עֲנָשׁ (a.nash)
a.nash
confiscation
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The noun anash refers to the act of imposing a fine or seizing property as a penalty. It appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Ezra 7:26, where it describes the legal authority granted to Ezra by the Persian king Artaxerxes.
In this specific context, the word denotes the confiscation of goods or the levying of fines against those who disobey the law of God and the law of the king. The term captures a formal judicial process where financial loss serves as punishment for transgression, reflecting the administrative power structure of the Persian Empire.
Its solitary occurrence highlights the intersection of religious obedience and civil enforcement in the post-exilic community. By using this specific legal terminology, the text underscores that adherence to Torah was not merely a spiritual matter but one backed by tangible economic consequences and state authority.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anash appears in Ezra 7:26 as part of a royal decree by King Artaxerxes. It refers to the legal power to seize property or impose fines on those who disobey God’s law. This single occurrence shows how civil authority was used to enforce religious obedience in the post-exilic community.
For believers today, this reminds us that our faith is not just a private matter but has real-world consequences. When we choose to follow God’s commands, even when it costs us, we participate in a long history of faithful witness. The fear of losing material goods should never outweigh the joy of obeying God.
This verse highlights the seriousness with which Scripture treats obedience. It is not enough to know what is right; we must act on it. May you find strength in knowing that your commitment to God’s ways is valued by Him, regardless of earthly costs.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to/ confiscation of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- לַ/עֲנָ֥שׁ1×
Key Verses
-
Ezra 7:26
Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
This verse uses anash to describe the penalty of property seizure for disobeying both God's and the king's law, showing the intersection of religious duty and civil enforcement.