עָנִי (H6041) — Hebrew Lexicon

עָנִי

𐤏𐤍𐤉

ʻânîy

H6041 adjective

SILEX Entry

Root ענה to be afflicted, to be bowed down, to humble, to answer

Definition

Describes a person who is in a state of affliction, distress, or hardship—socially, economically, or emotionally. Refers to one who is poor, oppressed, or experiencing suffering and deprivation. In some contexts, designates those marginalized or lacking power and resources. The semantic range covers both physical need (poverty, material deprivation) and experiential suffering (afflicted, downtrodden), and can also, but less commonly, refer to humility as a result of hardship, rather than personal virtue.

Semantic Range

afflicted, oppressed, poor, needy, destitute, downtrodden, marginalized, humble (as resultant state from affliction), suffering one

Root / Etymology

From the root ענה (ʻ-n-h), which primarily means 'to be bowed down, afflicted, humbled, answer.' The word עָנִי is a substantive form referring to someone who is afflicted or in a lowly state. Related to, but distinct from, עָנָו (ʻānāv, 'humble, meek'), which more strongly denotes inward disposition or humility. The connection suggests the semantic field of being brought low, usually by external circumstances.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In pre-exilic and monarchic periods, עָנִי consistently referred to individuals experiencing tangible hardship: poverty, oppression, or social powerlessness—regardless of inner disposition. The prophets often contrasted the עָנִי with the rich or powerful, using the term to underscore ethical and social responsibilities. In poetic literature (especially Psalms), עָנִי broadens to encompass both physical and existential suffering, sometimes including the theme of divine concern for such persons. The related term עָנָו eventually came to emphasize humility or meekness as a positive moral quality, especially in later biblical and post-biblical Hebrew. English translations often narrow the meaning to 'poor' or 'afflicted,' but the term also expresses a more nuanced social and existential vulnerability.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָנָה; (practically the same as עָנָו, although the margin constantly disputes this, making עָנָו subjective and objective); depressed, in mind or circumstances; afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ענה (ʿ-n-h) — to be afflicted, to be bowed down, to humble, to answer

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
H3284	יַעֲנָה	the female ostrich
H3285	יַעֲנַי	and Yaanai
H4616	מַעַן	for your sake
H4617	מַעֲנֶה	in a reply of
H4618	מַעֲנָה	to their furrow
H576	אֲנָא	and Anah
H5772	עוֹנָה	and her allotted conjugal-duty
H6030	עָנָה	I will respond
H6031	עָנָה	I will intensively afflict you
H6032	עֲנָה	answering ones
H6033	עֲנָה	afflicted ones
H6034	עֲנָה	Anah
H6035	עָנָו	humble ones
H6037	עַנְוָה	humility
H6038	עֲנָוָה	humble lowliness
H6039	עֱנוּת	affliction-of
H6040	עֳנִי	her affliction
H6042	עֻנִּי	and Unni
H6043	עֲנָיָה	Yah has answered
H6045	עִנְיָן	in a matter
H6067	עֲנָת	Anath
H6070	עַנְתֹתִיָּה	and Yahweh-has-answered
H8589	תַּעֲנִית	from my self-affliction

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`H6041-01`	עָנִ֖י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I	38
`H6041-05`	עֲנִיִּ֖ים	aniyim	`HAampa`	of the poor	afflicted ones	7
`H6041-09`	לֶֽ/עָנִ֤י	leani	`HRd/Aamsa`	for the poor	to the afflicted one	6
`H6041-03`	עֲנִיֵּ֣י	aniyey	`HAampc`	of the poor	afflicted ones of	6
`H6041-15`	וְ/עָנִ֤י	veani	`HC/Aamsa`	and the afflicted	and an afflicted one	5
`H6041-11`	עניים	nyym	`HAampa`	the poor	afflicted ones	4
`H6041-02`	עֲנִיָּ֥ה	aniyah	`HAafsa`	afflicted	afflicted woman	3
`H6041-07`	הֶֽ/עָנִי֙	heani	`HTd/Aamsa`	the poor	the afflicted one	2
`H6041-10`	מֵ/עָנִ֞י	meani	`HR/Aamsa`	from the poor	from the afflicted one	1
`H6041-13`	וַ/עֲנִיֶּ֥י/ךָ	vaaniyeykha	`HC/Aampc/Sp2ms`	and your afflicted	and your afflicted ones	1
`H6041-16`	ו/ל/עניים	vlnyym	`HC/R/Aampa`	and to the afflicted	and to afflicted ones	1
`H6041-12`	וַ/עֲנִיָּ֖/ו	vaaniyav	`HC/Aampc/Sp3ms`	His afflicted	his afflicted ones	1
`H6041-14`	וַ/עֲנִיִּ֥ים	vaaniyim	`HC/Aampa`	and poor	afflicted ones	1
`H6041-06`	הָ/עֲנִיִּ֨ים	haaniyim	`HTd/Aampa`	the afflicted	the afflicted ones	1
`H6041-08`	לַ/עֲנִיֶּ֛/ךָ	laaniyekha	`HR/Aamsc/Sp2ms`	to your poor	to your afflicted one	1
`H6041-04`	עֲ֝נִיֶּ֗י/ךָ	aniyeykha	`HAampc/Sp2ms`	the poor	your afflicted ones	1

Occurrences in Scripture

79 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`H6041-07`	Exodus 22:24	הֶֽ/עָנִי֙	heani	`HTd/Aamsa`	the poor	the afflicted one
`H6041-09`	Leviticus 19:10	לֶֽ/עָנִ֤י	leani	`HRd/Aamsa`	for the poor	to the afflicted one
`H6041-09`	Leviticus 23:22	לֶֽ/עָנִ֤י	leani	`HRd/Aamsa`	for-the-poor	to the afflicted one
`H6041-08`	Deuteronomy 15:11	לַ/עֲנִיֶּ֛/ךָ	laaniyekha	`HR/Aamsc/Sp2ms`	to your poor	to your afflicted one
`H6041-01`	Deuteronomy 24:12	עָנִ֖י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-01`	Deuteronomy 24:14	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-01`	Deuteronomy 24:15	עָנִי֙	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-01`	2 Samuel 22:28	עָנִ֖י	ani	`HAamsa`	afflicted	I
`H6041-07`	Isaiah 3:14	הֶֽ/עָנִ֖י	heani	`HTd/Aamsa`	the poor	the afflicted one
`H6041-05`	Isaiah 3:15	עֲנִיִּ֖ים	aniyim	`HAampa`	of the poor	afflicted ones
`H6041-03`	Isaiah 10:2	עֲנִיֵּ֣י	aniyey	`HAampc`	of the poor	afflicted ones of
`H6041-02`	Isaiah 10:30	עֲנִיָּ֥ה	aniyah	`HAafsa`	poor	afflicted woman
`H6041-03`	Isaiah 14:32	עֲנִיֵּ֥י	aniyey	`HAampc`	afflicted-of	afflicted ones of
`H6041-01`	Isaiah 26:6	עָנִ֖י	ani	`HAamsa`	the poor	I
`H6041-05`	Isaiah 32:7	עֲנִיִּים֙	aniyim	`HAampa`	the needy/poor	afflicted ones
`H6041-06`	Isaiah 41:17	הָ/עֲנִיִּ֨ים	haaniyim	`HTd/Aampa`	the afflicted	the afflicted ones
`H6041-12`	Isaiah 49:13	וַ/עֲנִיָּ֖/ו	vaaniyav	`HC/Aampc/Sp3ms`	His afflicted	his afflicted ones
`H6041-02`	Isaiah 51:21	עֲנִיָּ֑ה	aniyah	`HAafsa`	afflicted	afflicted woman
`H6041-02`	Isaiah 54:11	עֲנִיָּ֥ה	aniyah	`HAafsa`	afflicted-one	afflicted woman
`H6041-14`	Isaiah 58:7	וַ/עֲנִיִּ֥ים	vaaniyim	`HC/Aampa`	and poor	afflicted ones
`H6041-01`	Isaiah 66:2	עָנִי֙	ani	`HAamsa`	humble	I
`H6041-01`	Jeremiah 22:16	עָנִ֥י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-01`	Ezekiel 16:49	עָנִ֥י	ani	`HAamsa`	of the poor	I
`H6041-01`	Ezekiel 18:12	עָנִ֤י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-10`	Ezekiel 18:17	מֵ/עָנִ֞י	meani	`HR/Aamsa`	from the poor	from the afflicted one
`H6041-15`	Ezekiel 22:29	וְ/עָנִ֤י	veani	`HC/Aamsa`	and the poor	and an afflicted one
`H6041-03`	Amos 8:4	עֲנִיֵּי	aniyey	`HAampc`	poor	afflicted ones of
`H6041-01`	Habakkuk 3:14	עָנִ֖י	ani	`HAamsa`	the poor	I
`H6041-01`	Zephaniah 3:12	עָנִ֖י	ani	`HAamsa`	humble	I
`H6041-15`	Zechariah 7:10	וְ/עָנִ֖י	veani	`HC/Aamsa`	and poor	and an afflicted one
`H6041-01`	Zechariah 9:9	עָנִי֙	ani	`HAamsa`	humble	I
`H6041-03`	Zechariah 11:7	עֲנִיֵּ֣י	aniyey	`HAampc`	afflicted	afflicted ones of
`H6041-03`	Zechariah 11:11	עֲנִיֵּ֤י	aniyey	`HAampc`	the poor of	afflicted ones of
`H6041-11`	Psalms 9:13	עניים	nyym	`HAampa`	humble	afflicted ones
`H6041-05`	Psalms 9:19	עֲ֝נִיִּ֗ים	aniyim	`HAampa`	the afflicted	afflicted ones
`H6041-01`	Psalms 10:2	עָנִ֑י	ani	`HAamsa`	the-poor	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 10:9	עָנִ֑י	ani	`HAamsa`	the poor	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 10:9	עָ֝נִ֗י	ani-2	`HAamsa`	the poor	I
`H6041-11`	Psalms 10:12	עניים	nyym	`HAampa`	the afflicted	afflicted ones
`H6041-05`	Psalms 12:6	עֲנִיִּים֮	aniyim	`HAampa`	of the poor	afflicted ones
`H6041-01`	Psalms 14:6	עָנִ֥י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 18:28	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	humble	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 22:25	עָנִ֗י	ani	`HAamsa`	of the afflicted	I
`H6041-15`	Psalms 25:16	וְ/עָנִ֣י	veani	`HC/Aamsa`	and afflicted	and an afflicted one
`H6041-01`	Psalms 34:7	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor man	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 35:10	עָ֭נִי	ani	`HAamsa`	the afflicted	I
`H6041-15`	Psalms 35:10	וְ/עָנִ֥י	veani	`HC/Aamsa`	and the afflicted	and an afflicted one
`H6041-01`	Psalms 37:14	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	the afflicted	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 40:18	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-09`	Psalms 68:11	לֶ/עָנִ֣י	leani	`HRd/Aamsa`	for the poor	to the afflicted one
`H6041-01`	Psalms 69:30	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	am poor	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 70:6	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-13`	Psalms 72:2	וַ/עֲנִיֶּ֥י/ךָ	vaaniyeykha	`HC/Aampc/Sp2ms`	and your afflicted	and your afflicted ones
`H6041-03`	Psalms 72:4	עֲֽנִיֵּי	aniyey	`HAampc`	the afflicted	afflicted ones of
`H6041-15`	Psalms 72:12	וְ֝/עָנִ֗י	veani	`HC/Aamsa`	and the afflicted	and an afflicted one
`H6041-04`	Psalms 74:19	עֲ֝נִיֶּ֗י/ךָ	aniyeykha	`HAampc/Sp2ms`	the poor	your afflicted ones
`H6041-01`	Psalms 74:21	עָנִ֥י	ani	`HAamsa`	the poor	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 82:3	עָנִ֖י	ani	`HAamsa`	the afflicted	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 86:1	עָנִ֖י	ani	`HAamsa`	afflicted	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 88:16	עָ֘נִ֤י	ani	`HAamsa`	afflicted	I
`H6041-09`	Psalms 102:1	לְ/עָנִ֣י	leani	`HR/Aamsa`	of the afflicted	to the afflicted one
`H6041-01`	Psalms 109:16	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	poor	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 109:22	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	afflicted	I
`H6041-01`	Psalms 140:13	עָנִ֑י	ani	`HAamsa`	of-the-afflicted	I
`H6041-16`	Proverbs 3:34	ו/ל/עניים	vlnyym	`HC/R/Aampa`	and to the afflicted	and to afflicted ones
`H6041-11`	Proverbs 14:21	עניים	nyym	`HAampa`	the poor	afflicted ones
`H6041-01`	Proverbs 15:15	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	of the afflicted	I
`H6041-11`	Proverbs 16:19	עניים	nyym	`HAampa`	the poor	afflicted ones
`H6041-01`	Proverbs 22:22	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	the afflicted	I
`H6041-05`	Proverbs 30:14	עֲנִיִּ֣ים	aniyim	`HAampa`	the poor	afflicted ones
`H6041-01`	Proverbs 31:9	עָנִ֥י	ani	`HAamsa`	the afflicted	I
`H6041-09`	Proverbs 31:20	לֶ/עָנִ֑י	leani	`HRd/Aamsa`	to the poor	to the afflicted one
`H6041-01`	Job 24:9	עָנִ֥י	ani	`HAamsa`	the poor	I
`H6041-01`	Job 24:14	עָנִ֥י	ani	`HAamsa`	the poor	I
`H6041-01`	Job 29:12	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	the poor	I
`H6041-05`	Job 34:28	עֲנִיִּ֣ים	aniyim	`HAampa`	of the afflicted	afflicted ones
`H6041-05`	Job 36:6	עֲנִיִּ֣ים	aniyim	`HAampa`	to the afflicted	afflicted ones
`H6041-01`	Job 36:15	עָנִ֣י	ani	`HAamsa`	the afflicted	I
`H6041-09`	Ecclesiastes 6:8	לֶּ/עָנִ֣י	leani	`HRd/Aamsa`		to the afflicted one

← H6040 Hebrew Lexicon H6042 →