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H587 · Hebrew · Old Testament
אֲנַחְנוּ
Anachnuw
Personal pronoun
We (Hebrew first-person plural)

Definition

The Hebrew personal pronoun anachnuw is the first-person plural pronoun 'we.' It is a less common alternative form to the more frequent anachnu. It appears in Genesis, Judges, Nehemiah, and other books, carrying the voice of corporate community — Abraham's servant speaking for his master, a nation confessing together, or a group identifying themselves in covenant solidarity.

Usage & Theological Significance

The plural pronoun 'we' in Scripture often marks covenant community. Israel's confessions of sin, prayers, and declarations of faith were frequently corporate, not merely individual. Nehemiah's great prayer begins with 'we have sinned' (Nehemiah 1:6) — the leader identifying with his people's failure. This corporate solidarity anticipates the church as the corporate body of Christ.

Key Bible Verses

Genesis 42:11We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.
Nehemiah 1:6I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father's family, have committed against you.
Nehemiah 9:33In all that has happened to us, you have remained righteous; you have acted faithfully, while we acted wickedly.
Jeremiah 3:25Let us lie down in our shame, and let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God.
Ruth 1:10They said to her, 'We will go back with you to your people.'

Related Words

External Resources

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