Lexical Summary ani: I, me Original Word: אֲנַי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance I, as for me, mine, myself, we, which, who Contracted from 'anokiy; I -- I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X which, X who. see HEBREW 'anokiy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. pronoun Definition I NASB Translation alone (1), Myself (12), myself (5). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֲנִי, אָ֫נִי pronoun 1 singular, common I ( , אֲנָא,  ,  ) Genesis 6:17; Genesis 9:9,12 + often Following a participle as its subject (to express mostly either a true present or the futurum instans [immanent future]) Genesis 18:17 הַמְכַסֶּה אֲנִי Amos I hiding from Abraham that which, etc., Judges 15:3; 1 Samuel 3:13 Jeremiah 1:12; Jeremiah 38:14; Jeremiah 44:29 (see Dr§ 135,4). Appended to a verb, it expresses, in early Hebrew, a real emphasis, as Judges 8:23 לֹא אֶמְשֹׁל אֲנִי בָּכֶם I will not rule over you, 2 Samuel 12:28 lest I take the city, 2 Samuel 17:15 thus and thus did Ahitophel counsel, and thus and thus יָעַצְתִּי אָ֫נִי did I counsel; but in later Hebrew It is sometimes pelonastc, Ecclesiastes 2:11,15,18,20 +. In response to a question, אָ֫נִי alone = I am, It is I, Genesis 27:24; Judges 13:11; 1 Kings 18:8 +. With הֲֶ הַאֲנִי Isaiah 66:9. (Synonym אָנֹכִּי, q. v.) Topical Lexicon Definition and ScopeStrong’s Hebrew 589 designates the independent first-person singular pronoun, translated “I” or “me.” Though a single syllable in Hebrew, its theological weight is profound, marking personal presence—whether divine or human—throughout the Old Testament narrative. Frequency and Distribution Approximately 874 attestations span every section of Scripture: • Torah: Genesis–Deuteronomy Narrative, legal, poetic, and prophetic genres all employ the word, underscoring its universality. Divine Self-Revelation 1. Covenant Introduction “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt” (Exodus 20:2). Each decalogue preface elevates the covenant’s personal dimension: the Speaker is not an impersonal force but the covenant-keeping LORD. 2. Ongoing Covenant Assurance “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake” (Isaiah 43:25). The pronoun reinforces unilateral grace; redemption flows from God’s own identity. 3. Sovereign Decree “I form the light and create darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:7). No competing deity shares this authority. 4. Eschatological Promise “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel” (Jeremiah 31:31). The repeated “I will” in prophetic literature anchors future hope in God’s personal commitment. Human Self-Identification 1. Humble Petition Hannah: “I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:26). Personal pronoun plus narrative context yields heartfelt supplication. 2. Confession of Sin David: “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Samuel 12:13). The pronoun underscores personal responsibility. 3. Prophetic Readiness Isaiah: “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8). The word expresses voluntary submission. 4. Personal Lament Job: “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). Individual anguish meets individual hope. Covenantal Context The Sinai covenant repeatedly alternates between divine “I” and human “you,” highlighting relationship. Breach and restoration hinge on whether each party honors the personal commitments embedded in those pronouns (Deuteronomy 29:12-15). Theological Significance • Personhood of God: Scripture’s monotheism is not abstract but personal; “I” grounds divine self-disclosure. Christological Implications Old Testament declarations, “I, the LORD” (Isaiah 41:4), anticipate the New Testament’s “I am” statements of Jesus Christ (John 8:58), rooting messianic identity in the same covenantal self-designation. Hebrews 10:7 cites Psalm 40, where the speaker says, “Here I am,” aligning Messiah with the obedient “I.” Anthropological Insights The pronoun frames human identity not in autonomy but in relational terms—before God, community, and covenant. The responsive “I” of obedience (Joshua 24:15) contrasts with the defiant “I” of Pharaoh (Exodus 5:2). Representative Passages • Genesis 28:15; Exodus 3:14; Leviticus 11:45; Numbers 14:12; Deuteronomy 32:39 Practical Ministry Applications 1. Preaching: Emphasize God’s personal initiative—“I will”—as grounds for believer assurance. Summary Strong’s Hebrew 589, though linguistically simple, conveys the depth of covenant, the personality of God, and the moral agency of humanity. Its pervasive presence threads Scripture together, from Genesis’ patriarchs to Malachi’s prophetic finale, continuously inviting readers into a personal encounter with the “I” who speaks and the “I” who responds. Forms and Transliterations אֲ֝נִ֗י אֲ֭נִי אֲֽנִי־ אֲנִ֔י אֲנִ֕י אֲנִ֖י אֲנִ֗י אֲנִ֛י אֲנִ֜י אֲנִ֞י אֲנִ֣י אֲנִ֣י ׀ אֲנִ֤י אֲנִ֤י ׀ אֲנִ֥י אֲנִ֧י אֲנִ֨י אֲנִ֨י ׀ אֲנִ֪י אֲנִֽי־ אֲנִי֙ אֲנִי֩ אֲנִי֮ אֲנִי־ אָ֑נִי אָ֔נִי אָ֕נִי אָ֖נִי אָ֗נִי אָ֙נִי֙ אָ֜נִי אָ֝֗נִי אָ֡נִי אָ֣נִי אָ֣נִי ׀ אָ֥נִי אָ֭נִי אָֽנִי׃ אָנִֽי׃ אָנִי֒ אָנִי֩ אָנִי֮ אני אני־ אני׃ הַאֲנִ֥י האני וַ֝אֲנִ֗י וַ֠אֲנִי וַ֭אֲנִי וַֽאֲנִ֛י וַֽאֲנִ֣י וַֽאֲנִי֙ וַֽאֲנִי־ וַאֲנִ֕י וַאֲנִ֖י וַאֲנִ֗י וַאֲנִ֛י וַאֲנִ֞י וַאֲנִ֣י וַאֲנִ֣י ׀ וַאֲנִ֤י וַאֲנִ֤י ׀ וַאֲנִ֥י וַאֲנִ֨י וַאֲנִי֙ וַאֲנִי־ ואני ואני־ שֶׁאֲנִ֣י שֶׁאֲנִ֥י שאני ’ă·nî ’ā·nî ’ă·nî- ’ănî ’ānî ’ănî- aNi aniSha ha’ănî ha·’ă·nî haaNi še’ănî še·’ă·nî sheaNi vaaNi wa’ănî wa’ănî- wa·’ă·nî wa·’ă·nî-Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 6:17 HEB: וַאֲנִ֗י הִנְנִי֩ מֵבִ֨יא KJV: And, behold, I, even I, do bring INT: I behold I am bringing Genesis 9:9 Genesis 9:12 Genesis 14:23 Genesis 15:7 Genesis 17:1 Genesis 17:4 Genesis 18:13 Genesis 18:17 Genesis 18:17 Genesis 22:5 Genesis 24:45 Genesis 27:8 Genesis 27:24 Genesis 27:32 Genesis 27:34 Genesis 27:38 Genesis 28:13 Genesis 31:44 Genesis 31:52 Genesis 33:14 Genesis 34:30 Genesis 34:30 Genesis 35:11 Genesis 37:10 874 Occurrences |
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