Lexical Summary anaph: face, facial Original Word: אֲנַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance face, visage (Aramaic) corresponding to 'aph (only in the plural as a singular); the face -- face, visage. see HEBREW 'aph NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to aph Definition a face NASB Translation face (1), facial (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [אֲנַף, אַף K§ 55, 4] noun masculine only dual (SchulthZAW xxii (1902), 164) face (Biblical Hebrew אַף, √ אנף; Aramaic of Têma אנפי SAC23 Lzb222 Cooke69, 1. 14, so S-CG 19 and (usually) ᵑ7J; אפין ᵑ7Onk Jon, Topical Lexicon Occurrences and Immediate Context ‘Anaph appears twice in the Aramaic portions of Daniel. In Daniel 2:46, “King Nebuchadnezzar fell facedown, worshiped Daniel, and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him”. In Daniel 3:19, after the steadfast confession of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, “Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage, and the expression on his face changed toward” them. In both scenes the king’s “face” becomes the narrative hinge: first humbled before God-given revelation, then contorted by defiance against God’s servants. Theological Significance of the Face Scripture regularly treats the face as the outward index of the inner life (Genesis 4:5-6; 2 Corinthians 3:18). ‘Anaph reinforces that motif in Daniel. The king’s prone face in chapter 2 pictures awe before the Sovereign who reveals mysteries (Daniel 2:28). The altered face in chapter 3 exposes a heart inflamed with self-exalting fury. Thus the same countenance can testify either to submission to God or to rebellion against Him. Contrast of Worship and Wrath 1. Worship (Daniel 2:46): Nebuchadnezzar’s gesture, though misdirected toward Daniel, nevertheless acknowledges that the wisdom just displayed is “not in me, but in God” (Daniel 2:30). The face in the dust anticipates the proper response every creature owes to divine revelation (Psalm 95:6; Revelation 7:11). Implications for Ministry and Discipleship • Spiritual Discernment: External reverence is no guarantee of true conversion. Daniel’s readers learn to look beyond sudden displays of humility and evaluate whether a lasting transformation of heart accompanies the bowed face (Matthew 13:20-21). Christological Horizons Daniel’s narrative foreshadows the supreme contrast between revelatory worship and murderous wrath in the New Testament. Crowds once “marveled” at Jesus’ gracious words (Luke 4:22) yet soon clamored, “Crucify Him!” (Luke 23:21). Ultimately, every face will fall before the exalted Christ (Philippians 2:10-11), and the redeemed will “see His face” (Revelation 22:4) without fear, their own faces reflecting His glory. Summary ‘Anaph, though sparse in occurrence, vividly portrays the face as a theological barometer. Whether flattened in awe or twisted in anger, it exposes the posture of the heart toward God’s sovereignty. For the church today, these snapshots exhort continual self-examination and unwavering fidelity amid the volatile faces of a shifting world. Forms and Transliterations אַנְפּ֔וֹהִי אַנְפּ֙וֹהִי֙ אנפוהי ’an·pō·w·hî ’anpōwhî anPohiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Daniel 2:46 HEB: נְפַ֣ל עַל־ אַנְפּ֔וֹהִי וּלְדָנִיֵּ֖אל סְגִ֑ד NAS: fell on his face and did homage KJV: upon his face, and worshipped INT: fell upon his face to Daniel and did Daniel 3:19 2 Occurrences |
    |
Syriac, Christian-Palestinian Aramaic (SchulthLex.13); also אפי Palmyrene Lzb222 Cookep.339, Christian-Palestinian Aramaic with preposition 
SchulthLex.14, etc.); — plural suffix 3 masculine singular אַנְמּוֺהִי