591. oniyyah
Lexical Summary
oniyyah: ships, ship, boats

Original Word: אֱנִיָּה
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Transliteration: oniyah
Pronunciation: o-nee-YAH
Phonetic Spelling: (on-ee-yaw')
KJV: ship(-men)
NASB: ships, ship, boats
Word Origin: [feminine of H590 (אָנִי - ships)]

1. a ship

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
shipmen

Feminine of 'oniy; a ship -- ship((-men)).

see HEBREW 'oniy

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from the same as oni
Definition
a ship
NASB Translation
boats (1), sailors* (1), ship (4), ships (25).

Brown-Driver-Briggs
אֳנִיָּה noun feminine of individual meaning a ship — absolute Jonah 1:3 3t.; Plural absolute אֳנִיּוֺת Deuteronomy 28:68 +; אֳונִ֯יּוֺת2Chronicles 8:18; construct = absolute 1 Kings 22:49 +, etc.; — a ship Proverbs 30:19; Genesis 49:13; Deuteronomy 28:68; Judges 5:17 (where, however, compare BuBB Richter u. Sam. p. 16 on text) 1 Kings 22:49,50; Isaiah 43:14; 2Chronicles 8:18; 20:36,37; Jonah 1:4,5; Psalm 104:26; Psalm 107:23; Daniel 11:40; הַיָּם ׳א Ezekiel 27:9; propelled by oars Ezekiel 27:29; especially תַּרְשִׁישׁ׳א (compare אֳנִי) 1 Kings 22:49; 2Chronicles 9:21 (compare 1 Kings 10:22 above below אֳנִי) Psalm 48:8; Isaiah 2:16; Isaiah 23:1,14; Isaiah 60:9; Ezekiel 27:25; late of ship going to Tarshish 2Chronicles 9:21; 20:36; Jonah 1:3; merchant-ship, סוֺחֵר ׳א Proverbs 31:14; אֵבֶ֑ה ׳א swift ships Job 9:26 (compare אבה); seamen אַנְשֵׁיאֳֿנִיּוֺת 1 Kings 9:27.

Topical Lexicon
אֱנִיָּה (Strong’s H591)

Meaning and Range of Imagery

The term designates every sort of sea-going craft, from light papyrus skiffs (Job 9:26) to the majestic long-distance “ships of Tarshish” (Isaiah 2:16). It can point to commercial fleets, naval squadrons, or the single vessel that carried Jonah. Across Scripture the word becomes a vivid emblem of commerce, power, vulnerability, judgment, and hope.

Distribution in Scripture

Approximately thirty-one occurrences span the Pentateuch (Genesis 49:13; Deuteronomy 28:68), Historical Books (1 Kings 9–10; 2 Chronicles 8–9; 20), Wisdom Literature (Job, Psalms, Proverbs), Major Prophets (Isaiah), and the Book of the Twelve (Ezekiel; Jonah; Nahum). The clustering of references in accounts of Solomon, in the Tyrian oracle (Ezekiel 27), and in Jonah highlights major theological themes—prosperity, international reach, and divine sovereignty over the sea.

Ships in Commerce and Prosperity

1 Kings 9:26-28 records Solomon’s fleet at Ezion-Geber on the Red Sea, crewed by experienced Phoenician sailors. Gold, almug wood, and precious stones flowed into Israel, fulfilling the promise that obedience brings abundance. Proverbs 31:14 compares the diligent wife to “merchant ships, bringing her food from afar,” depicting industry, foresight, and the blessing of global trade under God’s hand. The prophets envision restored prosperity in identical terms: “Surely the islands await Me, with the ships of Tarshish in the lead” (Isaiah 60:9).

Military and Political Significance

Naval capability signified political clout. Jehoshaphat’s ill-fated fleet (1 Kings 22:48) underscores the folly of alliances forged without divine approval. Isaiah 2:16 announces judgment “against every ship of Tarshish and every stately vessel,” demonstrating that the might of empires will crumble before the Lord of hosts.

International Exchange and the Port of Tyre

Ezekiel 27 catalogs the global marketplace centred in Tyre. Verse 25 states, “The ships of Tarshish carried your merchandise.” The dismantling of those fleets (verses 26-27) dramatizes God’s verdict against prideful commercialism. Mariners lament, merchants are ruined, and the harbour becomes a byword of collapse—an enduring warning to nations that trust wealth more than the Creator.

Human Frailty and Divine Sovereignty

Job likens fleeting days to “boats of papyrus” (Job 9:26). Psalms 107:23-30 pictures sailors who “saw the works of the LORD” when storms drove them to cry out for deliverance. The episode shows that even seasoned navigators are helpless until the Lord “stilled the storm to a whisper.” Jonah’s flight vividly reinforces this: one man’s disobedience imperils an entire crew until repentance and sacrifice restore calm (Jonah 1:3-16).

Judgment Motifs

Deuteronomy 28:68 foretells exile “in ships” as the direst covenant curse. History records repeated captivities, evidencing that God’s warnings are neither hollow nor obsolete. Psalm 48:7 depicts the Lord shattering the proud fleets of Tarshish with an east wind, echoing the Red Sea deliverance and foreshadowing final judgment on every power arrayed against His purposes.

Metaphors of Mystery and Wonder

Agur marvels at “the way of a ship on the high seas” (Proverbs 30:19), an image of paths inscrutable to the human mind yet perfectly charted by God. Such language invites meditation on divine wisdom that orders the seemingly trackless deep.

Hope and Mission

Isaiah 60:9 forms a bridge from Israel’s past to the future gathering of the nations: vessels that once bore cargo for profit will convey “your sons from afar” for worship. The same element that threatened Jonah becomes the avenue for worldwide restoration. The picture anticipates the spread of the gospel over every ocean, calling the Church to maritime and global mission.

Devotional and Ministry Applications

• Dependence: Like mariners, believers must trust the Lord amid uncontrollable forces.
• Stewardship: Commerce, when surrendered to God, channels His provision; when idolized, it invites judgment.
• Mission: The imagery urges engagement with the nations, confident that winds and waves still obey Christ (Mark 4:41).
• Humility: Vast seas and fragile hulls remind humanity of its limits and of the Creator who alone “sets a boundary the waters cannot cross” (cf. Job 38:10-11).

The word אֱנִיָּה thus navigates a theological course from blessing to judgment to eschatological hope, anchoring every voyage in the sovereign purposes of God revealed throughout Scripture.

Forms and Transliterations
אֳנִיָּ֥ה אֳנִיּ֑וֹת אֳנִיּ֔וֹת אֳנִיּ֖וֹת אֳנִיּ֣וֹת אֳנִיּ֤וֹת אֳנִיּ֥וֹת אֳנִיּ֨וֹת אֳנִיֹּ֗ות אָנִיָּ֣ה ׀ אניה אניות בָּֽאֳנִיָּה֙ בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת בָּאֳנִיּ֥וֹת בָּאֳנִיּוֹת֒ באניה באניות וְהָ֣אֳנִיָּ֔ה וָאֳנִיּ֤וֹת וּבָאֳנִיּ֖וֹת ואניות ובאניות והאניה כָּאֳנִיּ֣וֹת כאניות מֵאָנִיּֽוֹתֵיהֶ֗ם מאניותיהם ’ā·nî·yāh ’ānîyāh ’o·nî·yāh ’o·nî·yō·wṯ ’onîyāh ’onîyōwṯ aniYah bā’onîyāh bā’onîyōwṯ bā·’o·nî·yāh bā·’o·nî·yō·wṯ booniYah booniyOt kā’onîyōwṯ kā·’o·nî·yō·wṯ kooniYot mê’ānîyōwṯêhem mê·’ā·nî·yō·w·ṯê·hem meaniyoteiHem oniYah oniYot ū·ḇā·’o·nî·yō·wṯ ūḇā’onîyōwṯ uvooniYot veHooniYah vooniYot wā’onîyōwṯ wā·’o·nî·yō·wṯ wə·hā·’o·nî·yāh wəhā’onîyāh
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 49:13
HEB: וְהוּא֙ לְח֣וֹף אֳנִיּ֔וֹת וְיַרְכָת֖וֹ עַל־
NAS: And he [shall be] a haven for ships, And his flank
KJV: and he [shall be] for an haven of ships; and his border
INT: he and he a haven ships and his flank toward

Deuteronomy 28:68
HEB: יְהוָ֥ה ׀ מִצְרַיִם֮ בָּאֳנִיּוֹת֒ בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר
NAS: to Egypt in ships, by the way
KJV: again with ships, by the way
INT: the LORD to Egypt ships the way which

Judges 5:17
HEB: לָ֥מָּה יָג֖וּר אֳנִיּ֑וֹת אָשֵׁ֗ר יָשַׁב֙
NAS: did Dan stay in ships? Asher sat
KJV: remain in ships? Asher
INT: and why stay ship Asher sat

1 Kings 9:27
HEB: עֲבָדָ֔יו אַנְשֵׁ֣י אֳנִיּ֔וֹת יֹדְעֵ֖י הַיָּ֑ם
INT: his servants another who knew the sea

1 Kings 22:48
HEB: (עָשָׂה֩ ק) אֳנִיּ֨וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֜ישׁ לָלֶ֧כֶת
NAS: made ships of Tarshish
KJV: made ships of Tharshish
INT: Jehoshaphat ten ships of Tarshish to go

1 Kings 22:48
HEB: (נִשְׁבְּר֥וּ ק) אֳנִיּ֖וֹת בְּעֶצְי֥וֹן גָּֽבֶר׃
NAS: but they did not go for the ships were broken
KJV: but they went not; for the ships were broken
INT: for break down the ships Ezion-geber

1 Kings 22:49
HEB: עִם־ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת וְלֹ֥א אָבָ֖ה
NAS: with your servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat
KJV: with thy servants in the ships. But Jehoshaphat
INT: with your servants the ships was not willing

2 Chronicles 8:18
HEB: [אֹונִיֹּות כ] (אֳנִיֹּ֗ות ק) וַעֲבָדִים֮
NAS: sent him ships and servants
KJV: of his servants ships, and servants
INT: the hands his servants ship and servants knew

2 Chronicles 9:21
HEB: כִּֽי־ אֳנִיּ֤וֹת לַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ הֹלְכ֣וֹת
NAS: For the king had ships which went
KJV: For the king's ships went to Tarshish
INT: for had ships the king went

2 Chronicles 9:21
HEB: שָׁנִ֜ים תָּב֣וֹאנָה ׀ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ נֹֽשְׂאוֹת֙
NAS: years the ships of Tarshish
KJV: came the ships of Tarshish
INT: years came the ships of Tarshish bringing

2 Chronicles 20:36
HEB: עִמּ֔וֹ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֳנִיּ֖וֹת לָלֶ֣כֶת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ
NAS: himself with him to make ships to go
KJV: himself with him to make ships to go
INT: with to make ships to go to Tarshish

2 Chronicles 20:36
HEB: תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וַיַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֳנִיּ֖וֹת בְּעֶצְי֥וֹן גָּֽבֶר׃
NAS: and they made the ships in Ezion-geber.
KJV: and they made the ships in Eziongeber.
INT: to Tarshish made the ships Ezion-geber

2 Chronicles 20:37
HEB: מַעֲשֶׂ֔יךָ וַיִּשָּׁבְר֣וּ אֳנִיּ֔וֹת וְלֹ֥א עָצְר֖וּ
NAS: your works. So the ships were broken
KJV: thy works. And the ships were broken,
INT: your works were broken the ships not and could

Job 9:26
HEB: חָ֭לְפוּ עִם־ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת אֵבֶ֑ה כְּ֝נֶ֗שֶׁר
NAS: reed boats, Like an eagle
KJV: the swift ships: as the eagle
INT: slip like boats reed an eagle

Psalm 48:7
HEB: קָדִ֑ים תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃
NAS: wind You break the ships of Tarshish.
KJV: Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish
INT: the east break the ships of Tarshish

Psalm 104:26
HEB: שָׁ֭ם אֳנִיּ֣וֹת יְהַלֵּכ֑וּן לִ֝וְיָתָ֗ן
NAS: There the ships move
KJV: There go the ships: [there is] that leviathan,
INT: There the ships move along Leviathan

Psalm 107:23
HEB: יוֹרְדֵ֣י הַ֭יָּם בָּאֳנִיּ֑וֹת עֹשֵׂ֥י מְ֝לָאכָ֗ה
NAS: to the sea in ships, Who do
KJV: to the sea in ships, that do
INT: go to the sea ships do business

Proverbs 30:19
HEB: צ֥וּר דֶּֽרֶךְ־ אֳנִיָּ֥ה בְלֶב־ יָ֑ם
NAS: The way of a ship in the middle
KJV: the way of a ship in the midst
INT: A rock the way of a ship the middle of the sea

Proverbs 31:14
HEB: הָ֭יְתָה כָּאֳנִיּ֣וֹת סוֹחֵ֑ר מִ֝מֶּרְחָ֗ק
NAS: She is like merchant ships; She brings
KJV: She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth
INT: become ships merchant afar

Isaiah 2:16
HEB: וְעַ֖ל כָּל־ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ וְעַ֖ל
NAS: all the ships of Tarshish
KJV: And upon all the ships of Tarshish,
INT: Against all the ships of Tarshish and against

Isaiah 23:1
HEB: צֹ֑ר הֵילִ֣ילוּ ׀ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֗ישׁ כִּֽי־
NAS: Wail, O ships of Tarshish,
KJV: Howl, ye ships of Tarshish;
INT: Tyre Wail ships of Tarshish for

Isaiah 23:14
HEB: הֵילִ֖ילוּ אֳנִיּ֣וֹת תַּרְשִׁ֑ישׁ כִּ֥י
NAS: Wail, O ships of Tarshish,
KJV: Howl, ye ships of Tarshish:
INT: Wail ships of Tarshish for

Isaiah 43:14
HEB: כֻּלָּ֔ם וְכַשְׂדִּ֖ים בָּאֳנִיּ֥וֹת רִנָּתָֽם׃
NAS: Even the Chaldeans, into the ships in which they rejoice.
KJV: whose cry [is] in the ships.
INT: all the Chaldeans the ships rejoice

Isaiah 60:9
HEB: אִיִּ֣ים יְקַוּ֗וּ וָאֳנִיּ֤וֹת תַּרְשִׁישׁ֙ בָּרִ֣אשֹׁנָ֔ה
NAS: will wait for Me; And the ships of Tarshish
KJV: shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish
INT: the coastlands will wait and the ships of Tarshish first

Ezekiel 27:9
HEB: בִּדְקֵ֑ךְ כָּל־ אֳנִיּ֨וֹת הַיָּ֤ם וּמַלָּֽחֵיהֶם֙
NAS: All the ships of the sea
KJV: [men] thereof were in thee thy calkers: all the ships of the sea
INT: your seams All the ships of the sea and their sailors

31 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 591
31 Occurrences


’ā·nî·yāh — 1 Occ.
bā·’o·nî·yāh — 1 Occ.
bā·’o·nî·yō·wṯ — 4 Occ.
kā·’o·nî·yō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
mê·’ā·nî·yō·w·ṯê·hem — 1 Occ.
’o·nî·yāh — 1 Occ.
’o·nî·yō·wṯ — 19 Occ.
ū·ḇā·’o·nî·yō·wṯ — 1 Occ.
wə·hā·’o·nî·yāh — 1 Occ.
wā·’o·nî·yō·wṯ — 1 Occ.

590
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