Word Study for H6055 (עֲנַנְיָה)

ʻĂnanyâh /an-an-yaw'/ Ask about this word

MeaningJah has covered; Ananjah, the name of an Israelite and of a place in Palestine

KJV usageAnaniah.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻĂnanyâh — 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 ʻĂnanyâh, represented by H6055, is a proper name meaning Jah has covered. It appears 2 times across 2 unique verses in the Bible. The name is used to identify both an Israelite individual and a location in Palestine, primarily within the context of the restoration of Jerusalem after the exile.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, H6055 is used in two distinct contexts. First, it appears as a personal name establishing a lineage. In the record of those who repaired Jerusalem's wall, Azariah is identified as "the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah" who worked on the section by his own house Nehemiah 3:23. Second, ʻĂnanyâh is listed as a place name, mentioned alongside the towns of Anathoth and Nob Nehemiah 11:32.

Related Words & Concepts

Several names and places appear in direct connection with ʻĂnanyâh, providing genealogical and geographical context:

H5838 ʻĂzaryâh (Jah has helped): This is the name of the grandson of ʻĂnanyâh who is documented as repairing the wall of Jerusalem Nehemiah 3:23.
H4641 Maʻăsêyâh (work of Jah): As the son of ʻĂnanyâh and father of Azariah, his name connects the generations involved in the restoration project Nehemiah 3:23.
H6068 ʻĂnâthôwth (Anathoth): This place in Palestine is listed in the same verse as the town of ʻĂnanyâh, indicating its geographical proximity Nehemiah 11:32.
H5011 Nôb (fruit): Also a place in Palestine, Nôb is mentioned together with ʻĂnanyâh and Anathoth as a settlement Nehemiah 11:32.

Theological Significance

While not a major theological term, the name ʻĂnanyâh and its context carry thematic significance:

Divine Protection: The name itself, meaning "Jah has covered," reflects a core biblical theme of God's protection and provision for His people during the period of restoration.
Generational Faithfulness: The mention of ʻĂnanyâh in a three-generation lineage underscores the importance of family heritage in accomplishing God's work. His grandson's participation in rebuilding the wall signifies a continuing legacy Nehemiah 3:23.
Geographic Restoration: The listing of ʻĂnanyâh as a place highlights the resettlement and restoration of the land to the people of Israel after the exile, a tangible sign of God's covenant faithfulness Nehemiah 11:32.

Summary

In summary, H6055 ʻĂnanyâh functions in scripture as both a personal name and a place name within the post-exilic narrative. Its meaning, "Jah has covered," aligns with the themes of restoration and divine preservation found in the book of Nehemiah. Whether identifying a man whose descendants helped rebuild Jerusalem or a town resettled by the returning Israelites, ʻĂnanyâh points to God's faithfulness in preserving His people and their heritage.

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.

עֲנָנְיָה
עֲנָנְיָה

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 Nehemiah — 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.