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עָנָה

𐤏𐤍𐤄

ʻânâh

H6031 verb

SILEX Entry

Root ענה to afflict, to humble, to oppress, to weaken

Definition

To afflict, oppress, humble, or subject to hardship; the root implies the imposition of hardship or suffering upon someone, whether physically, psychologically, or socially. The verb can describe both external affliction imposed by another and voluntary self-humbling, with nuance ranging from general oppression or subjection to specific acts of discipline or suffering.

Semantic Range

to afflict; to oppress; to humble; to humiliate; to violate (esp. sexually); to cause to suffer; to subdue; to force; to discipline; to weaken; to cause hardship; to submit (self); to deny (self in fasting or ritual contexts)

Root / Etymology

Root: ענה. The root ענה conveys the notion of 'pressing down, oppressing, humbling.' The core sense is to cause hardship, to humble, or to afflict. Although sometimes confused with other roots spelled ענה ('to answer, respond' H6030; 'to sing' H6031, erroneously in some textual traditions), this root is distinct in its sense of suffering or subjection. The morpho-phonemic structure is typical of strong Hebrew verbs.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Israelite narrative (Genesis–Numbers), עָנָה frequently refers to the affliction of outsiders or dependents (e.g., Hagar in Genesis 16:6, 16:9; Israelites in Egypt, Exodus 1:11–12). In legal and cultic contexts (Leviticus 16:29–31; 23:27, 32), it is used for the idea of self-affliction (often understood as fasting or voluntary self-denial) especially associated with the Day of Atonement. In poetic literature (Psalms, Lamentations), it expresses anguish or oppression from enemies or misfortune. The semantic range also includes non-physical oppression, such as humiliation or social subjugation (Deuteronomy 8:2–3, testing in the wilderness). The verb may describe wrongful sexual violence in certain legal/historical passages (e.g., Genesis 34:2). English translations frequently render it as 'afflict,' 'humble,' or 'oppress,' but each English term covers only part of the semantic range. The verb is sometimes confused textually with other roots ענה ('to answer' H6030), leading to errors in some ancient translations (such as LXX, Vulgate, and KJV), but these are not justified by Hebrew usage. Over time, especially in later biblical and Second Temple language, the term became increasingly associated with ritual self-denial, especially in Yom Kippur contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root (possibly rather identical with עָנָה through the idea of looking down or browbeating); to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows); abase self, afflict(-ion, self), answer (by mistake for עָנָה), chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt, ravish, sing (by mistake for עָנָה), speak (by mistake for עָנָה), submit self, weaken, [idiom] in any wise.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ענה (ʿ-n-h) — afflict, oppress, humble, weaken

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H1042 בֵּית עֲנוֹת answering of
H1195 בַּעֲנָא Son of Affliction
H1196 בַּעֲנָה In Affliction
H2057 וַנְיָה Yah Answers
H3283 יָעֵן ostriches

Word Forms

58 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6031-10 עִנָּ֖ה inah HVpp3ms afflict he severely afflicted 6
H6031-49 וְ/עִנִּיתֶ֖ם veinitem HC/Vpq2mp and you shall afflict and you afflicted harshly 4
H6031-17 עִנּ֖וּ inu HVpp3cp they ravished they afflicted 4
H6031-21 לְ/עַנֹּת֑/וֹ leanoto HR/Vpc/Sp3ms to afflict him to afflict him 3
H6031-51 וְ/עִנּ֣וּ veinu HC/Vpp3cp and-they-shall-afflict and they afflicted 3
H6031-19 לֵ/עָנֹ֖ת leanot HR/VNc Leannoth to be afflicted 3
H6031-05 עַנֹּֽתְ/ךָ֜ anotekha HVpc/Sp2ms to-humble-you to afflict you 2
H6031-28 תַעֲנֵֽ/ם taanem HVhi2ms/Sp3mp you afflict them you will afflict them 2
H6031-18 לַ/עֲנ֥וֹת laanot HR/Vqc to afflict 2
H6031-42 וַ/יְעַנֶּֽ/הָ vayeaneha HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3fs and he forced her and he afflicted her 2

Occurrences in Scripture

83 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6031-51 Genesis 15:13 וְ/עִנּ֣וּ veinu HC/Vpp3cp and they will afflict and they afflicted
H6031-41 Genesis 16:6 וַ/תְּעַנֶּ֣/הָ vateaneha HC/Vpw3fs/Sp3fs dealt harshly with her she afflicted her
H6031-48 Genesis 16:9 וְ/הִתְעַנִּ֖י vehiteani HC/Vtv2fs and submit and humble yourself
H6031-29 Genesis 31:50 תְּעַנֶּ֣ה teaneh HVpi2ms you mistreat you oppress
H6031-42 Genesis 34:2 וַ/יְעַנֶּֽ/הָ vayeaneha HC/Vpw3ms/Sp3fs violated and he afflicted her
H6031-06 Exodus 1:11 עַנֹּת֖/וֹ anoto HVpc/Sp3ms afflict them to afflict him
H6031-57 Exodus 1:12 יְעַנּ֣וּ yeanu HVpi3mp they afflicted they will afflict
H6031-19 Exodus 10:3 לֵ/עָנֹ֖ת leanot HR/VNc to humble to be afflicted
H6031-32 Exodus 22:21 תְעַנּֽוּ/ן teanun HVpi2mp/Sn you shall oppress you will oppress
H6031-02 Exodus 22:22 עַנֵּ֥ה aneh HVpa you afflict intensely afflict
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