Original Word: עֲנָמִים
Part of Speech: Noun
Transliteration: `Anamim
Pronunciation: ah-nah-MEEM
Phonetic Spelling: (an-aw-meem')
KJV: Anamim
NASB: Anam, Anamim
Word Origin: [as if plural of some Egyptian word]

1. Anamim, a son of Mizraim and his descendants, with their country

Anamim

As if plural of some Egyptian word; Anamim, a son of Mizraim and his descendants, with their country -- Anamim.

Word Origin
of foreign origin
Definition
a tribe desc. from Mizraim, probably located in or near Eg.
NASB Translation
Anam (1), Anamim (1).

עֲנָמִים proper name, of a people in (or near) Egypt Genesis 10:13 = 1 Chronicles 1:11, Αινειαμιειμ, Αινεμετιειμ, etc.; form dubious and locality unknown, see conjectures in Di.

Biblical Occurrences

Anamim appears only twice—within the Table of Nations (Genesis 10:13) and its parallel genealogy (1 Chronicles 1:11). Both passages name the Anamim as descendants of Mizraim, son of Ham, locating them among the early post-Flood peoples.

Genealogical Context

Ham → Mizraim → Anamim.

This placement identifies the Anamim with the wider Egyptian line while distinguishing them from related groups such as the Ludim, Naphtuhim, and Pathrusim. The lineage underscores Scripture’s concern to trace every people back to Noah, reinforcing the unity of the human race and God’s sovereign ordering of nations (Acts 17:26).

Historical and Geographical Considerations

Ancient Near-Eastern records offer probable correlations: Egyptian texts mention a region or people called “A-nu-mu” or “A-name,” situated in the western Nile Delta and bordering the Libyan frontier. Classical writers also speak of nomadic Libyan tribes inhabiting that area. Thus, the Anamim likely occupied the Delta’s fringe, bridging Egyptian and Libyan cultures. Their inclusion in Genesis 10:13 immediately after the Ludim (often linked to North Africa) strengthens this placement.

Theological Significance

1. Faithfulness of Biblical History

The double testimony of Genesis and Chronicles asserts continuity from primeval history through Israel’s monarchy. The Chronicler’s preservation of the Anamim centuries later affirms that every name in God’s record matters—even when secular history remembers little of them.

2. Judgment and Redemption Themes

Mizraim’s line is later connected with Israel’s bondage, yet these same descendants first appear as ordinary branches of humanity. The Anamim remind readers that all nations, whether enemies or allies of Israel, ultimately stem from a common ancestry and are subject to the same need for redemption (Isaiah 19:22-25).

3. God’s Sovereignty over Borders

By cataloging peoples such as the Anamim, Scripture anticipates passages that declare God sets boundaries and times for every nation (Deuteronomy 32:8; Acts 17:26). Even obscure tribes are within His providential care.

Ministry Application

• Dignity of Every People Group: Modern missions can draw encouragement from Genesis 10 that no ethnicity is insignificant to God. The gospel mandate extends to nations remembered only in ancient genealogies as well as to contemporary unreached groups.
• Confidence in Scripture’s Detail: Studying minor names like Anamim builds trust in the Bible’s accuracy. Believers can rely on the same Word for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Related Biblical Themes

• The Table of Nations (Genesis 10) as a framework for understanding world history.
• God’s plan for Egypt and surrounding peoples (Isaiah 19:18-25; Jeremiah 46).
• Universal scope of salvation (Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 7:9).

עֲנָמִ֛ים ענמים ‘ă·nā·mîm ‘ănāmîm anaMimInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts