English · KJV
H606

אֱנָשׁ

ʼĕnâsh /en-awsh'/ Ask about this word
Root(Aramaic) or אֱנַשׁ
Meaning(Aramaic), corresponding to אֱנוֹשׁ; a man
KJV usageman
Idioms & phrasesphrase whosoever.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of ʼĕnâsh — 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 Aramaic word ʼĕnâsh, represented by H606, corresponds to the Hebrew term for a man. It appears 25 times across 19 unique verses, primarily in the books of Daniel and Ezra. Its meaning encompasses an individual person, the collective idea of mankind, and is also used in the idiomatic phrase for whosoever.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, H606 is used to frame humanity's position in relation to divine power and prophecy. The term is foundational to the prophetic title "Son of man," a heavenly figure who comes with the clouds of heaven Daniel 7:13. It also defines the earthly sphere of human governance as "the kingdom of men," over which the most High God rules, giving it to whomever He wills (Daniel 4:17, 4:25). The word is also used literally, as when a "man's hand" appears to write on the palace wall Daniel 5:5, and in legal decrees directed at "every man" Daniel 3:10.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related Aramaic words provide a broader context for the meaning of ʼĕnâsh:

  • H1247 bar (a son, grandson, etc.): This word is used in conjunction with H606 to form the crucial title "Son of man," signifying a figure who is both human in likeness and unique in divine purpose Daniel 7:13.
  • H2423 chêyvâʼ (an animal; beast): This term serves as a direct contrast to humanity. Nebuchadnezzar's judgment involved his heart being changed from a man's H606, and he was driven from men to dwell with beasts (Daniel 4:25, 5:21).
  • H1123 bên ({a son ... in the widest sense}): Used in phrases like "children of men" Daniel 2:38 and "sons of men" Daniel 5:21, this word emphasizes the collective, generational aspect of mankind.
  • H8215 shᵉphal (low; basest): This adjective is used to describe the kind of man H606 God can place in power, demonstrating that His sovereignty over "the kingdom of men" is absolute Daniel 4:17.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H606 is significant, particularly within the book of Daniel.

  • Divine Sovereignty: The repeated declaration that God rules "in the kingdom of men" is a central theme, highlighting that all human authority and existence are subject to God's ultimate decree (Daniel 4:17, 4:32).
  • Humanity Contrasted: The word often draws a sharp distinction between human beings and the wild, chaotic nature of the "beasts" representing earthly empires Daniel 7:4, or between the humble man and the holy ones, or angels, who carry out God's will Daniel 4:17.
  • The Prophetic "Son of Man": The use of H606 in the title "Son of man" introduces a pivotal figure in biblical prophecy who, though human in appearance, is given everlasting dominion and glory Daniel 7:13.

Summary

In summary, H606 is a vital term in the Aramaic Scriptures that goes beyond a simple definition of "man." It is a foundational word for understanding the human condition, the scope of earthly kingdoms, and the absolute sovereignty of God. From its use in legal decrees to the profound prophetic vision of the "Son of man," ʼĕnâsh consistently frames humanity's place under the authority and purpose of God.

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 23 occurrences, inflected in 4 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.

  • אֱנָשׁ
  • אֲנָשָׁ
  • אֲנָשִׁים
  • אֱנָשׁ

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.

H1247 בַּר (Aramaic) corresponding to בֵּן; a son, grandson, etc.; [idiom] old, son. H2423 חֵיוָא (Aramaic) from חֲיָא; an animal; beast. H1123 בֵּן (Aramaic) corresponding to בֵּן; {a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense}; child, son, young. H8215 שְׁפַל (Aramaic) from שְׁפַל; low; basest.

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 19 verses across 2 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Daniel (17 verses); never once in the other 37.

2
Ezra
17
Daniel

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.