אָנָה (a.nah)
a.nah
to lament
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb anah carries the specific meaning of mourning or lamenting, appearing only twice in the Old Testament. In both instances, it is found within the book of Isaiah, where it describes a deep expression of grief. The word captures the outward signs of sorrow, reflecting a heart that is broken by loss or calamity.
While the lexicons define it simply as mourning, its limited usage in Scripture gives it a focused weight. It is not a general term for sadness but a specific call to lamentation. By appearing exclusively in Isaiah, the word becomes tied to the prophetic themes of judgment and the subsequent hope for restoration that characterizes that book.
Translators typically render anah as "mourn" or "lament," preserving the solemn tone of the original text. This choice highlights the communal and ritual aspects of grief in ancient Israel, where mourning was a visible and vocal act. The word reminds readers that lament is a recognized part of the biblical response to suffering.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word anah appears only twice in the Old Testament, both within the book of Isaiah. It describes a deep, outward expression of grief that goes beyond quiet sadness. In these verses, cities and communities are depicted as weeping openly for their loss. This shows that lament is not a sign of weak faith but a recognized way to bring heavy burdens before God.
When you face seasons of sorrow or see the brokenness in the world around you, this word offers permission to grieve honestly. Scripture does not ask us to hide our pain but to voice it. By naming our grief, we acknowledge our dependence on God’s comfort. This honest mourning creates space for hope to eventually take root in the ashes of despair.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ they will lament2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וְ/אָנוּ֙1×
- וְ/אָנ֥וּ1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 3:26
Her gates shall lament and mourn. She shall be desolate and sit on the ground.
This verse personifies the city gates themselves, showing that anah describes a communal and structural collapse where even the defenses weep for the nation's desolation.
-
Isaiah 19:8
The fishermen will lament, and all those who fish in the Nile will mourn, and those who spread nets on the waters will languish.
Here the word highlights how economic livelihood is tied to spiritual stability, as those who depend on the Nile lament when their source of life is threatened by judgment.