Original Word: עֲנָנִי
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: `Ananiy
Pronunciation: ah-nah-NEE
Phonetic Spelling: (an-aw-nee')
KJV: Anani
NASB: Anani
Word Origin: [from H6051 (עָנָן - cloud)]

1. cloudy
2. Anani, an Israelite

Anani

From anan; cloudy; Anani, an Israelite -- Anani.

see HEBREW anan

Word Origin
from anan
Definition
an Isr.
NASB Translation
Anani (1).

עֲנָנִי proper name, masculine 1 Chronicles 3:24, Μανει, Ανανι(ας).

Biblical Occurrence

Anani is named once in Scripture in the post-exilic genealogy of David’s descendants: “The sons of Shecaniah: Shemaiah and his sons… Hoshaiah, Hashabiah, Hallohesh, and Anani—seven in all” (1 Chronicles 3:21-24). Appearing several generations after the Babylonian exile, Anani stands near the close of the Davidic line recorded in the Old Testament.

Historical Context

1 Chronicles was compiled after the exile to remind Israel of covenant identity and royal promise. By tracing the royal house beyond Jeconiah and Zerubbabel, the Chronicler affirms that God preserved David’s seed even while the throne was vacant. Anani belongs to this preserved remnant, living in the Persian period when Judah existed without a king yet retained hope of future restoration.

Theological Significance

1. Covenant Faithfulness: Every name in the genealogy testifies that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Romans 11:29). Anani’s inclusion confirms that divine promises outlast national collapse.
2. Messianic Expectation: The chronicled line moves toward the Messiah announced in Luke 1:32-33. Though Anani himself never sat on a throne, his existence maintains the legal chain that culminates in Jesus Christ.
3. Providential Obscurity: Like many post-exilic figures, Anani is otherwise unknown. His obscurity highlights that God often works through ordinary individuals to advance redemptive history.

Messianic Lineage

From David to Zerubbabel, then to Anani and beyond, the genealogy underscores continuity. Matthew 1 and Luke 3 testify that God fulfilled the promise of an eternal king through Christ, whose lineage intersects those Chronicler lists. Anani’s brief mention therefore carries weight far beyond personal biography; it is a link in the chain that safeguards the legitimacy of Jesus’ royal claim.

Practical Ministry Insights

• Value of Genealogy: Congregations today may skim lists, yet they preach God’s meticulous care for every generation. Teaching Anani’s place encourages believers that their own hidden faithfulness matters.
• Hope after Discipline: The genealogy following the exile models how God rebuilds lives after judgment. Ministry to those recovering from failure can point to Anani as proof that divine purposes continue.
• Intergenerational Responsibility: Families are urged to transmit covenant truth. Anani received a heritage and, by being recorded, passed it forward. Modern households share the same charge (Psalm 78:5-7).

Related Bible Themes

Promise (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

Remnant Preservation (Ezra 2)

Messiah’s Legal Descent (Matthew 1:1-16)

Faithfulness in Obscurity (Hebrews 6:10)

Anani’s single appearance in Scripture therefore speaks volumes: God remembers names history forgets, upholds promises kingdoms cannot, and weaves every obedient life into the account of His Son.

וַעֲנָ֖נִי וענני vaaNani wa‘ănānî wa·‘ă·nā·nîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts