English · KJV
H6057

עָנָף

ʻânâph /aw-nawf'/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom an unused root meaning to cover
Meaninga twig (as covering the limbs)
KJV usagebough, branch.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʻânâph — 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 ʻânâph, represented by H6057, literally means a twig or bough. Derived from an unused root meaning to cover, it evokes the image of a branch covering the limbs of a tree. It appears 7 times in 7 unique verses, where it is used both literally for parts of a tree and figuratively to represent concepts of growth, national strength, and judgment.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical usage, H6057 illustrates divine promises and warnings. The Assyrian empire is depicted as a mighty cedar in Lebanon with "fair branches" Ezekiel 31:3, symbolizing its great stature and influence. In a prophecy of restoration, God promises to plant a cedar on the mountain of Israel that will "bring forth boughs" and provide shelter for every kind of bird Ezekiel 17:23. Conversely, in a warning of judgment, the LORD of hosts declares that the day of the Lord will burn up the wicked, leaving them "neither root nor branch" Malachi 4:1, signifying total destruction. The term is also used in a literal, ceremonial context, where the Israelites are commanded to take boughs of thick trees during the Feast of Tabernacles Leviticus 23:40.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide a fuller picture of the botanical and metaphorical landscape:

  • H1808 dâlîyâh (a bough): Defined as something dangling, this word is used in parallel with the imagery of H6057 to describe the sheltering parts of a great tree where birds dwell Ezekiel 17:23.
  • H6529 pᵉrîy (fruit): This word is frequently connected to H6057, as branches are expected to bear fruit. A vine is planted to "bring forth branches" and "bear fruit" Ezekiel 17:8, linking the branch to its purpose of productivity and blessing.
  • H8328 sheresh (a root): This term serves as the direct counterpart to a branch, representing the foundation of a tree. The prophecy in Malachi 4:1 pairs them to signify complete annihilation, leaving neither root H8328 nor branch H6057.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of H6057 is seen in its use as a powerful metaphor for blessing and judgment.

  • National Strength and Shelter: A tree with flourishing boughs symbolizes a powerful and protective nation. God's restored Israel is depicted as a "goodly cedar" whose boughs provide a safe dwelling, representing divine favor and security Ezekiel 17:23.
  • Promise of Restoration: The image of new branches signifies hope and renewal. The mountains of Israel are promised that they will "shoot forth your branches" and yield fruit for God's people, symbolizing life and abundance after desolation Ezekiel 36:8.
  • Finality of Judgment: The absence of a branch represents utter destruction. When God judges the proud and wicked, they are left with no branch H6057, indicating that no part of them, not even a remnant, will survive Malachi 4:1.

Summary

In summary, H6057 extends beyond its simple definition of a bough or twig. It functions as a dynamic symbol within Scripture, representing life, growth, and security when present, and total desolation when absent. From the literal branches used in worship to the figurative boughs of great empires and a restored Israel, ʻânâph vividly illustrates the biblical connection between the natural world and the spiritual realities of divine blessing and judgment.

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 7 occurrences, inflected in 3 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.

  • עָנָף
  • עֲנַף
  • עֲנָפֶי

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.

H1808 דָּלִיָּה from דָּלָה; something dangling, i.e. a bough; branch. H6529 פְּרִי from פָּרָה; fruit (literally or figuratively); bough, (first-)fruit(-ful), reward. H8328 שֶׁרֶשׁ from שָׁרַשׁ; a root (literally or figuratively); bottom, deep, heel, root.

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

Appears in 7 verses across 4 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Ezekiel (4 verses); never once in the other 35.

1
Leviticus
1
Psalms
4
Ezekiel
1
Malachi

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.