English · KJV
H6037

עַנְוָה

ʻanvâh /an-vaw'/ Ask about this word
Rootfeminine of עָנָו
Meaningmildness (royal); also (concretely) oppressed
KJV usagegentleness, meekness.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻanvâh — 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 Hebrew word ʻanvâh, represented by H6037, denotes gentleness or meekness. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The term describes a quality of mildness, sometimes in a royal context, and is defined as the feminine of עָנָו.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical occurrences, H6037 is presented as a powerful and positive attribute. In Psalms, it is identified as the very thing from God that leads to personal greatness, where the psalmist declares, "thy gentleness hath made me great" Psalms 18:35. The word is also listed as a foundational virtue for a majestic figure, who is instructed to "ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness" Psalms 45:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and significance of ʻanvâh:

  • H7235 râbâh (to increase): This word is directly tied to the outcome of H6037 in scripture. God's gentleness is the cause that has "made me great" Psalms 18:35.
  • H5582 çâʻad (to suport; strengthen): This term appears in parallel with H6037, highlighting that God's gentleness is part of His support system, as "thy right hand hath holden me up" Psalms 18:35.
  • H6664 tsedeq (the right; equity; righteousness): Meekness is presented alongside righteousness as a cornerstone of just and prosperous rule Psalms 45:4.
  • H1926 hâdâr (magnificence; majesty): This word establishes the royal context for H6037, as a kingly figure rides forth in majesty because of his commitment to meekness and truth Psalms 45:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H6037 is centered on redefining meekness as a source of divine power.

  • Greatness from Gentleness: Scripture directly links God's gentleness H6037 to making one great H7235. It is not a sign of weakness, but a catalyst for divine exaltation Psalms 18:35.
  • A Virtue of Righteous Rule: Meekness H6037 is portrayed as an essential quality for a prosperous H6743 and majestic H1926 leader, standing alongside truth H571 and righteousness H6664 Psalms 45:4.
  • An Aspect of Divine Support: The concept is closely associated with God's direct intervention and protection. It is mentioned in the same breath as God's "shield of thy salvation" H4043 and the strengthening power of His "right hand" H3225 Psalms 18:35.

Summary

In summary, H6037 ʻanvâh, while rare, provides a profound theological concept. It characterizes gentleness and meekness not as passivity, but as a divine quality that empowers, strengthens, and makes one great. It is presented as a virtue essential for a righteous and majestic leader, rooted in the supportive and elevating power of God himself.

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 2 grammatical forms — 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.

  • עַנְוָה
  • עַנְוַתְ

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7235 רָבָה a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake H5582 סָעַד a primitive root; to suport (mostly figurative); comfort, establish, hold up, refresh self, strengthen, be upholden. H6664 צֶדֶק from צָדַק; the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity; [idiom] even, ([ H1926 הָדָר from הָדַר; magnificence, i.e. ornament or splendor; beauty, comeliness, excellency, glorious, glory, goodly, honour, ma H6743 צָלַח or צָלֵחַ; a primitive root; to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive); bre H571 אֶמֶת contracted from אָמַן; stability; (figuratively) certainty, truth, trustworthiness; assured(-ly), establishment, faithfu

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 Psalms — 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.