אָנַח

ʼânach /aw-nakh'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto sigh
KJV usagegroan, mourn, sigh.
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Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word ʼânach, represented by H584, is a primitive root that means to sigh; groan, mourn, sigh. It appears 12 times across 11 unique verses in the Bible, consistently conveying a deep, audible expression of grief, affliction, or distress. This term captures the physical and emotional reaction to suffering, whether from oppression, sin, or judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H584 is used to describe the suffering of God's people and the consequences of sin. The children of Israel sighed because of their bondage in Egypt, a sound that rose up to God Exodus 2:23. It is also the response of the people when the wicked are in power Proverbs 29:2. In prophetic contexts, Ezekiel is commanded to sigh with bitterness as a sign of impending doom Ezekiel 21:6. The book of Lamentations uses the word repeatedly to personify Jerusalem's sorrow, depicting her priests and people sighing under the weight of desolation and sin (Lamentations 1:4, Lamentations 1:8).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of the sounds of sorrow and distress:

  • H602 ʼânaq (to shriek; cry, groan): This word often appears alongside H584 to intensify the expression of anguish. In Ezekiel, God marks those "that sigh and that cry" for the city's abominations Ezekiel 9:4.
  • H56 ʼâbal (to bewail; lament, mourn): This describes a state of mourning that leads to the audible sighing of H584. In Isaiah, the new wine mourneth, and as a result, "all the merryhearted do sigh" Isaiah 24:7.
  • H535 ʼâmal (to droop; to be sick, to mourn; languish, be weak, wax feeble): This term describes the withering or weakening that accompanies sorrow. It is used in parallel with H584 when the vine languisheth, causing the people to sigh Isaiah 24:7.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H584 is significant, highlighting God's attention to human suffering.

  • A Cry Heard by God: The sighing of the Israelites in Egypt was not ignored; their cry came up to God, initiating His plan for deliverance Exodus 2:23. This shows that groaning from oppression reaches heaven.
  • A Righteous Response to Sin: In Ezekiel's vision, those who sigh and cry over the abominations in Jerusalem are the ones who receive God's protective mark, distinguishing them from the unrighteous Ezekiel 9:4.
  • The Consequence of Judgment: The sighing in Lamentations is a direct result of sin and God's subsequent judgment, serving as a solemn reminder of the painful fruit of disobedience Lamentations 1:8. Even creation itself is depicted as groaning under a curse Joel 1:18.

Summary

In summary, H584 is a powerful and visceral word that gives voice to deep pain. It is not a silent sorrow but an audible groan caused by affliction, injustice, and the consequences of sin. From the groans of an enslaved nation to the commanded sighs of a prophet, ʼânach represents a profound expression of a heart in anguish, a sound that scripture shows God both notices and responds to.

Grammatical Forms

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 13 occurrences, inflected in 10 grammatical forms.

  • Niphal Participle Plural Masculine Absolute 3×
  • Niphal Perfect 3rd Singular Feminine 2×
  • Niphal Consecutive Imperfect 3rd Plural Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Imperative 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Imperfect 2nd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Imperfect 3rd Singular Masculine 1×
  • Niphal Participle Singular Feminine Absolute 1×
  • Niphal Participle Singular Masculine Absolute 1×
  • Niphal Perfect 2nd Singular Feminine 1×
  • Niphal Perfect 3rd Plural common gender 1×
Singular
One.
Plural
More than one.
Masculine
Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine
Feminine grammatical gender.
common gender
Either gender — the form does not distinguish.
2nd
Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd
Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Imperfect
Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Perfect
A completed act whose results continue.
Imperative
A command or entreaty.
Participle
A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.
Niphal
Simple passive or reflexive of the Qal.
Consecutive Imperfect
Imperfect with vav — carries narrative forward ("and he…").
Absolute
The independent form of a noun (not bound to another).

Theographic Context

Biblical Distribution

Appears in 11 verses across 6 books. Most frequent in Lamentations (4 verses).

1
Exodus
1
Proverbs
1
Isaiah
4
Lamentations
3
Ezekiel
1
Joel

Verse Explorer

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