Lexical Summary anog: To delight, to take pleasure in Original Word: עָנַג Strong's Exhaustive Concordance delicateness, have delight self, sport self A primitive root; to be soft or pliable, i.e. (figuratively) effeminate or luxurious -- delicate(-ness), (have) delight (self), sport self. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to be soft, delicate, dainty NASB Translation dainty (1), delicateness (1), delight (4), delighted (1), jest (1), take delight (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [עָנֹג, LagBN 31] verb be soft, delicate, dainty (Late Hebrew id. Pi`el make soft, pliable, live or spend in enjoyment; Arabic  use amorous behaviour, affect langour); — Pu`al Participle feminine הַמְּעֻנָּגָה Jeremiah 6:2 daintily bred, figurative of Jerusalem. Hithpa`el 1. be of dainty habit, Infinitive construct הִתְעַנֵּג Deuteronomy 28:56 (woman, "" רֹךְ). 2 take exquisite delight, Perfect3plural וְהִתְעַנְּגוּ consecutive Psalm 37:11 (עַל of thing); 2 masculine plural וְהִתְעַנַּגְתֶּם consecutive Isaiah 66:11 (מִן of thing); Imperfect3masculine singular יִתְעַנָּ֑ג Job 27:10; 2masculine singular תִּתְעַנַּג Isaiah 58:14, תִּתְעַנָּ֑ג Job 22:26 (all with [שַׁדַּי] ׳עַליֿ); 3 feminine singular תִּתְעַנַּג Isaiah 55:2 (ב of thing); Imperative masculine singular ׳הִתְעַנַּג עַליֿ Psalm 37:4. 3 with עַל, in bad sense, make merry over, make sport of, Imperfect2masculine plural עַלמִֿי תִּתְעַנָּ֑גוּ Isaiah 57:4. Topical Lexicon Meaning and nuance עָנַג depicts an inward posture of pleasantness expressed either in luxuriant self-indulgence or in a godward, soul-satisfying delight. The context alone determines whether the verb celebrates holy enjoyment or exposes pampered softness. Occurrences and thematic distribution 1. Spiritual delight in the LORD – Job 22:26; Job 27:10; Psalm 37:4; Isaiah 58:14. Delighting in God: worship and trust Job teaches that true penitence culminates in joy: “Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty” (Job 22:26). David echoes the same relational dynamic: “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Isaiah extends the promise from individual devotion to communal Sabbath blessing: “then you will delight yourself in the LORD” (Isaiah 58:14). In each passage עָנַג marks a pleasure rooted in the character of God; the believer’s satisfaction flows from communion rather than circumstance. Warnings against self-indulgent luxury Moses foresees delicate complacency as a prelude to covenant curse: the previously “delicate and tender” woman (Deuteronomy 28:56) will turn to desperate cruelty during siege. Jeremiah laments that the “beautiful and delicate” Daughter of Zion (Jeremiah 6:2) will likewise be trampled. Isaiah 57:4 employs sarcastic parallelism: Judah “amuses” herself (עָנַג) by sticking out the tongue in derision of God’s prophets. Everywhere sinful pampering breeds hardness toward others and contempt toward God. Prophetic hope of restored delight Even as judgment looms, the prophets anticipate renewal. “Listen carefully to Me… and your soul will delight in the richest of foods” (Isaiah 55:2). The climactic vision of Zion pictures worshipers who “drink deeply and delight yourselves in her glorious abundance” (Isaiah 66:11). The same vocabulary once describing spoiled ease is redeemed to portray covenant fullness. Historical and cultural setting In the ancient Near East, softness of skin and avoidance of manual toil signified wealth and status. Hebrew poetry adopts this imagery both negatively—pampered nobles oblivious to danger—and positively—faithful dependents enjoying the fruit of divine hospitality. The Sabbath, temple feasts, and jubilee economics all frame legitimate delight within obedient rest, guarding Israel against the idolatry of luxury. Theological significance 1. God invites joy; delight is not optional ornamentation but integral to covenant fidelity. Ministry and pastoral application • Cultivate disciplines (Sabbath keeping, meditative prayer, corporate worship) that redirect the heart from consumeristic pleasures to satisfaction in Christ. Teaching and preaching insights A. Text: Psalm 37:4; Theme: “Delight and Desire” 1. Command: Delight yourself. B. Text: Isaiah 58:13–14; Theme: “Sabbath Delight” 1. Turning from own pleasure. C. Text: Deuteronomy 28:56; Theme: “When Luxury Turns Lethal” 1. The deceit of comfort. New Testament resonance Though עָנַג itself does not occur in the Greek Scriptures, its theology surfaces in exhortations such as “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4) and in warnings that lovers of pleasure will emerge in the last days (2 Timothy 3:4). The ultimate fulfillment is in Jesus Christ, who endured the cross “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2), securing for His people unending delight in the presence of God. Forms and Transliterations וְ֝הִתְעַנְּג֗וּ וְהִתְעַנַּ֥ג וְהִתְעַנַּגְתֶּ֖ם וְהַמְּעֻנָּגָ֔ה וְתִתְעַנַּ֥ג והמענגה והתענג והתענגו והתענגתם ותתענג יִתְעַנָּ֑ג יתענג מֵהִתְעַנֵּ֖ג מהתענג תִּתְעַנַּג֙ תִּתְעַנָּ֑ג תִּתְעַנָּ֔גוּ תתענג תתענגו mê·hiṯ·‘an·nêḡ mêhiṯ‘annêḡ mehitanNeg tiṯ‘annaḡ tiṯ‘annāḡ tiṯ‘annāḡū tiṯ·‘an·nā·ḡū tiṯ·‘an·naḡ tiṯ·‘an·nāḡ titanNag titanNagu vehammeunnaGah vehitanNag vehitannagTem vehitanneGu vetitanNag wə·ham·mə·‘un·nā·ḡāh wə·hiṯ·‘an·naḡ wə·hiṯ·‘an·naḡ·tem wə·hiṯ·‘an·nə·ḡū wə·ṯiṯ·‘an·naḡ wəhammə‘unnāḡāh wəhiṯ‘annaḡ wəhiṯ‘annaḡtem wəhiṯ‘annəḡū wəṯiṯ‘annaḡ yiṯ‘annāḡ yiṯ·‘an·nāḡ yitanNagLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Deuteronomy 28:56 HEB: עַל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ מֵהִתְעַנֵּ֖ג וּמֵרֹ֑ךְ תֵּרַ֤ע NAS: on the ground for delicateness and refinement, KJV: upon the ground for delicateness and tenderness, INT: on the ground delicateness and refinement shall be hostile Job 22:26 Job 27:10 Psalm 37:4 Psalm 37:11 Isaiah 55:2 Isaiah 57:4 Isaiah 58:14 Isaiah 66:11 Jeremiah 6:2 10 Occurrences |
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