Lexical Summary anas: To compel, force, constrain Original Word: אֲנַס Strong's Exhaustive Concordance trouble (Aramaic) corresponding to 'anac; figuratively, to distress -- trouble. see HEBREW 'anac NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) a prim. root Definition to oppress NASB Translation baffles (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֲנַס] verb oppress (Biblical Hebrew [late] constrain); — Pe`al Participle אָנֵס לָ֑ךְ Daniel 4:6. Topical Lexicon Biblical OccurrenceDaniel 4:9 contains the sole appearance of אֲנַס. Nebuchadnezzar addresses Daniel: “Because I know that the Spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery baffles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, along with its interpretation.” (Daniel 4:9) Here the emphatic first-person pronoun draws attention to the king’s own settled conviction about Daniel’s God-given insight. Historical Setting Nebuchadnezzar’s proclamation in Daniel 4 is a public document issued after his humbling and restoration. The Babylonian monarch—arguably the most powerful ruler of the sixth century BC—had already witnessed Yahweh’s superiority through Daniel 2 and Daniel 3. By chapter 4 he speaks in Aramaic, the lingua franca of empire, so his personal confession could be heard across the nations he governed (Daniel 4:1). When he says “I know,” the empire’s absolute sovereign acknowledges a higher sovereignty at work. Personal Testimony and Literary Function 1. Emphasis on first-person witness: The self-referential אֲנַס foregrounds Nebuchadnezzar’s personal responsibility before God. The chapter alternates between third-person narrative and first-person address, framing the dream and its interpretation as the king’s own testimony (Daniel 4:2-3; 34-37). Theological Themes • Divine sovereignty over rulers: A world emperor is reduced to one who says, “I know” only because revelation has been granted to him (compare Daniel 2:30). Ministry Applications • Cultivate credibility: Daniel’s reputation for integrity allowed a hardened monarch to admit, “I know.” Faithful, public obedience invites open doors for gospel proclamation. Intercanonical Echoes • Old Testament parallels: Pharaoh admitted, “I have sinned this time; the LORD is righteous” (Exodus 9:27), yet fell short of enduring repentance, contrasting Nebuchadnezzar’s final praise. Christological Foreshadowing Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling, restoration, and personal confession prefigure the pattern realized perfectly in Christ: humiliation, exaltation, and universal acknowledgment of His lordship (compare Daniel 4:37 with Acts 2:33-36). Takeaway for Today אֲנַס may be a single word, yet its strategic placement turns an imperial decree into a personal testimony of grace. When God’s people live faithfully in exile, even powerful skeptics can be brought to say, “I know,” and the resulting confession reverberates far beyond their immediate context. Forms and Transliterations אָנֵ֣ס אנס ’ā·nês ’ānês aNesLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 4:9 HEB: רָ֖ז לָא־ אָנֵ֣ס לָ֑ךְ חֶזְוֵ֨י NAS: mystery baffles you, tell KJV: secret troubleth thee, tell INT: mystery or even baffles the visions of my dream |
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