Original Word: עָנָו
Part of Speech: Noun Masculine
Transliteration: `anav
Pronunciation: ah-NAHV
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-nawv')
KJV: humble, lowly, meek, poor
NASB: humble, afflicted, afflicted ones, poor
Word Origin: [from H6031 (עָנָה - To afflict)]

1. depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly)

humble, lowly, meek, poor

Or (by intermixture with aniy) Aanayv {aw-nawv'}; from anah; depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly) -- humble, lowly, meek, poor. Compare aniy.

see HEBREW aniy

see HEBREW anah

see HEBREW aniy

Word Origin
from anah
Definition
poor, afflicted, humble, meek
NASB Translation
afflicted (8), afflicted ones (1), humble (10), poor (1).

עָנָי (?; Lag^{BN 48}) noun masculine poor, afflicted, humble, meek; — עָנָו Numbers 12:3 (Kt; Qr עָנָיו is to ensure the ָ֯ according to Di Kö^{ii. 1. 76}); elsewhere plural עֲנָוִים Isaiah 29:19 11t. + Kt עֲנָוִים Isaiah 32:7; Psalm 9:19 (Qr עֲנִיִּים); Qr עֲנָוִים Psalm 9:13; Psalm 10:12; Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 14:21; Proverbs 16:19 (Kt עניים); construct עַנְוֵי Zephaniah 2:3 2t., + Kt ענוי (Qr עֲנִיֵּי) Amos 8:4 (so Job 24:4 van d. H.; but עֲנִיֵּי Kt and Qr Baer Ginsb) — these forms shew confusion with עָנִי, which is perhaps only another form of עָנָו (otherwise Rahlfs^{op. cit. 62 f.} Dr^{'Poor' in} Hastings^DB; עָנָו = humble, meek, עָנִי = passive humbled, afflicted); —

1 poor, needy, Proverbs 14:21 (Qr).

2 poor and weak. oppressed by rich and powerful Amos 2:7; Isaiah 29:19; Isaiah 32:7 (Kt); ענוי (ה)ארץ Psalm 76:10; Isaiah 11:4; Zephaniah 2:3; Amos 8:4 (Kt), Job 24:4.

3 poor, weak and afflicted Israel (usually rendered meek) Psalm 10:17; Psalm 22:27; Psalm 25:9 (twice in verse); Psalm 34:3; Psalm 37:11; Psalm 69:33 (עָנִי

3, also in all these Psalms), Psalm 147:6; Psalm 149:4; Isaiah 61:1 ("" נשׁברי לב, compare Isaiah 66:2 עָנִי 3), Psalm 9:19 (Kt) Psalm 9:13; Psalm 10:12 (Qr).

4 humble, lowly, meek Numbers 12:3 (Moses); Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 16:19 (both Qr).

Overview

The term עָנָו (anaw) denotes those who, by choice or circumstance, live in lowliness before God and others. Scripture links this condition with teachability, dependence on divine aid, and a promised future exaltation. Across Torah, Wisdom, and Prophets, the anaw embodies the ethical center of the covenant community and foreshadows kingdom realities fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Canonical Distribution and Literary Settings

1. Torah – Numbers 12:3 presents Moses as the paradigmatic anaw, legitimizing humble leadership at Israel’s foundation.
2. Wisdom and Worship – Eleven occurrences cluster in Psalms and Job, portraying humility in praise, lament, and ethical instruction.
3. Prophetic Books – Eight occurrences (Isaiah, Amos, Zephaniah) employ the term in eschatological promises and social indictments.

Portrait of Moses: Humble Leadership

“Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12:3)

Moses’ meekness is recorded at the narrative point where his authority is challenged. The text teaches that spiritual authority flows from submission to God rather than self-assertion, a standard later personified perfectly by Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:29).

The Humble Poor in Psalms

Psalms repeatedly pair humility with poverty and oppression:

• “You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts.” (Psalm 10:17)
• “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way.” (Psalm 25:9)
• “But the meek will inherit the land and delight in abundant prosperity.” (Psalm 37:11)

These texts assure the afflicted worshiper that God hears, teaches, vindicates, and ultimately grants inheritance. Psalm 37:11 is echoed verbatim by Jesus in Matthew 5:5, linking the Old Testament anaw to New Testament beatitude.

Eschatological Reversal

Isaiah magnifies the theme of reversal:

• “The humble will increase their joy in the LORD.” (Isaiah 29:19)
• “With righteousness He will judge the poor, and with equity He will decide for the lowly of the earth.” (Isaiah 11:4)

The coming Davidic King rectifies injustice and centers the humble in His renewed creation. Zephaniah 2:3 summons the anaw to seek humility so as to be “concealed on the day of the LORD’s anger,” showing that lowliness is both a present posture and an eschatological refuge.

Messianic Mission

Isaiah 61:1 anticipates the Spirit-anointed Messiah who proclaims good news “to the poor” (anaw). Jesus applies this passage to Himself in Luke 4:18–21, identifying the humble as first recipients of the Gospel and anchoring Christian mission in service to them.

Prophetic Indictment of Social Oppression

Amos exposes covenant violations against the anaw: “They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the earth.” (Amos 2:7) Such passages condemn systemic injustice and affirm God’s advocacy for the marginalized—a perpetual standard for ethical governance and community life.

Divine Disposition toward the Humble

“The LORD sustains the humble, but casts the wicked to the ground.” (Psalm 147:6)

Across the canon God consistently:

• Hears their prayers (Psalm 10:17)
• Provides material relief (Psalm 22:26)
• Grants instruction (Psalm 25:9)
• Confers honor (Psalm 149:4)
• Protects in judgment (Zephaniah 2:3)

This pattern displays the moral order of the kingdom: exaltation follows humility (cf. Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:6).

Intertextual Echoes in the New Testament

Though Greek πρᾶος and ταπεινός render the concept, New Testament writers preserve the same theology. Matthew 5:5 cites Psalm 37:11; James 4:6 echoes the Septuagint of Proverbs 3:34; and Jesus’ self-description as “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29) draws on the anaw ideal. Thus the virtue crosses covenants unchanged.

Historical Reception

Rabbinic commentary viewed the anaw as the righteous remnant. Early church fathers extolled humility as the chief monastic virtue. Reformers tied it to sola gratia, insisting that salvation leaves no room for boasting. The term has fueled countless hymns, liturgies, and social reform movements.

Pastoral and Practical Implications

1. Discipleship: cultivate teachability and dependence on grace.
2. Leadership: model Moses-like meekness, letting authority arise from obedience.
3. Social engagement: defend the rights of the economically and socially humbled, aligning with prophetic priorities.
4. Worship: give voice to the lowly in congregational prayers and songs, mirroring the Psalms.
5. Eschatological hope: encourage sufferers with God’s promise that “the humble will see and rejoice.” (Psalm 69:32)

Summary

עָנָו encapsulates a posture cherished by God, exemplified by Moses, championed by the prophets, sung by the psalmists, and fulfilled in Christ. Scripture promises that those who embrace such humility will be taught, sustained, and ultimately inherit the renewed earth.

וַעֲנָוִ֥ים וענוים לְעַנְוֵי־ לענוי־ עֲ֝נִיִּ֗ים עֲ֝נָוִ֗ים עֲ֭נָוִים עֲנִיֵּי־ עֲנִיִּים֙ עֲנִיֵּי־ עֲנָוִ֖ים עֲנָוִ֗ים עֲנָוִ֛ים עֲנָוִ֣ים עֲנָוִ֨ים ׀ עַנְוֵ֣י עַנְוֵי־ עָנָ֣יו ענוי ענוי־ ענוים עניו עניי־ עניים ‘ă·nā·wîm ‘ā·nāw ‘ă·nî·yê- ‘ă·nî·yîm ‘an·wê ‘an·wê- ‘ānāw ‘ănāwîm ‘ănîyê- ‘ănîyîm ‘anwê ‘anwê- aNav anaVim aniyei aniYim anvei lə‘anwê- lə·‘an·wê- leanvei vaanaVim wa‘ănāwîm wa·‘ă·nā·wîmInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts