Lexical Summary anachnu: we, us Original Word: אֲנַחְנוּ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ourselves, us, we Apparently from 'anokiy; we -- ourselves, us, we. see HEBREW 'anokiy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. pronoun Definition we NASB Translation ourselves (7). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲנַחְנוּ pronoun 1 plural we see below אֲנַ֫חְנוּ אֲנָ֑חְנוּ pronoun 1 plural common we (the plural corresponding to אָנֹכִי, as אֲנוּ; to אֲנִי; see WSG p. 100; Phoenician אנחן CISi. 3, 16.17, Aramaic אֲנַחְנָא, ᵑ7 also נַחְנָא, Syriac Topical Lexicon Overview אֲנַחְנוּ appears roughly one hundred nineteen times in the Hebrew Scriptures as the first-person plural pronoun “we” or “we ourselves.” Beyond simple grammar, these occurrences reveal how the covenant community understood its shared identity before God, how leaders spoke for the people, and how worshipers collectively voiced faith, repentance, and praise. Occurrences and Literary Distribution • Pentateuch: Genesis through Deuteronomy use the term extensively, especially in narratives of family solidarity (Genesis 42:11), covenant making (Exodus 19:8), and wilderness obedience or rebellion (Numbers 32:17). Corporate Covenant Identity אֲנַחְנוּ binds individuals into the single covenant people addressed by God. Joseph’s brothers declare, “We are all sons of one man” (Genesis 42:11), underscoring familial unity; at Sinai the nation answers, “We will do everything that the LORD has spoken” (Exodus 19:8). The pronoun thus marks Israel’s self-understanding as one body receiving and responding to divine revelation. Solidarity in Confession and Repentance Communal guilt is acknowledged with אֲנַחְנוּ: Such prayers model corporate repentance and underscore the biblical principle that covenant blessings and curses fall on the people as a whole (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). Expressions of Faith and Dependence Psalms transforms אֲנַחְנוּ into an anthem of trust: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). In Psalm 115:18, “But we will bless the LORD, both now and forevermore,” the worshiping community pledges perpetual praise, revealing that collective faith is integral to Israel’s worship. Collective Responsibility in Warfare and Leadership Military commitments often use the pronoun to spotlight shared duty: “But we will arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites” (Numbers 32:17). Leaders appeal to unity—David’s men insist, “If we flee, they will not care about us…better that you support us from the city” (2 Samuel 18:3)—highlighting mutual protection and accountability. Liturgical and Worship Usage In Psalms the pronoun shapes communal liturgy: These occurrences affirm that worship is not merely individual but a corporate act nurturing national memory and hope. Prophetic and Messianic Overtones Prophets blend confession with expectation: “We all growl like bears…we look for justice, but there is none” (Isaiah 59:11). The collective voice yearning for deliverance foreshadows the unifying work of the Messiah, who gathers the scattered into one flock (compare Ezekiel 37:24). Thus, אֲנַחְנוּ anticipates the New Covenant community formed in Christ. New Testament Echoes While the Greek New Testament uses ἡμεῖς, the theological trajectory is identical. Passages such as 1 Peter 2:10 (“you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God”) show the continuity of corporate identity established by אֲנַחְנוּ. The early church prays, “Lord, you are God…you spoke by the Holy Spirit…why did the nations rage…?” (Acts 4:24-25), echoing the Old Testament pattern of collective address. Ministry and Pastoral Implications 1. Preaching: Emphasize corporate obedience—“We will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:24)—as a call for congregational commitment. In all its occurrences, אֲנַחְנוּ reminds God’s people that salvation, service, and sanctification are experienced together, under the sovereign grace of the One who calls individuals into one redeemed body. Forms and Transliterations אֲ֭נַחְנוּ אֲנַ֑חְנוּ אֲנַ֔חְנוּ אֲנַ֕חְנוּ אֲנַ֖חְנוּ אֲנַ֗חְנוּ אֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ אֲנַ֛חְנוּ אֲנַ֜חְנוּ אֲנַ֡חְנוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ אֲנַ֤חְנוּ אֲנַ֥חְנוּ אֲנַ֧חְנוּ אֲנַ֨חְנוּ אֲנַחְנוּ֩ אֲנַחְנוּ֮ אֲנָ֑חְנוּ אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ אנחנו אנחנו׃ וַ֠אֲנַחְנוּ וַאֲנַ֓חְנוּ ׀ וַאֲנַ֖חְנוּ וַאֲנַ֗חְנוּ וַאֲנַ֙חְנוּ֙ וַאֲנַ֛חְנוּ וַאֲנַ֜חְנוּ וַאֲנַ֣חְנוּ וַאֲנַ֤חְנוּ וַאֲנַ֤חְנוּ ׀ וַאֲנַ֥חְנוּ ואנחנו ’ă·nā·ḥə·nū ’ă·naḥ·nū ’ănāḥənū ’ănaḥnū aNachenu aNachnu vaaNachnu wa’ănaḥnū wa·’ă·naḥ·nūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 13:8 HEB: אֲנָשִׁ֥ים אַחִ֖ים אֲנָֽחְנוּ׃ INT: we are brothers ourselves Genesis 19:13 Genesis 29:4 Genesis 37:7 Genesis 42:11 Genesis 42:13 Genesis 42:21 Genesis 42:31 Genesis 42:32 Genesis 43:8 Genesis 43:18 Genesis 44:9 Genesis 44:16 Genesis 46:34 Genesis 47:3 Genesis 47:19 Genesis 47:19 Exodus 10:26 Numbers 9:7 Numbers 10:29 Numbers 20:4 Numbers 20:16 Numbers 32:17 Deuteronomy 1:28 Deuteronomy 1:41 119 Occurrences |
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