vayiteanaf HC/Vtw3ms and YHWH was angry and he became enraged 3
H599-01 אָנַ֖פְתָּ anafeta HVqp2ms You have been angry you became enraged 2
H599-06 וְ/אָנַפְתָּ֣ veanafeta HC/Vqq2ms and you are angry and you became enraged 2
H599-02 הִתְאַנַּ֣ף hiteanaf HVtp3ms was angry he became enraged 2
H599-03 הִתְאַנֶּף hiteanef HVtp3ms was-angry he showed himself enraged 1
H599-07 יֶאֱנַ֤ף yeenaf HVqi3ms he be angry he will be enraged 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H599-02 Deuteronomy 1:37 הִתְאַנַּ֣ף hiteanaf HVtp3ms was angry he became enraged
H599-03 Deuteronomy 4:21 הִתְאַנֶּף hiteanef HVtp3ms was-angry he showed himself enraged
H599-05 Deuteronomy 9:8 וַ/יִּתְאַנַּ֧ף vayiteanaf HC/Vtw3ms and YHWH was angry and he became enraged
H599-02 Deuteronomy 9:20 הִתְאַנַּ֧ף hiteanaf HVtp3ms was angry he became enraged
H599-06 1 Kings 8:46 וְ/אָנַפְתָּ֣ veanafeta HC/Vqq2ms and you are angry and you became enraged
H599-05 1 Kings 11:9 וַ/יִּתְאַנַּ֥ף vayiteanaf HC/Vtw3ms and YHWH was angry and he became enraged
H599-05 2 Kings 17:18 וַ/יִּתְאַנַּ֨ף vayiteanaf HC/Vtw3ms and-was-angry and he became enraged
H599-01 Isaiah 12:1 אָנַ֖פְתָּ anafeta HVqp2ms you were angry you became enraged
H599-07 Psalms 2:12 יֶאֱנַ֤ף yeenaf HVqi3ms he be angry he will be enraged
H599-01 Psalms 60:3 אָ֝נַ֗פְתָּ anafeta HVqp2ms You have been angry you became enraged
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