עֲנָיָה
𐤏𐤍𐤉𐤄
Anayah
H6043 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A proper personal name meaning 'Yah(weh) has answered.' Used as the name of two Israelite individuals recorded in the post-exilic books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The name expresses the idea of Yahweh's response to prayer or appeal.
Semantic Range
personal name meaning 'Yah has answered', proper noun, theophoric name
Root / Etymology
Formed from the verbal root ענה (ʿ-n-h, 'to answer, respond') with the theophoric suffix יָה (Yah, a shortened form of Yahweh), meaning 'Yah has answered.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֲנָיָה occurs as the name of two persons in the books of Ezra (Ezra 10:31) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 8:4), both in the post-exilic period. As a theophoric name, it reflects a common structure in Hebrew personal names invoking divine response or intervention. Translation traditions often render the name as Anaiah. The underlying etymology highlights the Israelite custom of naming children based on divine action or hoped-for outcomes. The use of the theophoric element יָה became especially prominent in the Persian period, and such names often projected theological beliefs about the deity's active engagement with individuals or the community. The English term 'Jew' is not applicable for the period or contexts in which the name is used; 'Israelite' is preferred.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from עָנָה; Jah has answered; Anajah, the name of two Israelites; Anaiah.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ענה (ʿ-n-h) — to answer, respond, reply
| 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
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6043-02 |
וַ֠/עֲנָיָה | vaanayah | HC/Np |
and Anaiah | Yah has answered | 1 |
H6043-01 |
עֲנָיָֽה | anayah | HNp |
Anaiah | Yah has answered | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6043-02 |
Nehemiah 8:4 | וַ֠/עֲנָיָה | vaanayah | HC/Np |
and Anaiah | Yah has answered |
H6043-01 |
Nehemiah 10:23 | עֲנָיָֽה | anayah | HNp |
Anaiah | Yah has answered |