Who was Anath in the Bible?

Anath is only mentioned as the father of Shamgar, one of the judges who delivered Israel from Philistine oppression. He is a minor biblical figure whose significance comes entirely through his son's actions (Judges 3:31, 5:6).

Why is Anath mentioned in the Book of Judges?

Anath is mentioned to identify his son, Judge Shamgar, using the common biblical format "X son of Y." His inclusion provides Shamgar with a lineage and context, even though no details about Anath's own life or deeds are recorded.

What does the name Anath mean, and is it significant?

The name Anath is likely derived from the Canaanite goddess of war, Anat. Its use for an Israelite man suggests cultural interaction, but the Bible does not comment on the meaning, focusing only on his role as Shamgar's father.

Anath

Old TestamentMaleJudgeFather

Anath was the father of Shamgar, one of the judges who delivered Israel from oppression.

Anath

Biography

Anath is a minor figure in the Old Testament known primarily as the father of Shamgar, one of Israel's judges during the turbulent period before the monarchy. He is mentioned twice by name, in Judges 3:31 and Judges 5:6, both times only in relation to his son. No genealogy, tribe, or personal deeds are recorded for Anath himself. His name is notable because it shares its form with Anath, the Canaanite goddess of war, which has led some scholars to speculate about Canaanite heritage or cultural assimilation within the region. Whether Anath was Israelite or a resident alien, his son Shamgar became a deliverer of Israel, slaying six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and saving the people from oppression at a time of great vulnerability (Judges 3:31).

Significance

Anath's significance is entirely derivative, he is remembered because of his son. Yet his mention in Scripture affirms a broader biblical pattern: God raises up deliverers from unexpected backgrounds and through people of unremarkable standing. Shamgar's extraordinary valor emerged from an otherwise unrecorded family line, reminding readers that divine purposes are not confined to celebrated lineages. The ambiguity surrounding Anath's ethnic or religious identity also illustrates the complex social landscape of the judges era, when Israel's boundaries between covenant community and Canaanite culture were frequently blurred. His legacy is inseparable from the son who bore his name as a patronymic.

Verse Appearances (2)

Judges

Judges 3:31 Judges 5:6

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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