עֲנָה
𐤏𐤍𐤄
ʻănâh
H6033 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
To be or become low, humble, afflicted, or oppressed. In Aramaic usage of the Hebrew Bible, the verb refers to the state of being brought low, suffering affliction, or experiencing hardship, either physically, economically, or emotionally. It describes both literal conditions of poverty or distress and figurative states of humiliation or oppression.
Semantic Range
to be bowed down, to be afflicted, to be humbled or humiliated, to become poor or oppressed; to be reduced in status or circumstance, to suffer distress or hardship
Root / Etymology
Root: ענה. The root ענה in Hebrew means 'to be bowed down, afflicted, humbled.' The Aramaic form, which is spelled identically, is a cognate with similar meanings, often occurring in place of the Hebrew verb, especially in texts influenced by or written in Aramaic dialect. The semantic development involves a transition from the physical sense of bowing down or being forced low to broader applications involving emotional, social, or spiritual affliction.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Biblical texts, עֲנָה as an Aramaic verb is rare and occurs primarily in later biblical books with Aramaic sections (e.g., Daniel, Ezra), replacing the more common Hebrew עָנָה verb form. The term describes the experience of individuals or peoples under foreign domination, oppression, or divine chastening. It often denotes a passive experience—being afflicted—rather than an active one (i.e., afflicting others). English translations commonly render it as 'to be afflicted,' 'to be humbled,' or 'to suffer oppression;' however, these translations can obscure the social and economic dimensions implied in many contexts. Compare with other roots for affliction or oppression such as לחץ and עשק, which carry more specifically the sense of external compulsion or exploitation. Across periods, the term retains its association with social and existential vulnerability rather than solely physical poverty. In post-biblical Aramaic, the semantic range continues and further nuances develop related to humility and spiritual submission.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to עָנָה; {to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)}; poor.
Bantu Hebrew
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+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ענה (ʿ-n-h) — to be bowed down, to be afflicted, to be humbled, to suffer oppression or poverty
| 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
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6033-01 |
עֲנָ֑יִן | anayin | ANcmpa |
to the poor | afflicted ones | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6033-01 |
Daniel 4:24 | עֲנָ֑יִן | anayin | ANcmpa |
to the poor | afflicted ones |