אָנָּא
oh now!
Definition
The Hebrew word אָנָּא is an emphatic particle of entreaty, best translated as 'please,' 'I beseech you,' or 'oh, now!' It expresses a deep, urgent, and often desperate plea, frequently directed toward God in prayer. In most of its occurrences, it is used to introduce a heartfelt request, as in Moses' intercession for Israel after the golden calf incident (Exodus 32:31) or Hezekiah's prayer for healing (2 Kings 20:3). In the Psalms, it conveys the cry of a distressed worshipper seeking God's help (Psalm 116:4, 118:25). The word intensifies the supplication, moving it beyond a simple request to an impassioned appeal.
Biblical Usage
אָנָּא is used exclusively in contexts of direct, personal petition, primarily in prayers addressed to God. It appears in narrative, poetic, and prayerful books, including Genesis, Exodus, Kings, Nehemiah, and the Psalms. A clear pattern is its use at the beginning of a plea to grab the listener's attention and underscore the speaker's earnestness. For example, Joseph's brothers use it when conveying a message to Joseph (Genesis 50:17), and Nehemiah uses it repeatedly in his penitential prayer (Nehemiah 1:5, 11). Its 12 occurrences are all in emotionally charged moments of supplication or intercession.
Etymology
The word is likely a contracted or emphatic form, possibly related to אָנָּה (ʼânnâh), another particle of entreaty. Some lexical sources suggest a connection to the roots of אַהֲבָה (ʼahăḇâ, H160, 'love') and נָא (nāʼ, H4994, 'please,' 'now'), implying a sense of 'I pray you' or 'I implore you, now.' This combination creates a term that blends urgency with a personal, relational appeal.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it models the posture of humble, dependent prayer. It reflects a relational dynamic where the petitioner approaches God with reverence, urgency, and a sense of personal need. Understanding אָנָּא enriches Bible reading by highlighting the emotional depth and directness of biblical prayers. It shows that fervent, beseeching prayer is an integral part of a faithful relationship with God, as seen in the prayers of Moses, the psalmists, and Nehemiah.
In its ancient Near Eastern context, such a term of direct entreaty was common in both human and divine address, reflecting a cultural understanding of hierarchical relationships where a subordinate could make a passionate appeal to a superior. Its use in the Hebrew Bible, however, is distinctively covenantal, rooted in Israel's unique relationship with Yahweh. The word carries an assumption that God is personal, hears prayers, and is approachable by His people, which contrasts with some ancient conceptions of distant or capricious deities.
נָא (nāʼ, H4994) — A simpler, more common particle for 'please' or 'now,' often used in requests but less emotionally charged than אָנָּא. בַּקָּשָׁה (baqqāšâ, H1245) — A noun meaning 'request' or 'petition,' denoting the thing asked for rather than the act of pleading.
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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