אֲנַחְנָא
we
Definition
אֲנַחְנָא is the Aramaic first-person plural pronoun meaning 'we'. It functions identically to its Hebrew counterpart אֲנַחְנוּ (ʼănachnû, H587), serving as the subject of a sentence. In all four biblical occurrences, it is used by groups speaking on behalf of a community. For example, in Ezra 4:16, it is used by regional officials reporting to King Artaxerxes about the rebuilding of Jerusalem. In Daniel 3:16-17, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego use it to declare their unified faith and defiance to King Nebuchadnezzar, stating 'we are not careful to answer thee' and 'our God whom we serve is able to deliver us'.
Biblical Usage
This word appears exclusively in the Aramaic portions of the Old Testament: in the books of Ezra (4:16, 5:11) and Daniel (3:16, 3:17). In Ezra, it is used in formal correspondence (letters to Persian kings) by groups representing the people of the region. In Daniel, it is used in direct, defiant speech by the three Jewish exiles addressing the Babylonian king. The usage consistently conveys a collective, corporate identity, whether in administrative context or in a confession of faith.
Etymology
אֲנַחְנָא is the Imperial Aramaic form of the first-person plural pronoun. It is a direct cognate of the Biblical Hebrew pronoun אֲנַחְנוּ (ʼănachnû, H587), both deriving from a common Semitic root. The Aramaic form features the characteristic final א (aleph) instead of the Hebrew ו (vav). This word is part of the core vocabulary shared between Hebrew and Aramaic, demonstrating their close linguistic relationship.
Semantic Range
While a pronoun itself is not theologically loaded, its usage in Daniel 3:16-17 is profoundly significant. There, 'we' (אֲנַחְנָא) underscores the unified, corporate witness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Their joint confession of faith in God's power to deliver, and their resolve to be faithful even if He does not, models communal courage and identity rooted in covenant loyalty. Understanding this as a plural pronoun highlights that their stand was not individualistic but a collective testimony before a pagan empire.
In the context of the Babylonian and Persian empires, the use of Aramaic was the standard for international administration and communication. The appearance of this Aramaic word in Scripture reflects the historical reality of Jewish life in exile, where the holy community had to maintain its identity and faith while operating in a foreign language. The pronoun's use in official documents (Ezra) and in court confrontations (Daniel) shows the people of God speaking with a collective voice within a dominant foreign culture.
אֲנַחְנוּ (ʼănachnû, H587) — The direct Hebrew equivalent, used throughout the Hebrew portions of the Old Testament.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
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