### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **ʻŏnîy**, represented by `{{H6040}}`, denotes **depression, i.e. misery; afflicted(-ion), trouble**. It appears 37 times across 37 unique verses. The term describes a state of suffering, misery, and oppression, often prompting a response from God.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H6040}}` is frequently used to describe a condition that God sees and acts upon. God declares that He has "surely seen the **affliction**" of the Israelites in Egypt [[Exodus 3:7]]. This divine awareness is also personal, as the angel of the LORD tells Hagar that God has "heard thy **affliction**" [[Genesis 16:11]]. The term also functions as a memorial, as with the "bread of **affliction**" eaten to remember the suffering in and hasty departure from Egypt [[Deuteronomy 16:3]]. For Joseph, his son's name, Ephraim, serves as a reminder that God made him fruitful in the land of his **affliction** [[Genesis 41:52]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words expand upon the concept of affliction and suffering:
* `{{H4341}}` **makʼôb** (sorrow): This term for anguish or grief is used by God when He says He knows the "sorrows" of the Israelites, in parallel with seeing their affliction [[Exodus 3:7]].
* `{{H3906}}` **lachats** (oppression): This word, meaning distress or oppression, is often paired with affliction to describe the suffering of Israel, which God sees and hears [[Deuteronomy 26:7]].
* `{{H3564}}` **kûwr** (furnace): This word for a pot or furnace is used metaphorically to describe a place of intense trial, as when God says He has chosen Israel in the "furnace of **affliction**" [[Isaiah 48:10]].
* `{{H4788}}` **mârûwd** (misery): Signifying destitution or an outcast state, this term is used alongside affliction to capture the depth of Jerusalem's suffering during its fall [[Lamentations 1:7]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{H6040}}` is significant, highlighting God's character in the face of human suffering.
* **Divine Awareness:** A recurring theme is that God sees, hears, and remembers the affliction of His people. This is evident in the stories of Hagar [[Genesis 16:11]], Leah [[Genesis 29:32]], Hannah [[1 Samuel 1:11]], and the nation of Israel in Egypt [[Exodus 3:7]].
* **A Catalyst for Prayer:** Affliction often drives individuals and nations to cry out to God. The Israelites cried out to God, who looked on their **affliction** [[Deuteronomy 26:7]], and the psalmist pleads, "Consider mine **affliction**, and deliver me" [[Psalms 119:153]].
* **A Place of Divine Testing:** Suffering is portrayed as a "furnace of **affliction**" where God refines and chooses His people, indicating that hardship can serve a divine purpose [[Isaiah 48:10]].
* **Consequence of Disobedience:** In Lamentations, affliction is presented as the result of rebellion against God, with the author stating he has "seen **affliction** by the rod of his wrath" [[Lamentations 3:1]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H6040}}` is a crucial term for understanding the biblical portrayal of suffering. It is more than just misery; it is a condition that God is intimately aware of and responds to. Whether it is the personal pain of individuals like Hannah and Hagar or the collective suffering of a nation, **ʻŏnîy** consistently appears in contexts where God's attention is drawn to the oppressed, making it a pivotal concept in the relationship between God and humanity.
TRV