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עָנָף

𐤏𐤍𐤐

ʻânâph

H6057 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ע-נ-ף to cover, to spread out, to extend

Definition

Bough, large branch, or leafy limb of a tree, typically referring to significant branches that extend out from the trunk. The word emphasizes the spreading or overarching character of such branches, which often provide shelter or covering.

Semantic Range

bough of a tree, main branch, large spreading limb, leafy cover, metaphor for shelter or prominence

Root / Etymology

Root: ענף. Derived from a root presumably meaning 'to cover' or 'to spread out.' The actual verbal form does not occur in the Hebrew Bible, making the precise root meaning somewhat uncertain, but the nominal form clearly refers to prominent, spreading branches.

Historical & Contextual Notes

The term עָנָף appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible (e.g., Ezekiel 17:8, 31:5; Judges 9:15). It is used to describe large, significant branches or boughs, as opposed to smaller twigs or shoots, which are often denoted by distinct Hebrew terms such as זַלְזַל (zalzal) or שָׂרִיג (sarig). In prophetic and poetic contexts, עָנָף can serve as a metaphor for splendor, growth, or prominence, and occasionally for shelter or protective covering provided by a tree. In later periods, the word retained its primary sense of a main, leafy bough but became less commonly used in everyday Hebrew. English translations often render עָנָף as 'bough' or 'branch,' which generally captures the meaning, but the word specifically suggests a substantial, spreading limb rather than any generic offshoot. There is no direct evidence that עָנָף referred to human lineages or dynasties, unlike other Hebrew terms for 'branch' in prophetic usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from an unused root meaning to cover; a twig (as covering the limbs); bough, branch.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

ענף (ʿ-n-p̄) — to cover, to spread out, to extend

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6056 עֲנַף his spreading boughs
H6058 עָנֵף branch-laden

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H6057-01 עָנָף֙ anaf HNcmsa branches spreading bough 3
H6057-05 וְ/עָנָֽף veanaf HC/Ncmsa nor branch spreading bough 1
H6057-02 עַנְפְּ/כֶ֣ם anepekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your branches your spreading bough 1
H6057-03 וַ/עֲנַ֥ף vaanaf HC/Ncmsc and-branch spreading bough of 1
H6057-04 וַ֝/עֲנָפֶ֗י/הָ vaanafeyha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and its boughs and her spreading boughs 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H6057-03 Leviticus 23:40 וַ/עֲנַ֥ף vaanaf HC/Ncmsc and-branch spreading bough of
H6057-01 Ezekiel 17:8 עָנָף֙ anaf HNcmsa branch spreading bough
H6057-01 Ezekiel 17:23 עָנָף֙ anaf HNcmsa branches spreading bough
H6057-01 Ezekiel 31:3 עָנָ֛ף anaf HNcmsa branches spreading bough
H6057-02 Ezekiel 36:8 עַנְפְּ/כֶ֣ם anepekhem HNcmsc/Sp2mp your branches your spreading bough
H6057-05 Malachi 3:19 וְ/עָנָֽף veanaf HC/Ncmsa nor branch spreading bough
H6057-04 Psalms 80:11 וַ֝/עֲנָפֶ֗י/הָ vaanafeyha HC/Ncmpc/Sp3fs and its boughs and her spreading boughs
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