Anna is a significant figure in the New Testament, known for her devout faith and prophetic role. Her account is briefly mentioned in the Gospel of Luke, where she is presented as a model of piety and devotion to God.

Biblical Account

Anna is introduced in Luke 2:36-38. She is described as a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. The text notes her advanced age, stating that she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. After her husband's death, Anna dedicated her life to worship, spending her days and nights in the temple, fasting and praying. The Berean Standard Bible recounts her encounter with the infant Jesus: "Coming forward at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38).

Historical and Cultural Context

Anna's presence in the temple highlights the role of women in the religious life of Israel. As a prophetess, she is part of a long tradition of female prophets in the Bible, such as Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah. Her lineage from the tribe of Asher, one of the northern tribes of Israel, is noteworthy, as it underscores the gathering of all Israel in anticipation of the Messiah.

Theological Significance

Anna's life exemplifies unwavering faith and devotion. Her constant presence in the temple and her acts of fasting and prayer reflect a deep commitment to God. Her recognition of Jesus as the Messiah and her proclamation to those awaiting redemption underscore her prophetic gift and spiritual insight. Anna's testimony is significant as it confirms the messianic identity of Jesus to those present in the temple.

Lessons from Anna's Life

Anna's account offers several lessons for believers. Her dedication to prayer and worship serves as an example of a life centered on God. Her ability to recognize Jesus as the Messiah highlights the importance of spiritual discernment. Furthermore, her role as a prophetess and her public proclamation of Jesus' identity demonstrate the active participation of women in God's redemptive plan.

Legacy

Anna's brief but impactful appearance in the Gospel of Luke has left a lasting legacy in Christian tradition. She is often remembered for her faithfulness and her role in heralding the arrival of the Savior. Her account continues to inspire believers to live lives of devotion and to seek God's presence with fervor and dedication.Anna

gracious; one who gives

Anna

(grace), a "prophetess" in Jerusalem at the time of our Lord's Presentation in the temple. (Luke 2:36) She was of the tribe of Asher.

Anna

A daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, early married, but left a widow after seven years, and thenceforth devoted to the service of God. She was constant in attendance at the morning and evening sacrifices at the temple; and there, at the age of eighty- four years, was blessed with a sight of the infant Savior, and inspired to announce the coming of the promised Messiah to many who longed to see him, Luke 2:36-38.

Grace, an aged widow, the daughter of Phanuel. She was a "prophetess," like Miriam, Deborah, and Huldah (2 Chronicles 34:22). After seven years of married life her husband died, and during her long widowhood she daily attended the temple services. When she was eighty-four years old, she entered the temple at the moment when the aged Simeon uttered his memorable words of praise and thanks to God that he had fulfilled his ancient promise in sending his Son into the world (Luke 2:36, 37). (n.) An East Indian money of account, the sixteenth of a rupee, or about 2/ cents.ANNA

an'-a (Anna (Westcott-Hort, Hanna; see Intro, 408); Hebrew equivalent channah, signifying "grace" 1 Samuel 1:2):

(1) The wife of Tobit (Tobit 1:9).

(2) A "prophetess," daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, and thus a Galilean, living in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus' birth (Luke 2:36-38). "Of a great age," she must have been considerably over 100 years, having been a widow 84 years after a short married life of seven (see the Revised Version (British and American)). Exceptionally devout and gifted in spirit, she worshipped so constantly "with fastings and supplications night and day," that she is said to have "departed not from the temple." Some have mistakenly supposed that this signified permanent residence in the temple. The fact that her lineage is recorded indicates the distraction of her family. Tradition says that the tribe of Asher was noted for the beauty and talent of its women, who for these gifts, were qualified for royal and high-priestly marriage. While the tribe of Asher was not among the tribes that returned from the Babylonian exile to Palestine, many of its chief families must have done so as in the case of the prophetess. The period of war and national oppression, through which Anna's early life was passed, created in her, as in the aged Simeon, an intense longing for the "redemption" promised through the Messiah. See SIMEON. This hope of national deliverance sustained her through more than four decades of patient waiting. In the birth of Jesus her faith was abundantly rewarded, and she became a grateful and ceaseless witness "to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem," that the day of their spiritual deliverance had come.

LITERATURE.

See Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus, I, 200-201, Gelkie, Life and Words of Christ, I, 133-34.

Dwight M. Pratt

451. Hanna -- Anna, a prophetess
... Anna, a prophetess. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Hanna Phonetic
Spelling: (an'-nah) Short Definition: Anna Definition: Anna, a prophetess ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/451.htm - 6k

5323. Phanouel -- Phanuel, an Israelite
... Noun, Indeclinable Transliteration: Phanouel Phonetic Spelling: (fan-oo-ale') Short
Definition: Phanuel Definition: Phanuel, father of Anna the prophetess. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5323.htm - 6k

577. annah -- ah, now! I (we) beseech you!
annah or anna. 576, 577. annah or anna. 578 . ah, now! I (we) beseech
you! Transliteration: annah or anna Phonetic Spelling: (awn ...
/hebrew/577.htm - 6k

By the Example of Anna St. ...
... Concerning Widows. Chapter IV. By the example of Anna St.? By the example
of Anna St. Ambrose shows what ought to be the life ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iv by the example.htm

Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna
... Fragments Oration Concerning Simeon and Anna. On the Day that They Met in the
Temple. [2986]. ... For Anna is, by interpretation, grace. XIII. ...
/.../the writings of methodius fragments/oration concerning simeon and anna.htm

Then Anna, Filled with the Holy Spirit, Said Before them All...
... Chapter 5. Then Anna, filled with the Holy Spirit, said before them all?
Then Anna, filled with the Holy Spirit, said before them ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 5 then anna filled.htm

Thereafter He Appeared to Anna his Wife, Saying: Fear Not...
... Chapter 4. Thereafter he appeared to Anna his wife, saying: Fear not?
Thereafter he appeared to Anna his wife, saying: Fear not ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of the nativity of mary/chapter 4 thereafter he appeared.htm

Nor, Because I Called Ruth Blessed, Anna More Blessed...
... Section 10. Nor, because I called Ruth blessed, Anna more blessed? 10.
Nor, because I called Ruth blessed, Anna more blessed, in ...
/.../augustine/on the good of widowhood /section 10 nor because i.htm

After These Things, Her Nine Months Being Fulfilled, Anna Brought ...
... Chapter 4. After these things, her nine months being fulfilled, Anna brought
forth a daughter? After these things, her nine months ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of pseudo-matthew/chapter 4 after these things.htm

For that Also is no Foolish Question which is Wont to be Proposed. ...
... Further, the desert of Anna herself is herein chiefly commended, in that, after
she had so soon buried her husband, through her protracted life she long ...
/.../augustine/on the good of widowhood /section 16 for that also.htm

Preface
... After he had met the German nun and mystic, Anna Emmerich, on September 24,
1818, he was so amazed, he decided to be her stenographer. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/preface.htm

Letter cxxvii. To Principia.
... In the gospel according to Luke we read the following passage: "there was one Anna,
a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter cxxvii to principia.htm

Related Works by or About Anne Catherine Emmerich
... 1. Schm??ger, K. (1867). Das Leben der gottseligen Anna Katharina Emmerich . Freiberg:
Herder. ... Miscellaneous. 1. Emmerich, Anna Katharina. (1869). ...
/.../emmerich/the life of the blessed virgin mary/related works by or about.htm

Anna (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ANNA. an'-a (Anna (Westcott ... 133-34. Dwight M.
Pratt. Multi-Version Concordance Anna (1 Occurrence). Luke 2 ...
/a/anna.htm - 9k

Erech (2 Occurrences)
... 3. Its Patron-Deities and Their Temples: Two great deities, Ishtar and Nanaa, were
worshipped in this city, the temple of the former being E-anna, "the house ...
/e/erech.htm - 13k

Phanuel (1 Occurrence)
... Face of God, father of the prophetess Anna (qv), Luke 2:36. Int. ... PHANUEL.
fan-u'-el, fan'-u-el (penu'el, "vision of God"; Phanouel): Parent of Anna (Luke ...
/p/phanuel.htm - 7k

Asher (43 Occurrences)
...Anna the prophetess was of this tribe (Luke 2:36). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
ASHER (1). ... To this tribe belonged the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:36). ...
/a/asher.htm - 26k

Prophetess (8 Occurrences)
... Among others mentioned as having the prophetic gift we find Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1),
Anna (Luke 2:36) and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:8, 9). See PROPHET ...
/p/prophetess.htm - 10k

Cyrus (20 Occurrences)
... He states that the gods (of the various cities of Babylonia) forsook their dwellings
in anger that he (Nabonidus) had made them enter within Su-anna (Babylon). ...
/c/cyrus.htm - 39k

Babel (3 Occurrences)
... It was also called Su-anna (which is of uncertain meaning) and Uru-azagga, "the
holy city." Herodotus, the Greek historian, has given us a picture of Babylon ...
/b/babel.htm - 63k

Tobit
... They are warmly welcomed by the aged and anxious parents Tobit and Anna, and Tobias'
dog which he took with him (Tobit 5:16) was so pleased upon getting back ...
/t/tobit.htm - 34k

Anaharath (1 Occurrence)
... They are warmly welcomed by the aged and anxious parents Tobit and Anna, and Tobias'
dog which he took with him (Tobit 5:16) was so pleased upon getting back ...
/a/anaharath.htm - 87k

Woman (4043 Occurrences)
... as having been endowed with prophetic gifts, as Miriam (Exodus 15:20), Deborah
(Judges 4:4, 5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Noadiah (Nehemiah 6:14), Anna (Luke 2:36 ...
/w/woman.htm - 45k

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