What does עָנָה (ʿānāh) mean in the Bible?
עָנָה (ʿānāh): Depression through hardship: affliction, humiliation, or forced labor that weakens and subdues the self or others.
Hebrew · H6031
עָנָה
To depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
עָנָה H6031
Pronunciation ʿānāh
What does עָנָה (ʿānāh) mean in the Bible?
עָנָה (ʿānāh): Depression through hardship: affliction, humiliation, or forced labor that weakens and subdues the self or others.
Full entry for עָנָה (H6031) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6031?
The BSB source-word alignment has 82 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include . . . (2), afflicted (2), and afflicted (2), and you shall humble (2), oppress them (2).
Where does עָנָה (ʿānāh) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 15:13. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (15), Isaiah (9), Deuteronomy (7), Exodus (6).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It . . . 2× Exodus 22:23, Numbers 24:24
afflicted 2× Psalms 116:10, Psalms 119:107
and afflicted 2× Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah 53:7
and you shall humble 2× Leviticus 23:32, Numbers 29:7
oppress them 2× Exodus 1:11, 2 Samuel 7:10
to deny 2× Numbers 30:13, Isaiah 58:5
You have afflicted them 2× 1 Kings 8:35, 2 Chronicles 6:26
[Why] have we humbled 1× Isaiah 58:3
afflict 1× Lamentations 3:33
Amnon violated 1× 2 Samuel 13:32
and afflict us 1× Isaiah 64:12
and afflicted me 1× Job 30:11
and afflicted us 1× Deuteronomy 26:6
and humble 1× Leviticus 23:27
and humiliate them 1× Psalms 55:19
and mistreated 1× Genesis 15:13
and subdue him 1× Judges 16:5
and subdued 1× Judges 16:6
and submit 1× Genesis 16:9
and to humble 1× Daniel 10:12
and you can use 1× Judges 19:24
and you suffered 1× 1 Kings 2:26
as You have afflicted us 1× Psalms 90:15
be afflicted 1× Psalms 119:71
But the more they were oppressed 1× Exodus 1:12
but they abused 1× Judges 20:5
by force 1× Genesis 34:2
have been ravished 1× Lamentations 5:11
have submerged [me] 1× Psalms 88:7
He afflicted them 1× 2 Kings 17:20
He has broken 1× Psalms 102:23
he has violated 1× Deuteronomy 22:24
he has violated her 1× Deuteronomy 22:29
He humbled you 1× Deuteronomy 8:3
He might humble you 1× Deuteronomy 8:2
he violated her 1× 2 Samuel 13:14
humble himself 1× Leviticus 23:29
humble you 1× Deuteronomy 8:16
I humbled 1× Psalms 35:13
I was afflicted 1× Psalms 119:67
I will afflict 1× Nahum 1:12
I will humble 1× 1 Kings 11:39
is silenced 1× Isaiah 25:5
keeps him occupied 1× Ecclesiastes 5:20
mistreat 1× Exodus 22:22
of your oppressors 1× Isaiah 60:14
oppress 1× Job 37:23
oppressed 1× Zechariah 10:2
or subdued 1× Isaiah 31:4
so that we might humble 1× Ezra 8:21
suffered 1× 1 Kings 2:26
suffered affliction 1× Psalms 107:17
that you may humble 1× Leviticus 16:31
the afflicted 1× Isaiah 58:10
the hardships he endured 1× Psalms 132:1
They bruised 1× Psalms 105:18
they oppress 1× Psalms 94:5
they violate 1× Ezekiel 22:10
they will subdue 1× Numbers 24:24
Though I have afflicted you, [O Judah] 1× Nahum 1:12
to humble yourself 1× Exodus 10:3
to occupy 1× Ecclesiastes 3:10
to occupy them 1× Ecclesiastes 1:13
to subdue him 1× Judges 16:19
treated 1× Genesis 16:6
violate me 1× 2 Samuel 13:12
violates 1× Ezekiel 22:11
violating 1× 2 Samuel 13:22
who afflict you 1× Zephaniah 3:19
will oppress him 1× Psalms 89:22
you do mistreat them 1× Exodus 22:23
You have afflicted me 1× Psalms 119:75
you have dishonored her 1× Deuteronomy 21:14
you mistreat 1× Genesis 31:50
you shall humble 1× Leviticus 16:29
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 15:13 וְעִנּ֣וּ to and mistreated Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Genesis 16:6 וַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָ to treated Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular | third person feminine singular Genesis 16:9 וְהִתְעַנִּ֖י to and submit Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Imperative - feminine singular Genesis 31:50 תְּעַנֶּ֣ה to you mistreat Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Genesis 34:2 וַיְעַנֶּֽהָ׃ to by force Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular Exodus 1:11 עַנֹּת֖וֹ to oppress them Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular Exodus 1:12 יְעַנּ֣וּ to But the more they were oppressed Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine plural Exodus 10:3 לֵעָנֹ֖ת to to humble yourself Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct Exodus 22:22 תְעַנּֽוּן׃ to mistreat Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Exodus 22:23 עַנֵּ֥ה to you do mistreat them Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 15:13
Aligned rows 82
Books represented 21
Genesis 5 Exodus 6 Leviticus 5 Numbers 4 Deuteronomy 7 Judges 5 2 Samuel 5 1 Kings 4 2 Kings 1 2 Chronicles 1 Ezra 1 Job 2 Psalms 15 Ecclesiastes 3 Isaiah 9 Lamentations 2 Ezekiel 2 Daniel 1 Nahum 2 Zephaniah 1 Zechariah 1
Source forms
וְעִנִּיתֶ֖ם 4x wə·‘in·nî·ṯem Leviticus 16:31, Leviticus 23:27, Leviticus 23:32, Numbers 29:7
לַעֲנ֥וֹת 2x la·‘ă·nō·wṯ Ecclesiastes 1:13, Ecclesiastes 3:10
לְעַנּוֹת֔וֹ 2x lə·‘an·nō·w·ṯōw Judges 16:19, 2 Samuel 7:10
עִנָּ֖ה 2x ‘in·nāh Deuteronomy 22:24, Psalms 102:23
תַעֲנֵֽם׃ 2x ṯa·‘ă·nêm 1 Kings 8:35, 2 Chronicles 6:26
אֶ֭עֱנֶה 1x ’e·‘ĕ·neh Psalms 119:67
אֲעַנֵּ֖ךְ 1x ’ă·‘an·nêḵ Nahum 1:12
הִתְעַנָּ֖ה 1x hiṯ·‘an·nāh 1 Kings 2:26
Parsing patterns
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular 5x Deuteronomy 22:24, 2 Samuel 13:22, Psalms 102:23, Lamentations 3:33
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural 4x Leviticus 16:31, Leviticus 23:27, Leviticus 23:32, Numbers 29:7
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural 4x Judges 20:5, Psalms 105:18, Lamentations 5:11, Ezekiel 22:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural 3x Genesis 15:13, Numbers 24:24
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular 3x Judges 16:5, Judges 16:19, 2 Samuel 7:10
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular 2x Genesis 34:2, 2 Samuel 13:14
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct 2x Ecclesiastes 1:13, Ecclesiastes 3:10
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine plural 2x 1 Kings 8:35, 2 Chronicles 6:26
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Depression through hardship: affliction, humiliation, or forced labor that weakens and subdues the self or others.
Strong's H6031
Lexical occurrences 83 verses Word forms 6 forms 33 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Exodus 1:1-14 Source Gloss
to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
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 groups 6 Aligned forms 33
Piel intensive active — emphasizes thoroughness or repeated action 20×
Perfect 2Sam 13:22 · Deut 22:24 · Ezek 22:11 · Lam 3:33 · Ps 102:24 · Ezek 22:10 · Judg 20:5 · Lam 5:11 · Ps 105:18 · Isa 58:3 · Ps 35:13 · Ps 88:8 12×
Imperfect Exod 1:12 · Ps 94:5 · Exod 22:22 · Gen 31:50 · Job 37:23 · Lev 16:29 6×
Infinitive absolute Exod 22:22 1×
Infinitive construct Isa 58:5 1×
Niphal passive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action 3×
Participle active Isa 53:7 · Isa 58:10 2×
Perfect Ps 119:107 1×
Hithpael reflexive or reciprocal — the subject acts on itself or mutually with others 3×
Perfect 1Kgs 2:26 2×
Imperfect Ps 107:17 1×
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 1×
Participle active Eccl 5:19 1×
Qal basic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense 4×
Imperfect Isa 31:4 · Ps 119:67 · Zech 10:2 3×
Perfect Ps 116:10 1×
Pual intensive passive — intensive action received by the subject 2×
Imperfect Lev 23:29 1×
Perfect Ps 119:71 1×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
to oppress or burden with hard labor and suffering imposed by taskmasters
to treat harshly or mistreat someone in one's power, causing them to flee
to suffer under oppressive circumstances and affliction from harsh treatment
to humble or mortify oneself through fasting and self-denial in religious observance
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 83 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
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.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain