H6030b H6030b
To answer, respond, reply; also to testify or bear witness; in Nifal, to be answered; occasionally to sing responsively.
Anah is the standard Hebrew verb for verbal response, and with 314 occurrences it is woven into nearly every narrative dialogue in the Hebrew Bible. The formulaic wayyaan...wayyomer ('and he answered and said') is one of the most recognizable patterns in biblical Hebrew prose, appearing hundreds of times to introduce direct speech. Yet anah carries more than conversational meaning. In legal contexts it becomes 'to testify' — the Decalogue's 'you shall not bear false witness' (Exod 20:16) uses this very verb. The multilingual evidence sharpens these boundaries: Arabic shahida ('to testify') and Spanish testificara are recruited specifically for the witness sense, while Korean 대답하다 ('to answer') and German antwortete serve the general response meaning. A small but intriguing cluster points toward responsive singing (Hos 2:15; Deut 31:21), where anah describes antiphonal or choral reply.
1. answer, respond, reply — To answer, respond, or reply verbally to a question, statement, or implied situation — the overwhelming primary sense at 289 occurrences. This encompasses the wayyaan formula ('and he answered') in narrative, direct responses in dialogue, and God's answering of prayer. Spanish respondio, French repondit, German antwortete, Korean 대답했다, and Arabic ajaba all converge on standard response vocabulary. Key passages span the entire canon: Abraham answering God (Gen 18:27), Job answering his friends (Job 6:1; 9:1; 12:1), and the prophetic declaration that God 'will answer' his people (Isa 30:19; Hos 14:9). 289×
AR["فَ-أَجابَ","فَ-أَجَابَ","فَأَجَابَ","وَ-أجابَ","وَ-أَجابَ","وَ-أَجابَتْ","وَ-أَجَابَ"]·ben["আর-উত্তর-দিল","আর-উত্তর-দিলেন","এবং-উত্তর-দিল","এবং-উত্তর-দিলেন","এবং-সে-উত্তর-দিল","ও-উত্তর-দিল"]·DE["und-antwortete","und-er-antwortete"]·EN["and-answered","and-he-answered"]·FR["et-answered","et-il-répondit","et-répondit"]·heb["ו-יען","ו-ענה"]·HI["और-उत्तर-दिया","और-जवब-दिय","और-जवाब-दिया"]·ID["Dan-menjawab","Dan-menjawablah","dan-menjawab","dan-menjawablah"]·IT["e-egli-rispose","e-rispose"]·jav["Lan-Laban-mangsuli","Lan-Rahel-mangsuli","Lan-Yakub-mangsuli","Lan-mangsuli","Lan-piyambakipun-mangsuli","Lan-wangsulan","lan-Yakub-mangsuli","lan-mangsuli","sarta-mangsuli"]·KO["그리고-답했다","그리고-대답하였다","그리고-대답했다"]·PT["E-respondeu","e-respondeu","¶ E-respondeu"]·RU["И-ответил","И-ответила","и-ответил","и-отвечал"]·ES["Y-respondió","y-respondió"]·SW["Na-akajibu","na-akajibu","na-akajua","na-akasagua","na-wakajibu"]·TR["Ve-cevap-verdi","Ve-cevapladı","Ve-yanıtladı","ve-cevap-verdi","ve-cevapladı","ve-yanıtladı"]·urd["اور-جواب-دیا"]
Gen 18:27, Gen 23:10, Gen 23:14, Gen 24:50, Gen 27:37, Gen 27:39, Gen 31:14, Gen 31:31, Gen 31:36, Gen 31:43, Gen 40:18, Gen 41:16 (+38 more)
▼ 4 more senses below
Senses
2. testify, bear witness — To testify, bear witness, or give formal testimony — 18 occurrences concentrated in legal and covenantal contexts. The ninth commandment (Exod 20:16; Deut 5:20) prohibits 'answering' against one's neighbor as a false witness, but the meaning is clearly 'testifying' rather than mere 'replying.' Num 35:30 specifies that no one shall 'testify' (yaaneh) against another on the strength of a single witness. Arabic shahida ('to bear witness') and Spanish testificara ('shall testify') both shift to forensic vocabulary here, distinct from the conversational 'answer' of sense 1. Gen 30:33 extends this into a moral-accountability frame: 'my righteousness will testify for me.' 18×
AR["أَجِيبُوا","تَشهَدُ","تَشْهَدَانِ-","تَشْهَدْ","شَهِدَ","شَهِدَتْ","لِيَشْهَدَ","وَتَشْهَدُ","وَيَشهَدُ","يَشْهَدُ"]·ben["আর-উত্তর-দেবে","উত্তর-দাও","এবং-সাক্ষ্য-দেবে","তুমি-সাক্ষ্য-দেবে","যে-সাক্ষ্য-দেয়","সাক্ষ্য-দিতে","সাক্ষ্য-দিয়েছে","সাক্ষ্য-দিয়েছেন","সাক্ষ্য-দিল","সাক্ষ্য-দেবে","সাক্ষ্য-দেয়","সাক্ষ্য-দেয়-"]·DE["antworte","antworten","antwortete","du-soll-antworten","du-soll-bezeugen","er-bezeugte","soll-bezeugen","testified","und-antwortete","und-bezeugen-wird-","zu-bezeugen"]·EN["and-testifies","and-will-answer","answer","bearing","he-testified","it-testifies","shall-testify","testified","testifies","testify","testify-","to-testify","you-shall-answer","you-shall-testify"]·FR["devra-testify","et---répondre","et-il-a-répondu","il-testified","répondre","réponds","tu---répondre","tu---témoigner","tu-devra-answer","témoigna","à-testify"]·heb["ו-ענה","יענה","יענו","ל-ענות","עונה","ענה","ענו","ענתה","תענה"]·HI["उत्तर-देगा","उत्तर-दो","और-गवाही-देगा","और-गवाही-देगी","और-गवाही-देता-है","के-लिए-गवाही-देने","गवाही-दी","गवाही-दी-है","गवाही-देगा","गवाही-देती-है","गवाही-देते-हैं","देगा-गवाही","देनेवाला"]·ID["Dan-bersaksi","bersaksi","bersaksi-melawan","bersaksilah","dan-menjawab-","engkau menjawab","memberi-kesaksian","memberikan-kesaksian","menjawab","telah-bersaksi","untuk-menyatakan","yang-bersaksi"]·IT["a-testimoniare","dovra-testimoniare","e-rispondere","e-will-rispondere","egli-testimonio","rispondere","rispondi","testified","testimoniò","tu-dovra-rispondere","tu-shall-rispondere","tu-shall-testimoniare"]·jav["Lan-wangsulan","dados-seksi","kang-maringi-kesaksian","kanggé-nyaksiaken","lan-mangsuli","mangsuli","maringi-paseksi","nyekseni","nyeksi","panjenengan-maringi-kesaksian","panjenengan-wangsulan","sami-mangsuli","sampun-nyaksiaken","wangsulana"]·KO["그리고-대답하리라","너는-대답하다","대답하나니","대답하느니라-","대답하라","대답하려고","대답하지","대답할-것이다","대답했다","증거하고","증거하는","증거하셨고","증언하는데","증언한다"]·PT["E-responderá","E-responderá-","E-testemunhou","para-testificar","que-responde","respondei","responderá","responderás","respondeu","testemunha","testemunham","testemunhou","testificam","testificaram"]·RU["И-ответит-","будет-свидетельствовать","и-ответила","и-ответит","ответил","отвечай","произноси","свидетельствовал","свидетельствовали","свидетельствовать","свидетельствует","свидетельствуйте","свидетельствуют","свидетельствуют-","свидетельствующий"]·ES["Y-responderá","Y-testifica","Y-testificará","darás-testimonio","para-testificar","que-responde","responderá","responderás","testifica","testificad","testifican","testifican-contra","testificaron","testificó"]·SW["Na-itashuhudia","Na-utajibu","alijibu","ameshuhudia","anayeshuhudia","atashuhudia","inashuhudia","kilishuhudia","kushuhudia","na-umeshuhudia","nishuhudie","unashuhudia","ushuhuda","usishuhudie","utajibu","zinashuhudia"]·TR["Ve-şahitlik-edecek","sahitlik-etti","tanıklık-edecek","tanıklık-edeceksin","tanıklık-eden","tanıklık-eder","tanıklık-eder-","tanıklık-ederse","tanıklık-edin","ve-tanıklık-etti","yanıt-vermek-için","yanıtladı","şahitlik-edeceksin","şahitlik-etti"]·urd["اور-گواہی-دے-گی","اور-گواہی-دےگا","بولا","جواب-دو","دینے-والا","گواہی-دو","گواہی-دی","گواہی-دیتی-ہے","گواہی-دیتے-ہیں","گواہی-دینے-کو","گواہی-دے","گواہی-دے-گا"]
Gen 30:33, Exod 20:16, Exod 23:2, Num 35:30, Deut 5:20, Deut 19:16, Deut 19:18, Ruth 1:21, 1 Sam 12:3, 2 Sam 1:16, Job 15:6, Job 16:8 (+6 more)
3. sense 3 — To sing responsively or respond in song — an antiphonal or choral sense appearing in 3 passages. In Hos 2:15 Israel 'will sing/respond' as in the days of her youth (the restored covenant relationship expressed as musical response); Deut 31:21 speaks of the Song of Moses 'testifying/responding' before Israel; and Deut 25:9 uses anah for the formal spoken response in the levirate ceremony. Spanish cantara ('she will sing') in Hosea confirms the musical reading, while Korean and German retain general 'answer' vocabulary. The boundary between liturgical response and testimony is inherently fluid in ancient Israelite practice, where responsive song could serve as communal witness. 3×
AR["وَتُجِيبُ","وَتُغَنّي"]·ben["এবং-উত্তর-দেবে"]·DE["und-antwortete","und-soll-antworten","und-wird-antworten"]·EN["and-shall-answer","and-she-will-sing","and-will-answer"]·FR["et-devra-answer","et-fera-answer","et-répondre"]·heb["ו-ענתה"]·HI["और-उत्तर-देगा","और-उत्तर-देगी","और-गाएगी"]·ID["dan-dia-akan-menjawab","dan-menjawab"]·IT["e-dovra-rispondere","e-fara-rispondere","e-rispondere"]·jav["lan-mangsuli"]·KO["그리고-대답하리라","그리고-대답하여"]·PT["e-responderá"]·RU["и-ответит"]·ES["y-cantará","y-responderá"]·SW["na-atajibu","na-utajibu"]·TR["ve-cevap-verecek","ve-karşılık-verecek"]·urd["اور-جواب-دے","اور-جواب-دے-گی"]
4. be answered (Nifal passive) — To be answered or receive a response — the Nifal (passive) stem, appearing 3 times. Job 11:2 asks whether 'a multitude of words shall be answered' (i.e., deserve a response); Job 19:7 laments 'I cry out but am not answered'; Prov 21:13 warns that one who ignores the poor 'will cry out and not be answered.' Arabic yujab ('to be responded to') and Spanish sera respondido ('will be answered') both use passive voice, confirming this as a genuine voice-driven sense distinction. The theological weight falls on the experience of divine silence — being unanswered — as a form of judgment or abandonment. 3×
AR["أُجَابُ","يُجابُ","يُسْتَجابُ"]·ben["আমি-উত্তর-পাই","উত্তর-পাবে"]·DE["antwortete"]·EN["I-am-answered","answered","be-answered"]·FR["répondre"]·heb["אענה","ייענה","יענה"]·HI["उत्तर-दिया-जाएगा","मुझे-उत्तर-मिलता"]·ID["aku-dijawab","dijawab"]·IT["rispondere"]·jav["badhé-dipunwangsuli","dipun-wangsuli","kawula-dipunwangsuli"]·KO["대답되겠느냐","대답을-받지-못하나니","응답을-받지"]·PT["será-respondida","será-respondido","sou-respondido"]·RU["будет-ответа","будет-услышан","отвечают"]·ES["será-respondida?","será-respondido","soy-respondido;"]·SW["hayatajibiwa","jibiwa","sijibiwa"]·TR["cevap-alır","yanıtlanır","yanıtlanırım"]·urd["جواب ملتا","جواب-دیا-جائے-گا","جواب-پائے-گا"]
5. sense 5 — To be brought low or silenced — a single occurrence at Isa 25:5 where the 'noise of strangers is brought low' or 'subdued.' This appears to be a homonymic overlap with a different root anah (II), meaning 'to be humbled or afflicted,' but the clustering algorithm placed it here based on surface form. Spanish sera silenciado ('will be silenced'), English 'is brought low,' and German Strauss (an unusual rendering) all point away from the 'answer/respond' semantic field. This sense is best understood as belonging to the separate lexeme H6031 (anah II, 'to afflict/humble') rather than to this root, though the formal overlap makes disambiguation necessary. 1×
AR["تُخْفَتُ"]·ben["নীচু-হবে"]·DE["Strauss"]·EN["is-brought-low"]·FR["répondre"]·heb["יענה"]·HI["शांत-होगा"]·ID["Dia-rendahkan"]·IT["rispondere"]·jav["dipun-endelaken"]·KO["낮추시리라"]·PT["será-humilhado"]·RU["умолкнет"]·ES["será-silenciado"]·SW["utanyamazishwa"]·TR["susacak"]·urd["گھٹ-جائے-گا"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)G4592 1. sign, miraculous sign (77×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
I. עָנָה316 vb. answer, respond (NH id., respond, make response; 𝔗 עֲנָא; Syriac ܥܢܳܐ; Old Aramaic Palm. ענה; cf. Arabic عنى, عَنَا intend by saying);— Qal Pf. 3 ms. ע׳ Mi 6:5 +; sf. עָנַנִי 1 S 28:15 +, עָנָךְ Is 30:19; Je 23:37, עָנָהוּ 1 S 9:17 +; 1 s. עָנִיתִי Ho 14:9, etc.; Impf. 3 ms. יַעֲנֶה Gn 41:16 +, וַיַּעַן Am 7:14 +, sf. יַעֲנֵנִי Jb 20:3 +, etc.; Imv. עֲנֵה Mi 6:3; Pr 26:5 etc.;…