עֲנָנָה
𐤏𐤍𐤍𐤄
ʻănânâh
H6053 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cloudy mass or cloud formation, typically describing a collection or patch of clouds. While denoting an actual atmospheric cloud, it sometimes carries nuances of a distinct body or mass of clouds, as opposed to merely diffuse cloudiness.
Semantic Range
cloud mass, cloudy patch, cloudy covering, clouds (collective), atmospheric cloudiness
Root / Etymology
From the root ע-נ-ן (ענן), meaning 'cloud' or 'to be cloudy.' עֲנָנָה is the feminine form of עָנָן (cloud), constructed using the common feminine suffix -ָה. The root itself refers semantically to the formation or presence of clouds.
Historical & Contextual Notes
עֲנָנָה is a relatively rare feminine noun, attested only a few times in biblical Hebrew (e.g., Ezekiel 30:18; Judges 5:4). Its use is mostly poetic or descriptive, emphasizing the visual or atmospheric effect of clouds. Unlike the more common עָנָן, which is a masculine singular noun and might refer to a single cloud or the general phenomenon, עֲנָנָה tends to signify a cloud mass or cloudy covering, sometimes with a nuance of threatening or enveloping weather. There is no evidence in biblical usage of specialized metaphorical significance, and it lacks the ritual or theophanic connotations sometimes attached to עָנָן in priestly contexts. In later Hebrew, variants of the word continue to refer to masses of clouds, but biblical evidence is limited primarily to physical and meteorological description.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
feminine of עָנָן; cloudiness; cloud.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
ענן (ʿ-n-n) — to cover, to form clouds, to be overcast
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H6049 | עָנַן | my practicing divination |
| H6050 | עֲנַן | clouds of |
| H6051 | עָנָן | covering-cloud |
| H6052 | עָנָן | enveloping cloud |
| H6054 | עֲנָנִי | and My-Cloud |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6053-01 |
עֲנָנָ֑ה | ananah | HNcfsa |
a cloud | cloud-mass | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H6053-01 |
Job 3:5 | עֲנָנָ֑ה | ananah | HNcfsa |
a cloud | cloud-mass |