Anak עֲנָק
Ancestor of giant people in Canaan
Biography
Anak was the progenitor of the Anakim, a race of giants who lived in Canaan prior to the Israelite conquest. The Anakim were known for their great height and strength, which struck fear into the hearts of the Israelite spies who were sent to scout out the land. The spies reported that the descendants of Anak were among the inhabitants of Canaan, comparing them to the Nephilim, another race of giants.
During the conquest of Canaan under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites fought against the Anakim and gradually drove them out of the land. Caleb, one of the faithful spies, was given Hebron as his inheritance, which was formerly known as Kiriath-arba and was associated with Anak. Caleb successfully expelled the descendants of Anak from Hebron.
The Anakim were also mentioned as having lived in the land of Moab and Edom, where they were known as Emim and Rephaim, respectively. These giant peoples were gradually displaced or destroyed by the Israelites and the surrounding nations. The memory of the Anakim and their formidable presence in Canaan served as a reminder of God's faithfulness in giving the land to His people, despite the challenges they faced.
Family
In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 2 with study contentNumbers 3 verses
- Numbers 13:22
"They went up by the South, and came to Hebron; and Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the children of Anak, were there. (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)"
- Numbers 13:28
"However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. Moreover, we saw the children of Anak there."
- Numbers 13:33
"There we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim. We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.”"
Deuteronomy 5 verses Study available
- Deuteronomy 9:2
"a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard say, “Who can stand before the sons of Anak?”"
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 1:28
"Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our heart melt, saying, ‘The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to the sky. Moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there!’ ”"
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 2:10
"(The Emim lived there before, a great and numerous people, and tall as the Anakim."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 2:11
"These also are considered to be Rephaim, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim."
Study Deuteronomy → - Deuteronomy 2:21
"a great people, many, and tall, as the Anakim; but Yahweh destroyed them from before Israel, and they succeeded them, and lived in their place;"
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Joshua 5 verses Study available
- Joshua 15:13
"He gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of Yahweh to Joshua, even Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron)."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 15:14
"Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 21:11
"They gave them Kiriath Arba, named after the father of Anak (also called Hebron), in the hill country of Judah, with its pasture lands around it."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 11:21
"Joshua came at that time, and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel: Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 11:22
"There were none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain."
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Judges 1 verse
- Judges 1:20
"They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had said, and he drove the three sons of Anak out of there."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | עֲנָק | H6061 |
| Group | Hebrew | עֲנָקִי | H6062 |