עֲנַן
𐤏𐤍𐤍
ʻănan
H6050 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A visible mass of condensed water vapor, i.e., a cloud; in Aramaic contexts of the Hebrew Bible, typically refers to a cloud or overcast sky, often as a meteorological phenomenon or as a metaphorical covering. The word denotes both ordinary clouds and those associated with divine manifestations or significant weather events.
Semantic Range
cloud (meteorological), overcast sky, covering of clouds, mass of vapor, sometimes associated with storms or divine vision
Root / Etymology
From the Hebrew root ע-נ-ן (ענן), meaning 'to cover, becloud, obscure'. The Aramaic form עֲנַן is a direct cognate of the Hebrew עָנָן (ʽānān) and bears the same core sense of 'cloud' or 'covering'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֲנַן appears primarily in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Daniel, Ezra). It retains the same basic sense as the Hebrew עָנָן, though in the Aramaic portions it is used in narrative and visionary contexts to describe typical clouds or as part of apocalyptic imagery. Clouds in ancient Israelite and Aramaic literature could function as both natural phenomena and as symbols of divine presence or mystery, especially in prophetic or visionary passages. English translations consistently render עֲנַן as 'cloud,' which accurately reflects its meteorological sense, though some texts hint at deeper symbolic associations. Unlike the Hebrew term, the Aramaic iteration is not used with the intensive divine presence imagery (such as the 'cloud of glory' in Exodus), but can still denote ominous or awe-inspiring weather phenomena.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
(Aramaic) corresponding to עָנָן; {a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud}; cloud.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ענן (ʿ-n-n) — cover, becloud, obscure
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6049 | עָנַן | my practicing divination |
| H6051 | עָנָן | covering-cloud |
| H6052 | עָנָן | enveloping cloud |
| H6053 | עֲנָנָה | cloud-mass |
| H6054 | עֲנָנִי | and My-Cloud |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6050-01 |
עֲנָנֵ֣י | ananey | ANcmpc |
clouds | clouds of | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6050-01 |
Daniel 7:13 | עֲנָנֵ֣י | ananey | ANcmpc |
clouds | clouds of |