אֲנָקָה (a.na.qah)
a.na.qah
groaning
H:N-FQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-F
Word Overview
The noun anaqah describes a deep, involuntary sound made in pain or distress — a groan, cry, or lament. It is not a casual complaint but a visceral expression of suffering that escapes when words fail. In Scripture, this word captures the raw physical and emotional weight of human anguish.
It appears only twice in the Hebrew Bible, yet its impact is significant. In Psalm 39:12, David uses it to describe his own condition as he pleads with God not to withhold mercy while he is "groaning." Later, in Malachi 3:17, it describes how God’s people are precious to Him, spared from the judgment that will come upon the wicked — implying their suffering was real and heard.
The term underscores a biblical truth: God does not ignore human pain. Even when silence seems to follow prayer, anaqah suggests a cry so deep it reaches beyond speech into the presence of God.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anaqah captures a sound that escapes when words fail. It is not a casual complaint but a raw expression of pain or distress. When life becomes too heavy for speech, this groan rises from the depths of the human spirit. Scripture acknowledges these silent cries, showing us that God hears what we cannot say.
In Psalm 79:11, the text mentions the sighing of prisoners, a plea for preservation amidst deep suffering. This reminds us that our anguish is seen by God. He does not ignore the weight we carry. Even in our weakest moments, our presence before Him is valued and heard.
Malachi 2:13 also references this sighing, noting how tears can cover the altar. Yet, this does not mean God has abandoned us. Instead, it shows His attentiveness to our grief. We can bring our honest pain to Him, knowing He meets us in our vulnerability with compassion and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ groaning1×
- [the] groaning of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַֽ/אֲנָקָ֑ה1×
- אֶנְקַ֪ת1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 79:11
Let the sighing of the prisoner come before you. According to the greatness of your power, preserve those who are sentenced to death.
This verse uses the term to describe the desperate sighing of prisoners, highlighting God's awareness of their physical and emotional distress.
-
Malachi 2:13
“This again you do: you cover Yahweh’s altar with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn’t regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand.
Here the word appears alongside tears and weeping, showing that even when worship feels hindered by grief, God sees the sincerity of the heart.