Original Word: אֲנָא
Part of Speech: pronoun singular
Transliteration: ana'
Pronunciation: ah-NAH
Phonetic Spelling: (an-aw')
KJV: I, as for me
NASB: myself, personally
Word Origin: [corresponding to H589 (אֲנִי - Myself)]

1. I

I, as for me

(Aramaic) or.anah (Aramaic) {an-aw'}; corresponding to 'aniy; I -- I, as for me.

see HEBREW 'aniy

Word Origin
(Aramaic) corresponding to ani
Definition
I
NASB Translation
myself (1), personally (1).

אֲנָא Daniel 2:8; Ezra 6:12; Ezra 7:21 in common editions: see אֲנָה below

אֲנָה pronoun 1 singular I (= Hebrew אֲנִי, q. v.: Zenjirli, Cilician, Egyptian Aramaic אנךְ (Cooke^{182; 104; 208}; S-C^oft), Nabataean נח . . . (Lzb²²¹); ᵑ7 אנא, Syriac ); — I, Daniel 2:30; Daniel 4:6; Daniel 4:27; Daniel 5:16, before a participle Daniel 3:25; Daniel 4:34, after a participle (K^{§ 76, 2b}) Daniel 2:8 מִןיַֿצִּיב יָדַע אֲנָה, Daniel 2:23; Daniel 4:4; followed by a proper name Daniel 4:1 אֲנָה נבוכדנצר שְׁלֵח חֲוֵית, Daniel 4:15; Daniel 4:34; Daniel 7:15; Ezra 6:12; Ezra 7:21, as nom. pendens ['hanging' noun clause], Daniel 4:31; Daniel 7:28; emphasizing a suffix (K^{§ 87, 3}) Daniel 7:15; Ezra 7:21 (compare S-C^{B 8, J 12, K3.5}).

Canonical Placement and Frequency

The pronoun appears sixteen times within the Aramaic sections of Ezra and Daniel (Ezra 6:12; 7:21; Daniel 2:8, 23, 30; 3:25; 4:4, 7, 9, 18, 30, 34, 37; 5:16; 7:15, 28). Every occurrence is in direct speech, making it a key marker of personal testimony, imperial decree, or prophetic reflection.

Royal Decrees and Imperial Authority

In Ezra 6:12 and Ezra 7:21 the Persian kings Darius and Artaxerxes use the pronoun to affix personal authority to their edicts concerning the Jerusalem temple: “I, Darius, have issued the decree” and “I, King Artaxerxes, hereby issue a decree…”. The wording underscores that the restoration of worship in Jerusalem—though sponsored by foreign monarchs—is carried out under God’s sovereign hand. The first-person emphasis reminds readers that earthly rulers, whether knowingly or not, serve the divine plan (compare Proverbs 21:1).

Nebuchadnezzar’s Testimony of Humbling and Praise

Daniel 4 contains nine occurrences, more than half the total. Nebuchadnezzar’s repeated “I” traces his arc from proud ruler to humbled worshiper.
• Daniel 4:30—“Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built…?” exposes self-exaltation.
• Daniel 4:34—“I… raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me.”
• Daniel 4:37—“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven.”

The movement from boast (“I built”) to confession (“I praise”) illustrates Proverbs 16:18 and anticipates the Gospel pattern of proud hearts being brought low so that God alone is exalted (James 4:6).

Daniel’s Personal Devotion and Prophetic Burden

Daniel employs the pronoun to highlight both gratitude and distress.
• Daniel 2:23—“To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise” reveals a life of private worship before public service.
• Daniel 7:15—“I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit,” and Daniel 7:28—“I, Daniel, was deeply troubled” show that receiving divine revelation can be spiritually taxing. The transparency of Daniel’s “I” encourages believers to bring fears and questions honestly before God while trusting His ultimate purposes.

Witness of Deliverance in the Fiery Furnace

In Daniel 3:25 Nebuchadnezzar exclaims, “Look! I see four men, unbound and walking about in the fire unharmed.” The pronoun positions the king as an eyewitness, enhancing the apologetic force of the miracle. Personal observation supports the historicity of divine intervention and foreshadows the incarnation, where God Himself would “walk” among His people (John 1:14).

Contrast Between Human Understanding and Divine Revelation

Daniel 2:8 and 2:30 set the limitations of human wisdom against God’s grace. The king’s “I know for sure you are trying to buy time” (2:8) is immediately contrasted with Daniel’s confession, “As for me, this mystery has been revealed… not because I have greater wisdom” (2:30). The dual use of the pronoun highlights that true insight is granted, not earned (1 Corinthians 2:12).

Pastoral and Homiletic Applications

1. The repeated first person invites congregations to read these passages devotionally, substituting their own names to personalize confession, thanksgiving, and testimony.
2. Leaders can reflect on Ezra’s and Daniel’s examples: earthly authority is legitimate only when aligned with God’s revealed will; spiritual authority must remain humble and God-dependent.
3. Nebuchadnezzar’s narrative offers a template for preaching repentance: pride (“I built”), judgment (“I was driven”), restoration (“I raised my eyes”), and worship (“I praise”).

Summary

Whether issuing decrees, recounting visions, or confessing faith, the Aramaic “I” situates the speaker before the sovereign God of Scripture. Its sixteen occurrences form a subtle chorus affirming that every human “I” ultimately stands accountable to the eternal “I AM” who directs history for His glory and the good of His people.

אֲנָ֔ה אֲנָ֖ה אֲנָ֞ה אֲנָ֣ה אֲנָ֤ה אֲנָ֥ה אֲנָ֨ה אֲנָה֙ אנה וַאֲנָ֗ה וַאֲנָה֙ ואנה ’ă·nāh ’ănāh aNah vaaNah wa’ănāh wa·’ă·nāhInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts