Lexical Summary anan: To practice soothsaying, to conjure, to observe times Original Word: עָנַן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance bring, enchanter, observer of times, soothsayer, sorcerer A primitive root; to cover; used only as a denominative from anan, to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. Practise magic -- X bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe(-r of) times, soothsayer, sorcerer. see HEBREW anan Brown-Driver-Briggs [עָנַן] verb denominative Pi`el Infinitive construct suffix with accusative of congnate meaning with verb עַלהָֿאָרֶץ ׳בְּעַנְנִי ע Genesis 9:14 (P) when I bring clouds, etc. II. [עָנַן] verb Po`. practice soothsaying (probably denominative, but original meaning dubious; connection with I. עָנָן (DeIsaiah 2:6) now Generally abandoned; LöwZMG xxxi (1877), 539 compare עַיִן eye, so WeSkizzen iii. 148 (but see below); RSJPhil xiv (1885), 119 f. compare Arabic Topical Lexicon Hebrew Root and Conceptual Framework עָנַן (ʼānan) is linked to the common noun for “cloud” (עָנָן). The imagery of an overcast sky gave rise to the idea of veiling or obscuring, and from that came the practice of obscuring the future in occult prediction. Thus the verb moves from a literal “make clouds” (Genesis 9:14) to the figurative “practice soothsaying,” “interpret omens,” or “conjure.” Range of Biblical Occurrence 1. Meteorological sense: Genesis 9:14 Genesis 9:14—Clouds and Covenant “Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,”. The lone neutral use highlights Yahweh’s sovereignty over nature. The same root later describes human attempts to manipulate the unknown, underscoring a stark contrast: the Creator graciously reveals His covenant sign, whereas fallen humanity seeks secret knowledge apart from Him. Levitical and Deuteronomic Bans “You must not practice divination or sorcery.” (Leviticus 19:26) The Mosaic Law places עָנַן in a list of abominations (Deuteronomy 18:10, 14) that characterize the nations being displaced. Israel’s holiness demanded exclusive reliance on God’s revealed word rather than atmospheric omens. The prohibition protects worship, morality, and community order by cutting off avenues that inevitably lead to idolatry. Judges 9:37—‘Oak of the Diviners’ Gaal notices troops descending “by the way of the diviners’ oak.” The site name preserves evidence that Canaanite shrines for omen-reading dotted the land. Even after the conquest, the landscape itself reminded Israel of practices to avoid. Manasseh’s Apostasy (2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6) “He practiced sorcery and divination… He did much evil in the sight of the LORD.” (2 Kings 21:6) King Manasseh institutionalized עָנַן in Judah, blending it with child sacrifice and idol worship. His reign illustrates how occult pursuits accelerate national decline. Subsequent exile judgments validate the prophetic warnings that such deeds provoke divine wrath. Prophetic Exposure and Judgment Isaiah 2:6 links soothsaying with foreign alliances; Isaiah 57:3 indicts the practitioners’ moral corruption; Jeremiah 27:9 warns the remnant not to heed “your prophets, your diviners… or your soothsayers”; Micah 5:12 promises the eradication of “fortune-tellers” in the messianic future. The prophets treat עָנַן as both symptom and cause of covenant infidelity, assuring that the coming Kingdom will purge every occult substitute for God’s guidance. Theological Insights 1. Revelation versus speculation: Scripture contrasts God’s self-disclosure with human attempts to pierce the veil by illicit means. Practical Ministry Applications • Teach believers to discern contemporary equivalents—astrology, new-age channeling, occult apps—as modern forms of עָנַן. Summary עָנַן moves from a benign weather term to a trenchant symbol of humanity’s illicit quest for hidden knowledge. Scripture consistently opposes the practice, calling God’s people to forsake every form of divination and to rest in the covenantal promises secured and revealed by the Lord Himself. Forms and Transliterations בְּעַֽנְנִ֥י בענני וְעֹֽנְנִ֖ים וְעוֹנֵ֣ן וְעוֹנֵ֤ן וּֽמְעוֹנְנִ֖ים ומעוננים ועונן ועננים מְעֹנְנִ֥ים מְעוֹנְנִֽים׃ מְעוֹנֵ֥ן מעונן מעוננים׃ מעננים עֹֽנְנֵיכֶ֖ם עֹנְנָ֑ה עננה ענניכם תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ תנחשו ‘ō·nə·nāh ‘ō·nə·nê·ḵem ‘ōnənāh ‘ōnənêḵem bə‘annî bə·‘an·nî beanNi mə‘ōnənîm mə‘ōwnên mə‘ōwnnîm mə·‘ō·nə·nîm mə·‘ō·w·nên mə·‘ō·wn·nîm meoNen meoneNim meonNim oneNah oneneiChem ṯə·na·ḥă·šū tenachaShu ṯənaḥăšū ū·mə·‘ō·wn·nîm ūmə‘ōwnnîm umeonNim veoNen veoneNim wə‘ōnənîm wə‘ōwnên wə·‘ō·nə·nîm wə·‘ō·w·nênLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 9:14 HEB: וְהָיָ֕ה בְּעַֽנְנִ֥י עָנָ֖ן עַל־ NAS: It shall come about, when I bring a cloud KJV: And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud INT: shall come bring A cloud over Leviticus 19:26 Deuteronomy 18:10 Deuteronomy 18:14 Judges 9:37 2 Kings 21:6 2 Chronicles 33:6 Isaiah 2:6 Isaiah 57:3 Jeremiah 27:9 Micah 5:12 11 Occurrences |
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nasal twang, hum of insects, whence diviners as crooning; Ew Gerber31of diviner as interpreting hum of insects, whisper of leaves, etc.; WeHeid. 2, 204 now compare 
appear, i. e. dealers in phenomena); — Perfect3masculine singular consecutive וְעוֺנֵן