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עָנָן

𐤏𐤍𐤍

ʻânân

H6051 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ענן to cover, obscure, envelop

Definition

A visible mass of condensed water vapor suspended in the atmosphere—cloud. In the Hebrew Bible, עָנָן refers most commonly to atmospheric clouds, but also carries special significance in narratives depicting divine presence or intervention, particularly as a visible phenomenon accompanying the deity (e.g., at Sinai or leading the Israelites). In poetic or prophetic passages, can connote darkness, covering, or obscurity.

Semantic Range

cloud, mass of vapor, visible atmospheric cover, sign of divine presence, agent of obscuring or darkening, metaphorical covering or concealment

Root / Etymology

עָנָן derives from the root ענן, which at its core means 'to cover, envelope, obscure.' The noun עָנָן thus denotes something that covers or overshadows, especially a cloud. There is also a verbal form (עָנַן) meaning 'to practice soothsaying,' which is distinct semantically and should not be confused with the noun.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Throughout the Hebrew Bible, עָנָן is the standard term for physical clouds (Genesis 9:13-16, 1 Kings 18:44). In passages involving the wilderness period and theophany, it designates the unique manifestation of the deity's presence: the 'pillar of cloud' (Exodus 13:21-22, 16:10, 19:9), which leads or protects the Israelites. In later poetic and prophetic texts, it can symbolize gloom, uncertainty, or concealment (Ezekiel 30:3, Psalm 18:12). The English 'cloud' covers the basic sense, but does not always convey spiritual or symbolic dimensions when עָנָן designates a visible sign of divine presence. Alternative Hebrew terms, like עב ('thick cloud'), sometimes emphasize density or stormier conditions. In post-exilic texts, continued use of עָנָן retains these layered meanings, and in some passages it serves metaphorical or symbolic purposes beyond mere description of weather phenomena.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָנַן; a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e. the nimbus or thunder-cloud; cloud(-y).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ענן (ʿ-n-n) — to cover, obscure, envelop

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6049 עָנַן my practicing divination
H6050 עֲנַן clouds of
H6052 עָנָן enveloping cloud
H6053 עֲנָנָה cloud-mass
H6054 עֲנָנִי and My-Cloud

Word Forms

13 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6051-04 הֶֽ/עָנָן֙ heanan HTd/Ncmsa the cloud the covering-cloud 34
H6051-01 עָנָ֖ן anan HNcmsa cloud covering-cloud 25
H6051-03 בֶּֽ/עָנָ֑ן beanan HRd/Ncmsa in the cloud in a covering-cloud 9
H6051-11 וְ/עָנָ֑ן veanan HC/Ncmsa and cloud cloud-cover 5
H6051-12 וְ/הֶ/עָנָ֗ן veheanan HC/Td/Ncmsa and the cloud and the covering-cloud 3
H6051-07 כֶּ/עָנָ֛ן keanan HRd/Ncmsa like-a-cloud like a cloud 2
H6051-05 כַּֽ/עֲנַן kaanan HR/Ncmsc like a cloud like a covering-cloud of 2
H6051-02 עֲנָנֽ/וֹ anano HNcmsc/Sp3ms his cloud his enveloping cloud 2
H6051-06 כַּ/עֲנָנִ֣ים kaananim HR/Ncmpa like clouds like clouds 1
H6051-13 וְ/כֶ/עָנָ֖ן vekheanan HC/Rd/Ncmsa and like a cloud and like a covering-cloud 1

Occurrences in Scripture

87 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6051-03 Genesis 9:13 בֶּֽ/עָנָ֑ן beanan HRd/Ncmsa in the cloud in a covering-cloud
H6051-01 Genesis 9:14 עָנָ֖ן anan HNcmsa a cloud covering-cloud
H6051-03 Genesis 9:14 בֶּ/עָנָֽן beanan HRd/Ncmsa in the cloud in a covering-cloud
H6051-03 Genesis 9:16 בֶּֽ/עָנָ֑ן beanan HRd/Ncmsa in the cloud in a covering-cloud
H6051-01 Exodus 13:21 עָנָן֙ anan HNcmsa cloud covering-cloud
H6051-04 Exodus 13:22 הֶֽ/עָנָן֙ heanan HTd/Ncmsa of the cloud the covering-cloud
H6051-04 Exodus 14:19 הֶֽ/עָנָן֙ heanan HTd/Ncmsa of the cloud the covering-cloud
H6051-04 Exodus 14:20 הֶֽ/עָנָן֙ heanan HTd/Ncmsa the cloud the covering-cloud
H6051-11 Exodus 14:24 וְ/עָנָ֑ן veanan HC/Ncmsa and cloud cloud-cover
H6051-03 Exodus 16:10 בֶּ/עָנָֽן beanan HRd/Ncmsa in the cloud in a covering-cloud
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