Who was Anan in the bible?

Anan is named once in Scripture as an Israelite listed among those associated with a communal commitment to God’s law in Nehemiah 10. The name is derived from a Hebrew word connected with a “cloud.”

Anan in Scripture

Anan appears in a list of names in Nehemiah 10, set within a larger passage describing a broad group—leaders and the rest of the people—binding themselves by oath to live according to God’s law. In the immediate run of names, Anan is mentioned alongside others, without additional personal details.

“Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,” (Nehemiah 10:24, WEB)

“Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,” (Nehemiah 10:25, WEB)

“Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,” (Nehemiah 10:26, WEB)

“Malluch, Harim, and Baanah.” (Nehemiah 10:27, WEB)

The list of names is immediately followed by an explanation of the wider community involved and the nature of their commitment. The passage expands from named individuals to “the rest of the people,” explicitly including religious functionaries and other groups, and it describes a separation from surrounding peoples “to the law of God.”

“The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters—everyone who had knowledge, and understanding—” (Nehemiah 10:28, WEB)

Within that setting, the passage portrays a collective act of agreement: they align themselves with their “brothers” and “nobles,” and they enter “into a curse, and into an oath” with a stated purpose—“to walk in God’s law” given through Moses, and “to observe and do” God’s commandments, ordinances, and statutes.

“joined with their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord, and his ordinances and his statutes;” (Nehemiah 10:29, WEB)

Within this chapter context, Anan’s role is not individually described beyond being one of the named persons in the list (Nehemiah 10:26). The surrounding verses frame the list as part of a community-wide pledge centered on obedience to God’s law.

Name and Meaning

The name is written in Hebrew as עָנָן, transliterated ’Anan, pronounced “aw-nawn.” Its derivation is linked to a Hebrew word for a “cloud,” described as something that covers the sky.

Observation

Anan is remembered in Scripture in the midst of a larger company who “entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law” (Nehemiah 10:29, WEB), placing his name within a solemn, communal commitment rather than an individual narrative.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Anan mean?

The name Anan means “cloud.”

How many times does Anan appear in the Bible?

Anan appears 1 time.

Who was Anan?

Anan is identified as an Israelite.

Where is Anan mentioned?

Anan is mentioned in Nehemiah 10:26.

Explore Further

If you found this page about Anan interesting and would like to discover more about other biblical characters, explore our comprehensive Encyclopedia of Biblical Characters. For those looking to delve deeper into the Greek origins of these names and terms, our Greek Lexicon is an invaluable resource.

Sources: Name and occurrence data from Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance and STEPBible reference data (CC BY). Scripture quotations from the World English Bible (public domain).