← H6066 H6068 →

עֲנָת

𐤏𐤍𐤕

Anat

H6067 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ענה to answer, respond; (for name: uncertain, possibly borrowed)

Definition

Proper noun: Anath – a personal name found in the Hebrew Bible, most notably as the father of Shamgar, an early deliverer or leader during the period of the Judges. The name does not carry a meaning in biblical usage, but may derive from the name of a well-known ancient Near Eastern deity. It is not associated with a common noun or verb meaning in biblical Hebrew texts.

Semantic Range

personal name (father of Shamgar), name of a Canaanite goddess (in non-biblical sources); never occurs as a common noun or verb in the Hebrew Bible

Root / Etymology

Derived most likely from the Northwest Semitic root ענה. The form ענת is identical with the name of a Canaanite goddess, Anath, attested in Ugaritic and other ancient Near Eastern sources; the precise Hebrew root connection is debated and may not relate to the common Hebrew verb עָנָה (to answer). Thus, the etymology is best described as a borrowing or adoption from the Canaanite religious and onomastic sphere rather than a direct derivation from the Hebrew verb.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In the Hebrew Bible, עֲנָת (Anath) appears only as a personal name, specifically the father of Shamgar (Judges 3:31; 5:6). The name likely reflects cultural and religious interchange between early Israelite and Canaanite societies. Anath is known as a major goddess in the Canaanite pantheon—associated with war and fertility—attested in Ugaritic texts from Late Bronze Age Syria-Palestine. The use of Anath as an Israelite personal name is rare and may suggest Canaanite influence, syncretism, or the persistence of older naming conventions. In later Jewish and Christian tradition, the name is not used to denote ethnic or religious identity, and in English translations, the name is typically rendered as 'Anath.' It should not be confused with similar-sounding roots or terms in Hebrew such as ענה ('to answer') or ענת ('to be afflicted'), which are etymologically and semantically distinct.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from עָנָה; answer; Anath, an Israelite; Anath.

Bantu Hebrew

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

+ Add Bantu Hebrew Word

Root Family

ענה (ʿ-n-h) — to answer, respond; (for name: uncertain, possibly borrowed)

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
H6067-01 עֲנָ֔ת anat HNp Anath Anath 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6067-01 Judges 3:31 עֲנָ֔ת anat HNp Anath Anath
H6067-01 Judges 5:6 עֲנָת֙ anat HNp Anath Anath
← H6066 Hebrew Lexicon H6068 →