### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
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.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
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]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
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.
### Theological Significance
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]].
### Summary
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