אנש

Version Date: August 4, 2026

Three related forms that function as adjectives are אנש (Jer 17:9), אנוש (Job 34:6, Is 17:11, Jer 17:16, 30:12, 15), and אנושה (Ps 69:20(21), Jer 15:18, Mi 1:9). Additionally, the form יאנש appears in 2Sa 12:15. All these forms could be derived from a verb אנש, where the the meaning of this verb could be inferred from the form יאנש of 2Sa 12:15 as "to be sick, weak." Note that the form אנש of Jer 17:9 could be derived from the active participle of the verb אנש. As for the forms אנוש and אנושה, as spelled, these can be derived from the passive participle of the verb. This observation is confirmed by the fact that without exception, אנוש and אנושה modify the thing that is endured not the person who endures it. The meaning of these passive forms of the verb can be inferred by understanding the active meaning as "to suffer with sickness, weakness." Then, the passive meaning is "to be suffered with sickness, weakness," applying to things that a person endures. So, a simple translation of the passive participle would be "grievous." Considering also whether it is to sickness or to weakness that the verb refers, note that sickness, not weakness, fits Jer 17:9. Moreover, sickness typically implies weakness. So, wherever the weakness meaning fits, the sickness meaning fits also. Thus, the meaning "to suffer with sickness" seems to define more precisely אנש.

In 2Sa 12:15, the illness of the child led to death. However, this does not mean that אנש implies a condition leading to death, for this would not fit well Jer 17:9. Moreover, if אנש implied a condition leading to death, it would also imply something incurable. However, the word אנש by itself does not imply something incurable. Indeed, in Jer 15:18; if אנש implied an incurable wound, then the phrase מאנה הרפא "refuses to be healed" would seem unnecessary. Additionally, in Jer 30:15, the word אנוש is in the context of a promise of healing (Jer 30:17). Nonetheless, by examining the verses in which the word אנש appears, it is plain that this word implies a serious condition, though not necessarily something incurable such as a condition leading to death.

The meanings discussed above are applied as follows. In 2Sa 12:15, since the verb אנש refers to a serious condition, ויאנש could be translated, "and he was very ill." Similarly, in Jer 17:9, ואנש could be translated, "and very sick." The resulting translation of Jer 17:9 is, "The heart is more deceitful than all things, and very sick. Who can know it?" Since the heart is very sick, when one examines it, appearance can be misleading, as it could be caused by sickness. Nonetheless, the Lord will give to everyone according to what is in the heart (Jer 17:10), for he knows everything perfectly. When the Lord searches the heart (Jer 17:10), he reveals to others (to the angels) what is in it, so as to make visible the context of his decisions.

Job 34:6 includes the phrase אנוש חצי "my arrow is grievous." In this verse, Elihu claimed that Job's attitude was, "I will lie concerning the justice I received: the arrow that pierced me is grievous though I am without transgression." Here, the arrow refers figuratively to Job's affliction, as in Job 6:4.

In Ps 69:20(21), ואנושה "and it is grievous" refers to a grievous reproach. Thus, Ps 69:20(21) is translated, "Reproach has broken my heart, and this reproach is grievous; and I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none." Note that חרפה "reproach," not לבי "my heart," agrees in gender with אנושה "grievous."

In Jer 30:12, אנוש "grievous" precedes לשברך "for thy wound." Thus, due to the particle ל "for," אנוש "grievous" does not modify שבר "wound." Then, Jer 30:12 can be interpreted by considering that it is in a context of discipline (Jer 30:11) and that שברך "thy wound" was caused by the Lord in response to the abundance of iniquity among the people and their mighty sins (Jer 30:15). The resulting translation of Jer 30:12 is, "For thus says the LORD, the discipline thou endurest is grievous, so as to cause thy wound; thy injury is severe."

The remaining verses that contain forms of the word אנש are as follows. Is 17:11 includes the phrase וכאב אנוש "and grievous pain," which is similar to אנוש מכאבך "thy pain is grievous" in Jer 30:15. Additionally, Jer 15:18 has, ומכתי אנושה "and my wound is grievous," similar to אנושה מכותיה "her wounds are grievous" in Mi 1:9. Finally, Jer 17:16 includes the phrase ויום אנוש "and the grievous day."

List of Verses

(2Sa 12:15) וילך נתן אל ביתו ויגף יהוה את הילד אשר ילדה אשת אוריה לדוד ויאנש

(Job 34:6) על משפטי אכזב אנוש חצי בלי פשע

(Ps 69:20) (69:21) חרפה שברה לבי ואנושה ואקוה לנוד ואין ולמנחמים ולא מצאתי

(Is 17:11) ביום נטעך תשגשגי ובבקר זרעך תפריחי נד קציר ביום נחלה וכאב אנוש

(Jer 15:18) למה היה כאבי נצח ומכתי אנושה מאנה הרפא היו תהיה לי כמו אכזב מים לא נאמנו

(Jer 17:9) עקב הלב מכל ואנש הוא מי ידענו

(Jer 17:16) ואני לא אצתי מרעה אחריך ויום אנוש לא התאויתי אתה ידעת מוצא שפתי נכח פניך היה

(Jer 30:12) כי כה אמר יהוה אנוש לשברך נחלה מכתך

(Jer 30:15) מה תזעק על שברך אנוש מכאבך על רב עונך עצמו חטאתיך עשיתי אלה לך

(Mi 1:9) כי אנושה מכותיה כי באה עד יהודה נגע עד שער עמי עד ירושלם