What does אָנַח (ʾānaḥ) mean in the Bible?
אָנַח (ʾānaḥ): Sigh expressing deep sorrow or grief; inward groaning that reveals emotional anguish rather than loud lamentation
Hebrew · H584
אָנַח
To sigh
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אָנַחH584
Pronunciationʾānaḥ
What does אָנַח (ʾānaḥ) mean in the Bible?
אָנַח (ʾānaḥ): Sigh expressing deep sorrow or grief; inward groaning that reveals emotional anguish rather than loud lamentation
Full entry for אָנַח (H584) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H584?
The BSB source-word alignment has 13 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include groan (6), groaning (2), groaned (1), groans (1), now groan (1).
Where does אָנַח (ʾānaḥ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 2:23. Its strongest book concentrations include Ezekiel (4), Lamentations (4), Exodus (1), Isaiah (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Itgroan6×Proverbs 29:2, Lamentations 1:4, Lamentations 1:11, Ezekiel 21:6
groaning2×Lamentations 1:21, Ezekiel 21:7
groaned1×Exodus 2:23
groans1×Lamentations 1:8
now groan1×Isaiah 24:7
sighing1×Ezekiel 9:4
you will groan1×Jeremiah 22:23
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 2:23וַיֵּאָנְח֧וּtogroanedConjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralProverbs 29:2יֵאָ֥נַֽחtogroanVerb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 24:7נֶאֶנְח֖וּtonow groanVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralJeremiah 22:23נֵּחַנְתְּ֙toyou will groanVerb - Nifal - Perfect - second person feminine singularLamentations 1:4נֶאֱנָחִ֑יםtogroanVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralLamentations 1:8נֶאֶנְחָ֖הtogroansVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singularLamentations 1:11נֶאֱנָחִים֙togroanVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralLamentations 1:21נֶאֱנָחָ֣הtogroaningVerb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singularEzekiel 9:4הַנֶּֽאֱנָחִים֙tosighingArticle | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine pluralEzekiel 21:6הֵֽאָנַ֑חtogroanVerb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 2:23
Aligned rows13
Books represented7
Exodus1Proverbs1Isaiah1Jeremiah1Lamentations4Ezekiel4Joel1
Source forms
הֵֽאָנַ֑ח1xhê·’ā·naḥEzekiel 21:6
הַנֶּֽאֱנָחִים֙1xhan·ne·’ĕ·nā·ḥîmEzekiel 9:4
וַיֵּאָנְח֧וּ1xway·yê·’ā·nə·ḥūExodus 2:23
יֵאָ֥נַֽח1xyê·’ā·naḥProverbs 29:2
נֶאֱנָ֑ח1xne·’ĕ·nāḥEzekiel 21:7
נֶאֱנָחָ֣ה1xne·’ĕ·nā·ḥāhLamentations 1:21
נֶאֶנְחָ֖ה1xne·’en·ḥāhLamentations 1:8
נֶּאֶנְחָ֣ה1xne·’en·ḥāhJoel 1:18
Parsing patterns
Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural2xLamentations 1:4, Lamentations 1:11
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular2xLamentations 1:8, Joel 1:18
Article | Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine plural1xEzekiel 9:4
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural1xExodus 2:23
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine singular1xEzekiel 21:6
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular1xEzekiel 21:6
Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular1xProverbs 29:2
Verb - Nifal - Participle - feminine singular1xLamentations 1:21
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Sigh expressing deep sorrow or grief; inward groaning that reveals emotional anguish rather than loud lamentation
Strong'sH584
Lexical occurrences12 versesWord forms1 form10 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkExodus 2:23-25Source Gloss
to sigh
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Sigh expressing deep sorrow or grief; inward groaning that reveals emotional anguish rather than loud lamentation
to sigh BDB: sigh Usage: groan, mourn, sigh.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups1Aligned forms10
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action10×
Participle passiveLam 1:4 · Lam 1:11 · Lam 1:213×
PerfectJoel 1:18 · Lam 1:8 · Isa 24:73×
ImperfectEzek 21:11 · Prov 29:22×
Sequential imperfectEzek 21:111×
Participle activeEzek 21:121×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Israelites' deep emotional response to oppressive slavery and suffering
People's lamentation and distress under unjust or wicked leadership
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 12 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
אָנַח is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.