Lexical Summary
anachna: Sigh, Groan
Original Word:אֲנַחְנָא
Part of Speech:pronoun plural
Transliteration:anachna'
Pronunciation:ah-nakh-nah
Phonetic Spelling:(an-akh'-naw)
KJV: we
Word Origin:[corresponding toH587 (אֲנַחנוּ - ourselves)]
1. we
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
we
(Aramaic) or ganachnah (Aramaic) {an-akh- naw'}; corresponding to'anachnuw; we -- we.
see HEBREW'anachnuw
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin(Aramaic) corresponding to
anachnuDefinitionwe.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
(Ezra 4:16 ) (Egyptian Aramaic RES
361 S-C
Pap. ; Biblical Hebrew ; W
CG 100 f.),
Daniel 3:16,17;
Ezra 4:16 (after participle),
Ezra 5:11.
Topical Lexicon
Occurrences in ScriptureEzra 4:16 – Spoken by Samarian adversaries in an accusatory memorandum to Artaxerxes: “We inform the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls are completed, the result will be that you will have no dominion in the province beyond the River.”
Ezra 5:11 – Declared by the returned exiles before Tattenai: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago.”
Daniel 3:16 – The joint reply of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.”
Daniel 3:17 – Their continued confession of faith: “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.”
Corporate Identity and Solidarity
Though a simple first-person plural pronoun, אֲנַחְנָא carries weight in exile literature, binding speakers together in shared conviction. InEzra 5:11, the returned exiles unite under the banner “servants of the God of heaven and earth,” echoing the covenant formula “I will be your God and you will be My people” (compareExodus 6:7). The same pronoun in Daniel underscores the unbreakable fellowship of the three friends who stand or fall together before the pagan monarch.
Witness before Imperial Authority
Each occurrence happens in the presence of imperial power. Whether confronting Persian officials (Ezra) or a Babylonian king (Daniel), “we” becomes a public testimony. The adversaries’ “we” inEzra 4:16 issues a false report, illustrating that corporate witness can serve either truth or deceit. Conversely, the faithful “we” inEzra 5:11 andDaniel 3 crystallizes the biblical pattern of God’s people giving an answer “before kings and governors” (compareActs 24:24).
Covenant Service and Worship
Ezra 5:11 identifies the builders as “servants,” placing obedience to God above all civic claims.Daniel 3:17 echoes the same hierarchy: service to God first, even at the cost of life. The pronoun therefore underscores covenant loyalty—one community, one allegiance, one worship. New Testament parallels appear inActs 4:19 and1 Peter 2:9, where believers likewise speak corporately: “We must obey God rather than men.”
Faith under Persecution
Daniel 3:16–17 shows corporate courage. The plural pronoun highlights mutual support; they face the furnace together and thus prefigure the church’s sufferings (2 Timothy 3:12). Their confident “we” anticipates the promise of Christ’s presence “where two or three are gathered” (Matthew 18:20).
Contrast of Motives
The same pronoun on the lips of opponents inEzra 4:16 warns that unity may be marshaled against God’s purposes. Discernment is required to distinguish between a collective aligned with divine revelation and a coalition driven by self-interest.
Ministry Implications
1. Corporate Confession: Churches today echoEzra 5:11 in creeds and public worship, affirming together, “We are Your servants.”
2. Mutual Encouragement: Small groups and mission teams embody theDaniel 3 solidarity, standing firm amid secular pressures.
3. Testimony in the Public Square: Whether addressing local authorities or cultural gatekeepers, believers speak not merely as individuals but as a covenant people.
4. Discernment of Corporate Voices: The mixed uses of “we” call leaders to weigh every collective claim against Scripture’s standard.
Summary
אֲנַחְנָא is more than a grammatical marker; it crystallizes the biblical theme of communal identity under God’s rule. Its sparse appearances spotlight decisive moments where a united voice either furthers or opposes the kingdom. In every age the church is summoned to join the faithful chorus: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth.”
Forms and Transliterations
אֲנַ֙חְנָה֙ אֲנַ֣חְנָא אֲנַ֧חְנָה אנחנא אנחנה ’ă·naḥ·nā ’ă·naḥ·nāh ’ănaḥnā ’ănaḥnāh aNachna aNachnah
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