Anach means to sigh, groan deeply, or moan — typically in response to suffering, oppression, or grief. It describes the involuntary expression of deep inner anguish. The noun form anachah (sighing/groaning) often appears in laments describing the condition of the oppressed or afflicted.
The groaning of God's people is never lost — Scripture consistently affirms that God hears the sighs of the afflicted (Exodus 2:24; Psalm 102:20). The New Testament extends this theme: the Spirit intercedes for believers with groanings too deep for words (Romans 8:26). Our sighs become prayer; our deepest anguish is received by a God who is not distant from human pain.