Hebrew word · H6037

עַנְוָה

ve'anvatkha

gentleness

Humility, lowliness, the state of being bowed or brought low. It comes from the root ʿnh, 'to be bowed down, afflicted', the same family as ʿani ('afflicted, poor, humble') and ʿanaw ('humble, meek'). In people it is a virtue: 'humility comes before honour' (Prov 15:33; 18:12; 22:4; Zeph 2:3).

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Hebrew Old Testament. ·

What it means

1) humility, meekness

1a) humility, meekness

1b) condescension

Abridged from Brown, Driver and Briggs, A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (1906), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Psalm 18:35

Range of meaning

Humility, lowliness, the state of being bowed or brought low. It comes from the root ʿnh, 'to be bowed down, afflicted', the same family as ʿani ('afflicted, poor, humble') and ʿanaw ('humble, meek'). In people it is a virtue: 'humility comes before honour' (Prov 15:33; 18:12; 22:4; Zeph 2:3). Psalm 45:4 pairs it with truth and righteousness among the king's qualities, where some render 'meekness'.

Against the English

KJV, ESV, NASB, WEB and BSB say 'gentleness'. YLT says 'lowliness'. The 1984 NIV said 'you stoop down'. NRSV, NLT and the current NIV say 'your help', following the parallel in 2 Samuel. 'Gentleness' suggests softness or a mild temperament. The Hebrew points to a great one lowering himself.

How it drifted

Calling God 'humble' sounded strange to translators, so the Geneva and King James tradition softened it to 'gentleness'. That word has since come to mean mildness or tenderness in general, which hides the picture of a superior bending low.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrew Bible: Prov 15:33; 18:12; 22:4; Zeph 2:3; Ps 45:4. The idea of God stooping is spelled out in Ps 113:5-6 ('who stoops down to look on heaven and earth') and Ps 138:6. The parallel in 2 Sam 22:36 reads ʿanotkha. The LXX reads paideia ('discipline, training'), tying the word to the root's sense of 'humble, afflict'. In the Dead Sea Scrolls, ʿanawah is a key community virtue (e.g. 1QS 2:24; 4:3).

From the study of Psalm 45:4

Range of meaning

Humility, lowliness, meekness; the posture of someone who knows his dependence on God. Related to ʿānāw / ʿānî, 'the humble, poor, afflicted', the people the Psalms say God hears and defends. In Psalm 18:35 (= 2 Samuel 22:36) a related word describes God's 'gentleness' or 'condescension' that makes the king great.

Against the English

KJV/ESV/NASB 'meekness'; NIV/BSB/WEB 'humility'. To modern ears 'meekness' suggests timidity or being a pushover, which sounds odd next to a sword and arrows. The Hebrew word names lowliness before God and fits perfectly with power used for others.

How it drifted

English 'meek' has drifted from 'gentle, not self-assertive' toward 'weak, spineless'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Proverbs 15:33 and 18:12 ('before honor comes humility'), Proverbs 22:4, Zephaniah 2:3 ('seek righteousness, seek humility'). The Septuagint here uses πραΰτης, the 'meekness' of Matthew 5:5 and of the king 'gentle and riding on a donkey' in Zechariah 9:9 / Matthew 21:5.

Where it appears

Psalms · 2

  1. Psalm 18:35 וְֽעַנְוַתְךָ֥ and humility your

    You have given me Your shield of salvation; Your right hand upholds me, and Your gentleness exalts me.

    Here: This word normally means humility, the lowliness of someone bowed down. Said of God, it most likely means his willingness to stoop down to a human king. Some read it differently (see debates).

  2. Psalm 45:4 וְעַנְוָה־ and humility

    In your splendor ride forth in victory on behalf of truth and humility and justice; may your right hand show your awesome deeds.

    Here: Lowliness, especially the humble posture of someone who depends on God. The word belongs to the same family as 'the poor and afflicted' ('anawim), so the phrase may also suggest the cause of the humble and oppressed, whom kings were expected to defend.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.