עָנָו
depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly)
Definition
The Hebrew word עָנָו (ʻânâv) describes a person who is humble, meek, or lowly. It often refers to a spiritual posture of humility and dependence on God, as seen in Moses, who was described as 'very meek' (Numbers 12:3). In many Psalms, the 'meek' are those who trust in God's deliverance and justice despite their oppressed or needy circumstances (Psalm 9:18, Psalm 10:17). The term can thus blend an inward gentleness of spirit with an outward condition of poverty or affliction, portraying the ideal faithful Israelite who looks to the Lord for help.
Biblical Usage
This word appears 24 times, predominantly in the Psalms (e.g., Psalm 9:12, 22:26, 25:9) and the Prophets, where it describes the faithful community who are oppressed yet trust in God. It is used in wisdom literature (Job 24:4) to describe the plight of the poor. A key pattern is its use for those who are socially or economically lowly but who maintain a posture of humility and reliance on Yahweh, making them recipients of His favor and justice.
Etymology
Derived from the root עָנָה (ʻānâ, H6031), which has a core meaning of 'to be bowed down' or 'afflicted.' This root connection gives עָנָו its dual sense of being humbled in circumstance and humble in spirit. It is sometimes interchanged or closely related to עָנִי (ʻānî, H6041), which more directly means 'poor' or 'afflicted,' highlighting the overlap between material need and spiritual posture.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically central to understanding the biblical ideal of humility. It describes the character God favors (Psalm 149:4) and guides (Psalm 25:9). This Hebrew concept of meekness, combining trust with lowliness, profoundly informs Jesus' teaching in the Beatitudes ('Blessed are the meek,' Matthew 5:5) and shapes the Christian understanding of messianic humility. Recognizing this enriches reading by showing how God's kingdom elevates the dependent and humble.
In ancient Israelite culture, being 'meek' (ʻânâv) was not seen as weakness but as a virtuous reliance on God, especially in a society where the poor were often marginalized. This humility was a positive spiritual attribute expected of the faithful, particularly when facing injustice. It differs from some modern views of meekness as passivity, as the biblical concept involves active trust and hope in divine intervention.
עָנִי (ʻānî, H6041) — More focused on material poverty and affliction. עָנָו includes this but emphasizes the resulting humble spirit. שָׁפָל (shāp̄āl, H8217) — Means lowly or humble, often in a more general sense of social lowliness without the same spiritual connotation of dependence.
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.
Full methodology & sources →