The Hebrew word ʼânaq, represented by H602, is a primitive root meaning to shriek, cry, or groan. It appears a total of 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible, consistently conveying a sense of deep distress and suffering.
The word H602 is used exclusively in contexts of intense anguish and judgment. In Ezekiel, it describes the sound made by the righteous who "cry for all the abominations" in Jerusalem Ezekiel 9:4. It is also the sound the prophet himself is forbidden to make, commanded to "Forbear to cry" as a sign Ezekiel 24:17. In both Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the term is directly associated with the sound made by the "wounded" in the midst of slaughter and divine judgment (Jeremiah 51:52, Ezekiel 26:15).
Several related words help define the specific nature of this cry:
- H2491 châlâl (pierced... wounded): This word describes those who are mortally wounded or slain. The cry of H602 is often the sound made by the wounded H2491 in the midst of slaughter Jeremiah 51:52.
- H584 ʼânach (to sigh): A related expression of grief. It is used in parallel with H602 to describe the response of the righteous to the sins of their city, who "sigh and that cry" Ezekiel 9:4.
- H60 ʼêbel (lamentation; mourning): This term refers to the act or state of mourning. In Ezekiel 24:17, the command to forbear from crying H602 is immediately followed by the instruction to "make no mourning," directly connecting the vocal cry to the ritual of grief.
The theological weight of H602 is focused on the realities of sin and judgment.
- A Sign of Righteous Grief: The cry of H602 can be a mark of the righteous, who groan in response to the wickedness and "abominations" they witness around them Ezekiel 9:4.
- The Sound of Divine Judgment: The word is consistently linked to the consequences of God's judgment. It is the groan of the "wounded" when a slaughter occurs as a result of divine wrath (Jeremiah 51:52, Ezekiel 26:15).
- A Symbol of Unspeakable Calamity: In a powerful prophetic sign, Ezekiel is commanded to suppress this natural cry of grief, indicating a disaster so profound that it transcends normal human expressions of mourning Ezekiel 24:17.
In summary, H602 ʼânaq is a potent and specific term for a cry of extreme distress. Though appearing only four times, it powerfully illustrates the sounds of suffering, whether from the righteous lamenting sin or from the wounded experiencing judgment. It serves as an auditory signal of profound spiritual and physical crisis within the prophetic books of the Old Testament.
TRV