Anaq (אָנַק) is a verb meaning to groan, sigh, or cry out in pain or distress. It describes the deep vocalization of suffering — the kind of groaning that rises from the innermost being. It appears in Ezekiel 9:4 and 24:17 in powerful contexts of lamentation and divine judgment.
The groaning described by anaq carries profound theological weight. In Ezekiel 9:4, God commands a mark to be placed on those who sigh and groan over the abominations in Jerusalem — these are the righteous who grieve over sin. Their grief identifies them as belonging to God and spares them from judgment. This mirrors the New Testament concept of the Spirit interceding with "groans too deep for words" (Romans 8:26) and believers groaning for the redemption of creation.