Anavah is the Hebrew word for humility or meekness — the disposition of considering oneself lowly before God and others. Appearing about 5 times, it flows from the adjective anav (humble/poor) and captures an active, chosen lowliness rather than merely a social condition. Moses is famously described as the most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3 — using anav).
Anavah represents one of the most countercultural virtues in ancient honor-shame societies. While the surrounding cultures prized pride and self-promotion, Israel's wisdom tradition declared that humility precedes honor (Proverbs 15:33, 18:12). Zephaniah 2:3 calls the people to 'seek meekness [anavah]' as preparation for God's judgment — it is the posture that survives divine scrutiny. Jesus explicitly identifies Himself as 'humble [praus] and gentle in heart' (Matthew 11:29), and the Beatitudes open with 'blessed are the poor in spirit' — the NT equivalent of anavah. This word stands at the heart of biblical anthropology: right relation to God begins with lowliness.