עֲנָה
Definition
The Aramaic noun עֲנָה (ʻănâh) means 'poor' or 'afflicted.' It specifically denotes a state of poverty, need, or low social standing. In its single biblical occurrence in Daniel 4:27 (Aramaic portion), it is used in the phrase 'redeem your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor (עֲנָה).' Here, the 'poor' are the objects of charitable action, linking ethical behavior toward the needy with spiritual repentance.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the entire Bible, in the Aramaic section of the book of Daniel. It appears in King Nebuchadnezzar's dream interpretation, where Daniel exhorts the king to show mercy to the poor (Daniel 4:27). The usage is ethical and imperative, placing care for the impoverished as a central component of righteous living and a potential means of atonement.
Etymology
This is an Aramaic word, corresponding directly to the Hebrew root עָנָה (ʻānâh, H6031). The Hebrew root carries core meanings of 'to answer,' 'to be occupied with,' or 'to be afflicted.' The Aramaic noun עֲנָה derives from this same semantic field, focusing on the state of being afflicted or in need, hence 'poor.'
Semantic Range
Though used only once, this word is theologically significant as it directly connects social ethics—specifically mercy to the poor—with the concept of atoning for sin. In Daniel 4:27, righteousness is not presented as purely ritual but as profoundly practical, involving justice and compassion for the vulnerable. This aligns with a major prophetic theme (e.g., Isaiah 1:17, Amos 5:24) that God values care for the poor as integral to true piety.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, including Babylonian culture where Daniel was set, the 'poor' (עֲנָה) were those without economic means, social power, or legal protection. They were dependent on the charity and justice of the king and the wealthy. Daniel's counsel to Nebuchadnezzar reflects a widespread ancient wisdom principle that a ruler's righteousness is measured by his treatment of the weakest in society.
עָנִי (ʻānî, H6041) — The primary Hebrew synonym for 'poor' or 'afflicted,' used extensively in the Hebrew Old Testament. אֶבְיוֹן (ʼebyôn, H34) — Another common Hebrew term for 'needy' or 'destitute,' often paired with עָנִי to emphasize comprehensive poverty (e.g., Deuteronomy 15:11).
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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