עָנַק (a.naq)
a.naq
to ornament
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb anaq means to wear or create a necklace, functioning as a denominal verb derived from the word for "neck" or "ornament." It appears only twice in the Old Testament, yet it carries significant descriptive weight. In its Qal stem, it describes something serving as a necklace, while the Hiphil stem indicates the active process of making one.
A striking example occurs in Proverbs 1:9, where wisdom and instruction are metaphorically described as anaq—serving as a graceful necklace for the soul. This usage highlights how physical adornment was understood as a mark of dignity and beauty. Conversely, in Exodus 33:5-6, the Israelites remove their anaqim (ornaments) after the golden calf incident, signaling grief and humility rather than pride.
Though rare, this word illustrates how biblical language often bridges physical objects with spiritual realities. The act of adorning oneself with a necklace becomes a tangible image for receiving wisdom or expressing repentance, grounding abstract concepts in everyday life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word anaq appears only twice in Scripture, yet it bridges the physical and spiritual worlds with remarkable clarity. In Proverbs 1:9, wisdom is described as an ornament for your neck—a visible sign of inner beauty and dignity. This image invites us to see learning not as a burden, but as something precious we wear proudly.
Conversely, Exodus 33 records the Israelites removing their ornaments after the golden calf incident. Here, taking off jewelry became an act of humility and repentance. Both uses remind us that adornment is never neutral; it reflects what we value most. Whether we are adorning ourselves with wisdom or stripping away pride, our choices reveal the condition of our hearts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you will provide1×
- certainly <to provide>1×
- [it is] a necklace/ [for] them1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- תַּעֲנִיק֙1×
- עֲנָקַ֣תְ/מוֹ1×
- הַעֲנֵ֤יק1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 73:6
Therefore pride is like a chain around their neck. Violence covers them like a garment.
This verse uses the related noun form to illustrate how pride acts as a heavy, binding chain, contrasting sharply with the graceful freedom of wisdom.