עֲנָנִי (a.na.ni)
a.na.ni
Anani
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Anani appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, recorded in the genealogy of Judah at 1 Chronicles 3:24. It identifies a specific individual, the seventh son of Elioenai and a descendant of King David during the period of the divided monarchy. The text lists him among his brothers, including Hodaviah and Johanan, anchoring this person firmly within the royal lineage without offering further narrative detail.
Linguistically, Anani derives from the root עָנָן, meaning "cloud." The ending makes it a possessive form, translating simply to "my cloud." This etymology connects the name to a common biblical image of divine presence or protection, yet here it serves merely as a personal identifier for a man whose life is preserved only in a list of ancestors.
While names like Anani carry poetic resonance, their primary function in these genealogies is structural. They verify the continuity of the Davidic line through generations of obscurity. For readers, this single occurrence highlights how Scripture preserves the memory of ordinary individuals within the broader story of Israel’s kings and tribes.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Anani appears in Scripture as a simple list entry, yet it carries a quiet depth. Derived from the root for 'cloud,' it means 'my cloud.' In the ancient Near East, clouds often symbolized God's protective presence or His glory hovering over His people. To be named after such a thing suggests that this individual, though obscure in history, was part of a lineage under divine care.
We find Anani listed among the sons of Elioenai in 1 Chronicles 3:24. He is one of seven brothers, a descendant of Judah and King David. The text does not tell us what he did or said; it simply records his name. This reminds us that God’s story includes many who remain unknown to us but are known to Him.
Genealogies can feel dry, but they anchor our faith in reality. They show that the promises made to David were kept through generations of ordinary people. Anani’s existence confirms that God preserves His people even when their names fade from public memory. We are part of this same long line of faithful witnesses.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ Anani1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וַ/עֲנָ֖נִי1×