Word Study for H600 (אֲנַף) | Strong's Concordance

ʼănaph /an-af'/ Ask about this word

Root(Aramaic) corresponding to אַף (only in the plural as a singular)

Meaningthe face

KJV usageface, visage.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼănaph — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Aramaic word ʼănaph, represented by H600, refers to the face or visage. It appears only 2 times in 2 verses, serving as the Aramaic counterpart to a corresponding Hebrew term. Its usage in scripture highlights the face as a center for expressing powerful emotion and performing acts of reverence.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The two occurrences of H600 are found in the book of Daniel, each illustrating a distinct context. In one instance, the word describes an outward sign of intense anger, where Nebuchadnezzar was so full of fury that the form of his visage was changed Daniel 3:19. In a contrasting scene, it is used to depict an act of profound submission and worship, as King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face before Daniel Daniel 2:46.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide context for the state of mind that affects the face:

H2528 chĕmâʼ (fury): This term for anger is directly linked to the change in Nebuchadnezzar's visage, showing that internal fury can manifest physically on the face Daniel 3:19.
H4391 mᵉlâʼ (to fill, be full): This word describes the state of being completely overcome by an emotion. Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, which in turn altered his face Daniel 3:19.

Theological Significance

The significance of H600 is tied to its role in non-verbal communication and displays of power.

Indicator of Emotion: The face is presented as a direct reflection of a person's inner state. In the case of Nebuchadnezzar, his visage becomes a visible sign of his uncontrollable rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Daniel 3:19.
Posture of Reverence: The act of falling upon one's face is a powerful gesture of humility and worship. Nebuchadnezzar's posture before Daniel signifies an acknowledgment of a power and wisdom greater than his own Daniel 2:46.

Summary

In summary, while its usage is limited, H600 is a potent word in the biblical narrative. It captures the dual capacity of the human face to serve as both a canvas for intense, internal emotion like fury, and as a physical instrument for demonstrating submission and awe. Both uses within Daniel underscore the dramatic reactions of a king confronted by divine power.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 2 occurrences, inflected in 1 grammatical form — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

אַנְפּוֹ

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

2 verses, all in Daniel — and none of the other 38 Old Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.