Lexical Summary ani: Poor, afflicted, humble Original Word: עָנִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor From anah; depressed, in mind or circumstances (practically the same as anav, although the margin constantly disputes this, making anav subjective and aniy objective) -- afflicted, humble, lowly, needy, poor. see HEBREW anah see HEBREW anav see HEBREW anav see HEBREW aniy NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom anah Definition poor, afflicted, humble NASB Translation afflicted (42), afflicted one (1), humble (3), lowly (1), needy (2), needy and poor (1), oppressed (1), poor (19), poor man (2), who is humble (1), wretched (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עָנִי adj poor, afflicted, humble; — ׳ע Deuteronomy 24:12 51t.; plural עֲיִּים Isaiah 3:15 6t.; construct עֲנִיֵּי Isaiah 10:2 4t. (see also Kt and Qr below עָנָו above); suffix עֲנִיֶּיךָ Psalm 72:2; Psalm 74:19, עֲנִיֶּ֑ךָ Deuteronomy 15:11, עֲנִיָּו Isaiah 49:13; feminine singular עֲנִיָּה Isaiah 51:21; Isaiah 54:11 ( + Isaiah 10:30 ᵑ0, but read עֲנִיהָ, see I. ענה); — 1 poor, needy, "" אביון Deuteronomy 15:11; Deuteronomy 24:14. 15 Proverbs 31:20, "" יתום Job 24:9; Exodus 22:24 (E), Deuteronomy 24:12; having right to gleanings Leviticus 19:10; Leviticus 23:22 (H); ׳יְמֵי ע Proverbs 15:15, compare Proverbs 14:21 (Kt). 2 poor and weak, oppressed by the rich and powerful Isaiah 3:14,15; Isaiah 32:7 (Qr), Isaiah 58:7; Isaiah 29:12; Isaiah 36:6,15; Proverbs 30:14; Ecclesiastes 6:8; Ezekiel 18:17; Zechariah 7:10; Job 24:4, also Amos 8:4 (Qr); "" דל Job 34:28; Proverbs 22:22; עֲנִיֵּי עַמִּי Isaiah 10:2; עני ואביוך Job 24:14 Proverbs 31:9 Jeremiah 22:16; Ezekiel 16:49; Ezekiel 18:12; Ezekiel 22:29. 3 poor, weak, afflicted Israel, or pious in Israel afflicted by wicked nations or the wicked in Israel itself Psalm 10:2; Psalm 10:9 (twice in verse); Psalm 14:6 (dubious, compare Psalm 53:6) Psalm 102:1 (or proper name), Isaiah 14:32; Habakkuk 3:14; of Zion, עֲנִיָּה Isaiah 51:21; Isaiah 54:11; ׳שׁד ע Psalm 12:6; ׳יחיד וע Psalm 25:16; עני ואביון Psalm 35:10; Psalm 37:14; Psalm 40:18 = Psalm 70:6; Psalm 74:21; Psalm 86:1; Psalm 109:16; Psalm 109:22, plural Isaiah 41:17; עני וְכוֺאֵב Psalm 69:30; וָרָשׁ ׳ע Psalm 82:3; ׳עֱנוּת ע Psalm 22:25; וְגֹוֵעַ ׳ע Psalm 88:16; "" דל Isaiah 26:6; Zephaniah 3:12; וּנְכֵהרֿוּחַ ׳ע Isaiah 66:2; — Zechariah 11:7,11 see II. כְּנַעֲנִי; — God does not forget them Psalm 9:13 (Kt); Psalm 9:19 (Qr); Psalm 10:12 (Kt) Psalm 74:19, but has compassion on them Isaiah 49:13, saves Psalm 34:7, delivers Psalm 35:10, and bestows various favours Psalm 68:11; Psalm 140:13, the king also judges Psalm 72:2; Psalm 72:4, and delivers Psalm 72:12. 4 humble, lowly, Zechariah 9:9 (victorious king); opposed to לֵצִים Proverbs 3:34 (Kt); opposed to גֵּאִים Proverbs 16:19 (Kt); עם עני opposed to רמות עינים Psalm 18:28 = 2 Samuel 22:28. Topical Lexicon Term Overview עָנִי (ani) depicts one who is poor, afflicted, downtrodden, or humble in circumstances. Scripture consistently portrays this group as the object of divine concern and covenantal responsibility. Frequency and Distribution Roughly seventy-seven occurrences span the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Prophets, Psalms, and Wisdom literature. Usage clusters in legislation protecting the vulnerable (Exodus, Deuteronomy), prophetic indictments of social injustice (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos), and prayers or songs that appeal to God’s compassion (Psalms). Covenantal Emphasis on the Vulnerable From the outset Israel’s identity is tied to remembering affliction and extending mercy. “You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do and they cry out to Me, I will surely hear their cry” (Exodus 22:22-23). Protection of the עָנִי is embedded in laws on gleaning (Leviticus 19:9-10), interest-free loans (Exodus 22:25), fair courts (Exodus 23:6), and tithes for charity (Deuteronomy 14:28-29). These commands ground social ethics in God’s past redemption: “Remember that you were slaves in Egypt” (Deuteronomy 24:18). Illustrative Passages • Exodus 22:25 – financial safeguards Legal and Social Implications Israel’s courts were not to “deny justice to your needy people” (Exodus 23:6). Land tenure, Sabbatical release, and Jubilee all served to prevent generational destitution. Violating these statutes would bring covenant curses; heeding them invited blessing (Deuteronomy 15:4-11). Wisdom Literature and the Heart of Worship Proverbs contrasts two paths: honoring the poor brings favor (Proverbs 14:31), while mocking them insults their Maker (Proverbs 17:5). The Psalms personalize the theme, portraying the עָנִי simultaneously as an individual worshiper and a collective describing Israel in distress (Psalms 25; 40; 86). The repeated cry “Hear, O LORD” affirms that God’s throne is a refuge when human systems fail. Prophetic and Messianic Foreshadowing Messianic hope centers on a Servant anointed “to proclaim good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1; cf. Luke 4:18). Zechariah announces a humble king (“lowly and riding on a donkey,” Zechariah 9:9) who embodies covenant faithfulness to the afflicted. These trajectories converge in Jesus Christ, whose ministry validates God’s heart for the poor and whose kingdom reverses oppressive structures (Matthew 11:5). Historical Trajectory Pre-exilic prophets expose systemic abuse (Isaiah 5:8; Amos 2:6-7). Exile follows widespread disregard for the עָנִי. Post-exilic reforms (Nehemiah 5) renew social justice, revealing revival as both spiritual and economic. Intertestamental literature (e.g., Psalm 37, translated into Greek) keeps the hope alive, preparing the way for the Gospel’s emphasis on the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). New Testament Connections Though the Hebrew term does not appear, its theological load is carried forward. Mary’s Magnificat mirrors Hannah’s celebration of God who “fills the hungry with good things” (Luke 1:53). The Jerusalem church’s diakonia to widows (Acts 6) and Paul’s “eager to remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10) continue the Old Testament mandate. Practical Ministry Applications 1. Mercy reflects God’s character; generosity is an act of worship (2 Corinthians 9:12-13). The testimony of Scripture is consistent: the God who hears the cry of the עָנִי calls His people to embody that same compassion until He consummates His reign of justice and peace. Forms and Transliterations אָֽרֶץ׃ ארץ׃ הֶֽעָנִ֖י הֶֽעָנִי֙ הָעֲנִיִּ֨ים העני העניים וְ֝לַעֲנָוִ֗ים וְ֝עָנִ֗י וְעָנִ֖י וְעָנִ֣י וְעָנִ֤י וְעָנִ֥י וַעֲנִיִּ֥ים וַעֲנִיֶּ֥יךָ וַעֲנִיָּ֖ו ולענוים ועני ועניו וענייך ועניים לְעָנִ֣י לֶּעָנִ֣י לֶֽעָנִ֤י לֶעָנִ֑י לֶעָנִ֣י לַעֲנִיֶּ֛ךָ לעני לעניך מֵעָנִ֞י מעני עֲ֝נִיֶּ֗יךָ עֲֽנִיֵּי־ עֲנִיִּ֖ים עֲנִיִּ֣ים עֲנִיִּים֮ עֲנִיֵּ֣י עֲנִיֵּ֤י עֲנִיֵּ֥י עֲנִיָּ֑ה עֲנִיָּ֥ה עֲנָוִ֑ים עֲנָוִ֣ים עֲנָוִֽים׃ עָ֘נִ֤י עָ֝נִ֗י עָ֭נִי עָנִ֑י עָנִ֖י עָנִ֗י עָנִ֣י עָנִ֤י עָנִ֥י עָנִי֙ ענוים ענוים׃ עני עניה עניי עניי־ ענייך עניים ‘ă·nā·wîm ‘ā·nî ‘ă·nî·yāh ‘ă·nî·yê ‘ă·nî·ye·ḵā ‘ă·nî·yîm ‘ănāwîm ‘ānî ‘ănî·yê- ‘ănîyāh ‘ănîyê ‘ănîyê- ‘ănîyeḵā ‘ănîyîm ’ā·reṣ ’āreṣ anaVim aNi aniYah aniyei aniYeicha aniYim Aretz hā‘ănîyîm hā·‘ă·nî·yîm haaniYim he‘ānî he·‘ā·nî heaNi la‘ănîyeḵā la·‘ă·nî·ye·ḵā laaniYecha le‘ānî lə‘ānî le·‘ā·nî lə·‘ā·nî leaNi mê‘ānî mê·‘ā·nî meaNi vaaniYav vaaniYeicha vaaniYim veaNi velaanaVim wa‘ănîyāw wa‘ănîyeḵā wa‘ănîyîm wa·‘ă·nî·yāw wa·‘ă·nî·ye·ḵā wa·‘ă·nî·yîm wə‘ānî wə·‘ā·nî wə·la·‘ă·nā·wîm wəla‘ănāwîmLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 22:25 HEB: עַמִּ֗י אֶת־ הֶֽעָנִי֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ לֹא־ NAS: to My people, to the poor among KJV: to [any of] my people [that is] poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, INT: lend to my people to the poor among are not Leviticus 19:10 Leviticus 23:22 Deuteronomy 15:11 Deuteronomy 24:12 Deuteronomy 24:14 Deuteronomy 24:15 2 Samuel 22:28 Job 24:9 Job 24:14 Job 29:12 Job 34:28 Job 36:6 Job 36:15 Psalm 9:12 Psalm 10:2 Psalm 10:9 Psalm 10:9 Psalm 10:12 Psalm 12:5 Psalm 14:6 Psalm 18:27 Psalm 22:24 Psalm 25:16 Psalm 34:6 77 Occurrences |
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