Bible Word Study
אֲנַס
ʼănaç · figuratively, to distress
אֲנַס
figuratively, to distress
Definition
The Aramaic word אֲנַס (ʼănaç) means 'to distress' or 'to trouble,' specifically in a figurative sense. It describes a state of mental or emotional agitation caused by an external source. In its sole biblical occurrence, Daniel 4:9, it refers to the troubling thoughts that disturb King Nebuchadnezzar's spirit following a perplexing dream. The word conveys a sense of being unsettled or anxious due to a disturbing event or revelation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in the Aramaic portion of the book of Daniel. It appears in Daniel 4:9 (4:12 in some English versions), where King Nebuchadnezzar states, 'I was troubled in spirit' (ʼănaç rûḥî) because of the dream he had seen. The usage is specific to a context of royal distress caused by a divine omen, highlighting a psychological and spiritual disturbance in a narrative focused on God's sovereignty over kings.
Etymology
אֲנַס is an Aramaic word, corresponding to the Hebrew root אָנַס (ʼānaṣ, H597), which carries the sense of urging, compelling, or being distressed. The Aramaic form used in Daniel retains this core idea of pressure or trouble, applied here to the inner person. Its derivation points to a shared semantic field in Northwest Semitic languages for experiences of constraint or agitation.
Semantic Range
This word, though used only once, is theologically significant as it captures the inner turmoil of a powerful pagan king confronted by the God of Israel. Nebuchadnezzar's troubled spirit (Daniel 4:9) is the prelude to God's revelation of coming judgment and humility, illustrating how God can disturb human complacency to communicate truth. Understanding this term enriches the reading of Daniel by highlighting the psychological impact of divine intervention in human affairs. In the ancient Near Eastern context, dreams were often considered messages from the divine realm. A king's troubled spirit over a dream, as expressed by אֲנַס, would signal a serious portent requiring expert interpretation. This reflects a cultural worldview where mental distress was not merely psychological but was intimately linked to perceived supernatural activity and royal destiny. בָּהַל (bāhal, H926) — denotes sudden terror or alarm, often with a more physical reaction. דָּאַג (dāʼag, H1672) — focuses on anxiety or care, a persistent worrying. יָגָה (yāgâ, H3013) — implies grief, sorrow, or mental pain.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906, public domain). Concordance and morphology data are from the OSHB (Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible).
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]