אֲנִיָּה
𐤀𐤍𐤉𐤄
ʼănîyâh
H592 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A state or expression of distress, affliction, or suffering, especially as an outcry or lament. The noun is used primarily to denote deep anguish or grief—both inner turmoil and its audible expression—sometimes in connection with social injustice or exile. The term can refer to individual anguish or the collective suffering of a people.
Semantic Range
groaning, lamentation, sorrow, cry of distress, state of suffering
Root / Etymology
From the root אָנָה (ʼanah), meaning 'to be afflicted, oppressed, respond with a cry.' The root expresses the idea of responding with a vocal utterance, often under duress. The noun אֲנִיָּה is formed as a feminine abstract, delineating the state or act of groaning or lamentation.
Historical & Contextual Notes
This term chiefly appears in poetic or lament literature, notably in Isaiah 29:2, where Zion's distress at impending siege is described in terms of 'groaning.' Its usage is often metaphorical or collective, representing the affliction and lament of a people (e.g., the inhabitants of Zion) rather than merely an individual's sorrow. The nuance often blends inward grief with outward, sometimes vocal expression (groaning, lamentation). It is notably distinct from other Hebrew terms for grief or mourning (e.g., אֵבֶל — mourning for the dead), focusing instead on the sound or act of lament in times of distress, often under oppression. English translations usually render it as 'lamentation,' 'groaning,' or 'sorrow,' sometimes failing to capture the communal aspect seen in prophetic or poetic contexts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from אָנָה; groaning; lamentation, sorrow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אנה (ʾ-n-h) — be afflicted, be oppressed, respond with a cry
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H578 | אָנָה | and they groaned aloud |
| H579 | אָנָה | he brought upon |
| H590 | אֳנִי | in a sea-going vessel of |
| H8385 | תַּאֲנָה | her pretext |
| H8386 | תַּאֲנִיָּה | formal lamentation |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H592-01 |
וַֽ/אֲנִיָּ֔ה | vaaniyah | HC/Ncfsa |
and lamentation | and affliction-cry | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H592-01 |
Isaiah 29:2 | וַֽ/אֲנִיָּ֔ה | vaaniyah | HC/Ncfsa |
and mourning | and affliction-cry |
H592-01 |
Lamentations 2:5 | וַ/אֲנִיָּֽה | vaaniyah | HC/Ncfsa |
and lamentation | and affliction-cry |