a primitive root; to be soft or pliable, i.e. (figuratively) effeminate or luxurious; delicate(-ness), (have) delight (self), sport self.
Transliteration:ʻânag
Pronunciation:aw-nag'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root `{{H6026}}` (ʻânag) is a primitive root carrying the core semantic idea of being "soft" or "pliable." From this foundational meaning, its semantic range expands in two primary, often contrasting, directions:
1. **Physical Delicacy/Effeminacy:** In this sense, `{{H6026}}` describes something exceedingly tender, delicate, or even overly soft. When applied to persons, it can connote effeminacy, weakness, or a pampered state, sometimes with negative implications of self-indulgence or lack of resilience. Derived nouns can refer to "luxuries" or "delicacies" that cater to such softness.
2. **Profound Delight/Pleasure:** This is perhaps the more common and theologically significant usage, particularly in its Hithpael stem (intensive reflexive). Here, `{{H6026}}` signifies taking deep, abiding pleasure or delight in something or someone. It implies finding satisfaction, joy, and contentment, often to the point of being absorbed in the object of delight. This delight can be in physical comforts or, more profoundly, in spiritual realities and divine communion.
Thus, `{{H6026}}` encompasses a spectrum from physical softness and potential moral weakness to deep, spiritual satisfaction and joy.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The occurrences of `{{H6026}}` in the Hebrew Bible illuminate its nuanced meanings:
* **Delight in God:** The most prominent and positive use of `{{H6026}}` is found in the Hithpael form, commanding or describing the act of "delighting oneself in the Lord."
* In [[Psalm 37:4]], the psalmist exhorts, "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Here, delight is presented as a prerequisite for receiving God's blessings, suggesting a deep, intimate relationship and trust.
* [[Isaiah 58:14]] ties delight in the Lord to faithful Sabbath observance: "then you shall delight yourself in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth." This context suggests that true delight in God is a result of obedience and finding joy in His ways and commands.
* [[Job 22:26]] similarly states, "For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God." This is part of Eliphaz's counsel to Job, urging him to repent and find joy in God's presence.
* **Delight in God's Goodness/Provision:**
* [[Nehemiah 9:25]] describes the Israelites in the promised land: "And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in Your great goodness." Here, `{{H6026}}` speaks of the people's enjoyment and satisfaction in the abundant blessings God provided, recognizing His benevolence.
* [[Isaiah 55:2]] uses the term in an invitation: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food." While referring to "rich food" (דֶּשֶׁן), the context is metaphorical, urging Israel to partake of God's spiritual sustenance, which truly satisfies, contrasting it with empty pursuits.
* **Negative Connotations of Delicacy/Luxury:**
* In [[Deuteronomy 28:54]] and [[Deuteronomy 28:56]], `{{H6026}}` (as the adjective עָנֹג) is used to describe extreme delicacy and tenderness, particularly in the context of the curses for disobedience. It depicts individuals so pampered that they would resort to cannibalism during a siege, highlighting the vulnerability and moral decay that can accompany excessive luxury and softness.
* [[Proverbs 19:10]] states, "Luxury (תַּעֲנוּג) is not fitting for a fool; how much less for a servant to rule over princes!" Here, the noun derived from `{{H6026}}` refers to "luxury" or "delight" in a worldly sense, deemed inappropriate for those lacking wisdom or proper station, implying a sense of undeserved or misapplied indulgence.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic field of `{{H6026}}` intersects with several other Hebrew terms and theological concepts:
* **Joy and Rejoicing:** `{{H6026}}` often appears alongside or in contexts related to שָׂמַח (samach, `{{H8055}}`, to rejoice), גִּיל (gil, `{{H1523}}`, to exult), and חָדָה (chadah, `{{H2302}}`, to rejoice). While these words generally denote outward expressions of joy, `{{H6026}}` tends to emphasize an internal, deep-seated contentment or satisfaction.
* **Pleasure and Desire:** It relates to חֵפֶץ (chephets, `{{H2656}}`, desire, pleasure) and רָצוֹן (ratzon, `{{H7522}}`, favor, will, delight).
* **Eden (עֵדֶן, `{{H5730}}`):** While not directly etymologically linked, the Garden of Eden (גַּן־עֵדֶן) is the "Garden of Delight," sharing a conceptual space with `{{H6026}}` in terms of pleasure, abundance, and ideal conditions.
* **Contrasting Concepts:** The negative uses of `{{H6026}}` stand in stark contrast to concepts of discipline (מוּסָר, musar, `{{H4148}}`), hardship (צָרָה, tsarah, `{{H6869}}`), and resilience, which are often valued in biblical wisdom and prophetic literature.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H6026}}` is profound, particularly in its call to "delight in the Lord."
1. **Theocentric Delight as the Ultimate Good:** The repeated exhortation to delight in Yahweh ([[Psalm 37:4]], [[Isaiah 58:14]], [[Job 22:26]]) reveals a core tenet of biblical spirituality: true and lasting satisfaction is found not in worldly pursuits or self-indulgence, but in God Himself. This delight is not merely an emotional state but a deep orientation of the heart, where God becomes the supreme object of affection, trust, and contentment. It implies a turning away from lesser, fleeting pleasures to embrace the eternal and satisfying joy found in communion with the Creator.
2. **Obedience and Blessing:** The connection between delighting in God and receiving His blessings ([[Psalm 37:4]]) or riding "on the heights of the earth" ([[Isaiah 58:14]]) suggests that this delight is often a reciprocal relationship. When humanity finds its joy in God's will and ways, God, in turn, blesses and elevates them. This is not a transactional exchange but a natural outflow of a right relationship.
3. **Warning Against Self-Indulgence and Moral Decay:** The negative uses of `{{H6026}}` serve as a potent warning against the dangers of unbridled luxury and excessive delicacy. Such a state can lead to spiritual complacency, moral weakness, and a loss of resilience, making individuals vulnerable to sin and severe judgment. The extreme examples in Deuteronomy illustrate how a life of pampered ease, when faced with hardship, can strip away humanity and lead to depravity. This highlights the biblical emphasis on discipline, humility, and reliance on God rather than on material comfort.
4. **God as the Source of True Satisfaction:** [[Nehemiah 9:25]] and [[Isaiah 55:2]] underscore that God is the ultimate provider of all good things, whether physical sustenance or spiritual nourishment. To "delight" in His goodness is an act of gratitude and recognition that all true satisfaction flows from His benevolent hand.
### Summary
The Hebrew word `{{H6026}}` (ʻânag) carries a rich semantic range, moving from its root meaning of "softness" to encompass both physical delicacy and profound delight. Biblically, its most significant usage is the command to "delight oneself in the LORD," signifying a deep, abiding satisfaction and joy found exclusively in God's character, will, and presence. This theocentric delight is presented as the ultimate source of human fulfillment and is often linked to obedience and divine blessing. Conversely, `{{H6026}}` can also describe an excessive, debilitating delicacy or self-indulgence, serving as a stark warning against misplaced pleasure and the moral decay that can accompany a life devoid of spiritual discipline and reliance on God. Thus, `{{H6026}}` encapsulates the profound choice between finding ultimate joy in the Creator or succumbing to the fleeting and ultimately destructive allure of self-serving comforts.
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