What does עָנַן (ʿānan) mean in the Bible?
עָנַן (ʿānan): Hidden action behind visible world: divination assumes secret knowledge of divine plans or cosmic forces
Hebrew · H6049
עָנַן
Figuratively, to act covertly , i.e. practise magic
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עָנַןH6049
Pronunciationʿānan
What does עָנַן (ʿānan) mean in the Bible?
עָנַן (ʿānan): Hidden action behind visible world: divination assumes secret knowledge of divine plans or cosmic forces
Full entry for עָנַן (H6049) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6049?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include [or] conjury (1), conjurers (1), fortune-tellers (1), He practiced sorcery (1), of a sorceress (1).
Where does עָנַן (ʿānan) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 9:14. Its strongest book concentrations include Deuteronomy (2), Isaiah (2), 2 Chronicles (1), 2 Kings (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 It[or] conjury1×Deuteronomy 18:10
conjurers1×Deuteronomy 18:14
fortune-tellers1×Micah 5:12
He practiced sorcery1×2 Chronicles 33:6
of a sorceress1×Isaiah 57:3
practiced sorcery1×2 Kings 21:6
sorcery1×Leviticus 19:26
the Diviners’1×Judges 9:37
they are soothsayers1×Isaiah 2:6
Whenever I form1×Genesis 9:14
your mediums1×Jeremiah 27:9
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 9:14בְּעַֽנְנִ֥יtoWhenever I formPreposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | first person common singularLeviticus 19:26תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ׃tosorceryVerb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralDeuteronomy 18:10מְעוֹנֵ֥ןto[or] conjuryVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine singularDeuteronomy 18:14מְעֹנְנִ֥יםtoconjurersVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralJudges 9:37מְעוֹנְנִֽים׃tothe Diviners’Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural2 Kings 21:6וְעוֹנֵ֣ןtopracticed sorceryConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2 Chronicles 33:6וְעוֹנֵ֤ןtoHe practiced sorceryConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularIsaiah 2:6וְעֹֽנְנִ֖יםtothey are soothsayersConjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine pluralIsaiah 57:3עֹנְנָ֑הtoof a sorceressVerb - Piel - Participle - feminine singularJeremiah 27:9עֹֽנְנֵיכֶ֖םtoyour mediumsVerb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowGenesis 9:14
Aligned rows11
Books represented9
Genesis1Leviticus1Deuteronomy2Judges12 Kings12 Chronicles1Isaiah2Jeremiah1Micah1
Source forms
בְּעַֽנְנִ֥י1xbə·‘an·nîGenesis 9:14
וּֽמְעוֹנְנִ֖ים1xū·mə·‘ō·wn·nîmMicah 5:12
וְעוֹנֵ֣ן1xwə·‘ō·w·nên2 Kings 21:6
וְעוֹנֵ֤ן1xwə·‘ō·w·nên2 Chronicles 33:6
וְעֹֽנְנִ֖ים1xwə·‘ō·nə·nîmIsaiah 2:6
מְעוֹנֵ֥ן1xmə·‘ō·w·nênDeuteronomy 18:10
מְעוֹנְנִֽים׃1xmə·‘ō·wn·nîmJudges 9:37
מְעֹנְנִ֥ים1xmə·‘ō·nə·nîmDeuteronomy 18:14
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular2x2 Kings 21:6, 2 Chronicles 33:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural2xIsaiah 2:6, Micah 5:12
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural2xDeuteronomy 18:14, Judges 9:37
Preposition-b | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | first person common singular1xGenesis 9:14
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural1xLeviticus 19:26
Verb - Piel - Participle - feminine singular1xIsaiah 57:3
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural1xJeremiah 27:9
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular1xDeuteronomy 18:10
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Hidden action behind visible world: divination assumes secret knowledge of divine plans or cosmic forces
Strong'sH6049
Lexical occurrences11 versesWord forms2 forms5 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkIsaiah 2:6-9Source Gloss
figuratively, to act covertly , i.e. practise magic
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Hidden action behind visible world: divination assumes secret knowledge of divine plans or cosmic forces
figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. practise magic BDB: practise soothsaying Usage: × bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe(-r of) times, soothsayer, sorcerer.
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 groups2Aligned forms5
Poel4×
Participle activeDeut 18:10 · Deut 18:14 · Judg 9:373×
ImperfectLev 19:261×
Polel1×
Participle activeIsa 57:31×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Practicing divination and magic as forbidden covenant violation
Engaging in occult practices of soothsaying explicitly prohibited by law
Showing 2 selected witnesses from 11 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עָנַן is built from this root:
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.