What does עָנִי (ʿāniy) mean in the Bible?
עָנִי (ʿānî) names a person who is afflicted, poor, humble, or lowly. Torah uses the adjective in concrete economic settings.
Hebrew · H6041
עָנִי
Depressed , in mind or circumstances
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עָנִי H6041
Pronunciation ʿāniy
What does עָנִי (ʿāniy) mean in the Bible?
עָנִי (ʿānî) names a person who is afflicted, poor, humble, or lowly. Torah uses the adjective in concrete economic settings.
Reader summary
Full entry for עָנִי (H6041) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6041?
The BSB source-word alignment has 76 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include the poor (9), the afflicted (6), of the poor (5), for the poor (4), of the afflicted (4).
Where does עָנִי (ʿāniy) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 22:25. Its strongest book concentrations include Psalms (30), Isaiah (12), Proverbs (8), Job (6).
What This Word Actually Means
עָנִי (ʿānî) names a person who is afflicted, poor, humble, or lowly. Torah uses the adjective in concrete economic settings. Exodus 22:25 addresses lending to the poor, Leviticus 19:10 protects gleanings for the poor and resident alien, and Deuteronomy 24:14-15 forbids exploiting a poor hired worker and requires prompt wages. The term therefore cannot be reduced to an inward attitude; many occurrences concern actual vulnerability and the obligations of neighbors, employers, courts, and the covenant community.
Prophets expose structures and practices that crush the afflicted. Isaiah 3:14-15 charges leaders with plundering the poor, Isaiah 10:2 condemns decrees that rob them of justice, Amos 8:4 confronts those who trample them, and Ezekiel 16:49 includes failure to strengthen the poor and needy in Sodom's guilt. Jeremiah 22:16 associates knowing the Lord with judging the cause of the poor and needy. Scripture does not treat their pain as useful scenery for someone else's spiritual lesson.
The Psalms give the afflicted speech, lament, hope, and assurance of God's attention. Psalm 34:6 remembers a poor person crying and being heard; Psalm 72:12 expects the king to deliver the needy who cries; Psalm 82:3 commands justice for the poor; and Psalm 140:12 trusts that the Lord maintains their cause. Some passages join lowliness with humble dependence, but H6041 itself does not declare every poor person righteous, explain why suffering occurred, or forbid receiving practical help and seeking justice.
Canonical synthesis
How the Bible Uses It
Ani identifies people pressed by poverty, oppression, suffering, or low status and can shade toward humble dependence. Its canonical force includes material provision, fair labor, impartial judgment, truthful lament, and confidence in God's care.
- Exod.22.25
Israel's lending practice must not exploit a poor covenant neighbor through creditor pressure.
- Deut.24.14
A poor hired worker, whether Israelite or resident alien, must not be oppressed.
- Isa.10.2
Unjust decrees deprive the poor of justice and turn vulnerable people into prey.
- Jer.22.16
Josiah's defense of the poor and needy is presented as conduct consistent with knowing the Lord.
- Ezek.16.49
Sodom's arrogant abundance is joined with failure to strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
- Ps.34.6
The psalmist identifies as a poor person who cried and was heard and delivered by the Lord.
- Ps.72.12
The royal prayer expects the king to deliver the needy who cries and the poor who has no helper.
- Ps.82.3
Those responsible for judgment are commanded to defend the poor and maintain the rights of the afflicted.
- Zech.9.9
Zion's coming king is described as lowly while arriving in peace, linking humble condition with royal hope.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It the poor 9× Job 24:14, Job 29:12, Psalms 35:10, Psalms 37:14
the afflicted 6× Job 36:15, Psalms 35:10, Psalms 72:4, Proverbs 22:22
of the poor 5× Job 24:9, Proverbs 31:9, Isaiah 3:14, Isaiah 3:15
for the poor 4× Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 23:22, Psalms 68:10, Psalms 140:12
of the afflicted 4× Job 34:28, Psalms 9:12, Psalms 22:24, Psalms 82:3
of the oppressed 4× Psalms 12:5, Psalms 14:6, Proverbs 15:15, Isaiah 26:6
poor 3× Psalms 34:6, Psalms 40:17, Psalms 70:5
an afflicted 2× 2 Samuel 22:28, Psalms 18:27
the oppressed 2× Psalms 10:9, Proverbs 30:14
to the poor 2× Proverbs 14:21, Proverbs 31:20
[am] poor 1× Psalms 109:22
[who is] poor 1× Exodus 22:25
{from harming} the poor 1× Ezekiel 18:17
a meek 1× Zephaniah 3:12
afflicted 1× Psalms 88:15
am poor 1× Psalms 86:1
and afflicted 1× Psalms 25:16
and the afflicted 1× Psalms 72:12
and to the poor 1× Deuteronomy 15:11
and Your afflicted 1× Psalms 72:2
from the oppressed 1× Isaiah 10:2
he who is humble 1× Isaiah 66:2
humble 1× Zechariah 9:9
in pain 1× Psalms 69:29
is a poor 1× Deuteronomy 24:12
is poor 1× Deuteronomy 24:15
may the poor 1× Psalms 74:21
O afflicted city 1× Isaiah 54:11
O wretched 1× Isaiah 10:30
of one who is afflicted 1× Psalms 102:1
of Your afflicted 1× Psalms 74:19
on His afflicted ones 1× Isaiah 49:13
or the poor 1× Zechariah 7:10
the helpless 1× Psalms 10:12
the humble 1× Proverbs 16:19
the lowly 1× Psalms 10:9
the needy 1× Psalms 10:2
the weak 1× Habakkuk 3:14
to bring the poor 1× Isaiah 58:7
to the afflicted 1× Job 36:6
to the humble 1× Proverbs 3:34
to the poor man 1× Ecclesiastes 6:8
where His afflicted 1× Isaiah 14:32
who is poor 1× Deuteronomy 24:14
you afflicted one 1× Isaiah 51:21
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 22:25 הֶֽעָנִי֙ to [who is] poor Article | Adjective - masculine singular Leviticus 19:10 לֶֽעָנִ֤י to for the poor Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular Leviticus 23:22 לֶֽעָנִ֤י to for the poor Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular Deuteronomy 15:11 לַעֲנִיֶּ֛ךָ to and to the poor Preposition-l | Adjective - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular Deuteronomy 24:12 עָנִ֖י to is a poor Adjective - masculine singular Deuteronomy 24:14 עָנִ֣י to who is poor Adjective - masculine singular Deuteronomy 24:15 עָנִי֙ to is poor Adjective - masculine singular 2 Samuel 22:28 עָנִ֖י to an afflicted Adjective - masculine singular Job 24:9 עָנִ֥י to of the poor Adjective - masculine singular Job 24:14 עָנִ֥י to the poor Adjective - masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 22:25
Aligned rows 76
Books represented 14
Exodus 1 Leviticus 2 Deuteronomy 4 2 Samuel 1 Job 6 Psalms 30 Proverbs 8 Ecclesiastes 1 Isaiah 12 Jeremiah 1 Ezekiel 4 Habakkuk 1 Zephaniah 1 Zechariah 4
Source forms
עָנִ֣י 13x ‘ā·nî Deuteronomy 24:14, Job 29:12, Job 36:15, Psalms 18:27
עָנִ֖י 7x ‘ā·nî Deuteronomy 24:12, 2 Samuel 22:28, Psalms 82:3, Psalms 86:1
עָנִ֥י 7x ‘ā·nî Job 24:9, Job 24:14, Psalms 14:6, Psalms 74:21
עָנִי֙ 3x ‘ā·nî Deuteronomy 24:15, Isaiah 66:2, Zechariah 9:9
עָנִ֑י 3x ‘ā·nî Psalms 10:2, Psalms 10:9, Psalms 140:12
עֲנִיִּ֣ים 3x ‘ă·nî·yîm Job 34:28, Job 36:6, Proverbs 30:14
לֶֽעָנִ֤י 2x le·‘ā·nî Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 23:22
עֲנִיָּ֥ה 2x ‘ă·nî·yāh Isaiah 10:30, Isaiah 54:11
Parsing patterns
Adjective - masculine singular 38x Deuteronomy 24:12, Deuteronomy 24:14, Deuteronomy 24:15, 2 Samuel 22:28
Adjective - masculine plural 9x Job 34:28, Job 36:6, Psalms 9:12, Psalms 10:12
Adjective - masculine plural construct 5x Psalms 72:4, Isaiah 10:2, Isaiah 14:32, Zechariah 11:7
Conjunctive waw | Adjective - masculine singular 5x Psalms 25:16, Psalms 35:10, Psalms 72:12, Ezekiel 22:29
Preposition-l, Article | Adjective - masculine singular 5x Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 23:22, Psalms 68:10, Proverbs 31:20
Adjective - feminine singular 3x Isaiah 10:30, Isaiah 51:21, Isaiah 54:11
Article | Adjective - masculine singular 2x Exodus 22:25, Isaiah 3:14
Adjective - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular 1x Psalms 74:19
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Care for afflicted people should include listening, material help, fair processes, safety, and respect for agency rather than only spiritual counsel.
- A person may be materially poor without being morally exemplary, and material security is not proof of divine favor.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that poverty or suffering is inherently sanctifying or deserved.
- Do not tell an afflicted person that seeking protection, wages, legal remedy, medical care, or practical assistance shows deficient faith.
- Do not use humility language to excuse exploitative systems or silence criticism of leaders.
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Poverty marked by humiliation and powerlessness, often invoking God's protective concern for the vulnerable and oppressed
Source Gloss
depressed , in mind or circumstances
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Poverty marked by humiliation and powerlessness, often invoking God's protective concern for the vulnerable and oppressed
depressed, in mind or circumstances BDB: poor Usage: afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
Legal provision for the materially needy to glean leftover crops
Moral imperative against exploiting the vulnerable and defenseless
Spiritually depressed community receiving divine comfort and restoration
Social duty of rulers to advocate for the economically disadvantaged
Contrast between justice toward the vulnerable and oppressive injustice
Showing 5 selected witnesses from 79 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
עָנִי is built from these roots:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Ani keeps teaching about poverty and affliction concrete. The biblical response includes fair wages, nonexploitative lending, food access, impartial courts, lament, prayer, and public defense of those without power. Spiritualizing the word can hide real deprivation, while romanticizing deprivation can excuse preventable harm. Congregations should hear both God's nearness to the afflicted and God's commands to people and institutions whose choices affect them.
Applications should protect dignity and agency, avoid blame, and distinguish voluntary simplicity from involuntary poverty. Pastoral response should therefore ask what burden is present, who holds power, what immediate protection or provision is needed, and which covenant duty has been neglected. Prayer and proclamation belong beside practical aid and just action, not in place of them.
Anchor passage
Ps.72.12
Doctrinal connections
- Exod.22.25: lending without exploiting the poor
- Deut.24.14: fair treatment of poor workers
- Isa.10.2: unjust policy and denied justice
- Jer.22.16: defending the poor and knowing the Lord
- Ezek.16.49 and Ps.34.6: neglect amid abundance and the cry of the afflicted
- Ps.72.12: royal deliverance for one without a helper
- Ps.82.3: public justice for the poor
- Zech.9.9: the lowly king
H6041 spans afflicted, poor, humble, and lowly. Context must show whether the emphasis is economic condition, oppression, suffering, social status, humble posture, or a combination. H6035 and H6031 remain related but separate identities.
From Old to New Testament
Jesus announces good news to the poor, identifies with the lowly, and fulfills Zechariah's humble-king promise. The church's material sharing and refusal of partiality continue the justice and mercy trajectory without collapsing distinct Hebrew and Greek terms.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain