Strong's Hebrew: 6049. עָנַן (anan) -- To practice soothsaying, to conjure, to observe times
Strong's Lexicon
anan: To practice soothsaying, to conjure, to observe times
Original Word: עָנַן
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: `anan
Pronunciation: ah-nan'
Phonetic Spelling: (aw-nan')
Definition: To practice soothsaying, to conjure, to observe times
Meaning: to act covertly, practise magic
Word Origin: A primitive root
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Greek equivalent often associated with similar practices is Strong's Greek 5331 (φαρμακεία, pharmakeia), which refers to sorcery or witchcraft.
Usage: The Hebrew verb "anan" primarily refers to the act of practicing soothsaying or divination. It is often associated with attempts to predict the future or gain secret knowledge through supernatural means, which is explicitly forbidden in the Hebrew Scriptures. The term is used to describe activities that are considered abominations in the sight of God, as they rely on sources other than the divine revelation provided by God Himself.
Cultural and Historical Background: In the ancient Near Eastern context, divination and soothsaying were common practices among various cultures. These practices often involved interpreting omens, consulting spirits, or using objects like bones or entrails to predict future events. The Israelites were surrounded by nations that engaged in such practices, which were often linked to pagan religious rituals. The Torah explicitly prohibits these practices, emphasizing reliance on God's guidance and revelation rather than on human attempts to control or predict the future.
Brown-Driver-Briggs
[עָנַן] verb denominative Pi`el Infinitive construct suffix with accusative of congnate meaning with verb עַלהָֿאָרֶץ ׳בְּעַנְנִי ע Genesis 9:14 (P) when I bring clouds, etc.
II. [עָנַן] verb Po`. practice soothsaying (probably denominative, but original meaning dubious; connection with I. עָנָן (DeIsaiah 2:6) now Generally abandoned; LöwZMG xxxi (1877), 539 compare עַיִן eye, so WeSkizzen iii. 148 (but see below); RSJPhil xiv (1885), 119 f. compare Arabic 
nasal twang, hum of insects, whence diviners as crooning; Ew Gerber31of diviner as interpreting hum of insects, whisper of leaves, etc.; WeHeid. 2, 204 now compare 
appear, i. e. dealers in phenomena); — Perfect3masculine singular consecutive וְעוֺנֵן 2 Kings 21:6 2Chronicles 33:6; Imperfect2masculine plural וְלֹא תְעוֺנֵ֑נוּ Leviticus 19:26 (H); Participle as substantive מְעוֺנֵן Deuteronomy 18:10 (forbidden), plural מְעֹנְנִים Deuteronomy 18:14, ׳מְעוֺ Micah 5:11, אֵלוֺן מְעוֺנְנִים Judges 9:37 (see I. אֵלוֺן; seat of an oracle, compare RSSem i. 179 2nd ed. 196); also (without מְ, compare Sta§ 233 Köi. 349) עֹנְנִים Isaiah 2:6, suffix עֹנְנֵיכֶם Jeremiah 27:9; feminine singular in בְּנֵי עֹנְנָה Isaiah 57:3 sons of a soothsaying woman, figurative of apostates. — see כִּשֵּׁף, II. [נָחַשׁ], [קָסַם].
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
bring, enchanter, observer of times, soothsayer, sorcerer
A primitive root; to cover; used only as a denominative from anan, to cloud over; figuratively, to act covertly, i.e. Practise magic -- X bring, enchanter, Meonemin, observe(-r of) times, soothsayer, sorcerer.
see HEBREW anan
Forms and Transliterations
בְּעַֽנְנִ֥י בענני וְעֹֽנְנִ֖ים וְעוֹנֵ֣ן וְעוֹנֵ֤ן וּֽמְעוֹנְנִ֖ים ומעוננים ועונן ועננים מְעֹנְנִ֥ים מְעוֹנְנִֽים׃ מְעוֹנֵ֥ן מעונן מעוננים׃ מעננים עֹֽנְנֵיכֶ֖ם עֹנְנָ֑ה עננה ענניכם תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ תנחשו ‘ō·nə·nāh ‘ō·nə·nê·ḵem ‘ōnənāh ‘ōnənêḵem bə‘annî bə·‘an·nî beanNi mə‘ōnənîm mə‘ōwnên mə‘ōwnnîm mə·‘ō·nə·nîm mə·‘ō·w·nên mə·‘ō·wn·nîm meoNen meoneNim meonNim oneNah oneneiChem ṯə·na·ḥă·šū tenachaShu ṯənaḥăšū ū·mə·‘ō·wn·nîm ūmə‘ōwnnîm umeonNim veoNen veoneNim wə‘ōnənîm wə‘ōwnên wə·‘ō·nə·nîm wə·‘ō·w·nên
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Englishman's Concordance
Genesis 9:14
HEB: וְהָיָ֕ה בְּעַֽנְנִ֥י עָנָ֖ן עַל־
NAS: It shall come about, when I bring a cloud
KJV: And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud
INT: shall come bring A cloud over
Leviticus 19:26
HEB: הַדָּ֑ם לֹ֥א תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ וְלֹ֥א תְעוֹנֵֽנוּ׃
NAS: practice divination or soothsaying.
KJV: neither shall ye use enchantment, nor observe times.
INT: the blood nor soothsaying nor practice
Deuteronomy 18:10
HEB: קֹסֵ֣ם קְסָמִ֔ים מְעוֹנֵ֥ן וּמְנַחֵ֖שׁ וּמְכַשֵּֽׁף׃
NAS: divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens,
KJV: divination, [or] an observer of times, or an enchanter,
INT: divination uses practices interprets A sorcerer
Deuteronomy 18:14
HEB: אוֹתָ֔ם אֶל־ מְעֹנְנִ֥ים וְאֶל־ קֹסְמִ֖ים
NAS: listen to those who practice witchcraft and to diviners,
KJV: hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners:
INT: shall dispossess to practice and to diviners
Judges 9:37
HEB: מִדֶּ֖רֶךְ אֵל֥וֹן מְעוֹנְנִֽים׃
NAS: by the way of the diviners' oak.
KJV: along by the plain of Meonenim.
INT: the way oak of the diviners'
2 Kings 21:6
HEB: בְּנוֹ֙ בָּאֵ֔שׁ וְעוֹנֵ֣ן וְנִחֵ֔שׁ וְעָ֥שָׂה
NAS: through the fire, practiced witchcraft and used divination,
KJV: through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments,
INT: his son the fire practiced and used and dealt
2 Chronicles 33:6
HEB: בֶן־ הִנֹּ֔ם וְעוֹנֵ֤ן וְנִחֵשׁ֙ וְֽכִשֵּׁ֔ף
NAS: of Ben-hinnom; and he practiced witchcraft, used divination,
KJV: of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments,
INT: his sons of Hinnom practiced used practiced
Isaiah 2:6
HEB: מָלְאוּ֙ מִקֶּ֔דֶם וְעֹֽנְנִ֖ים כַּפְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וּבְיַלְדֵ֥י
NAS: [with influences] from the east, And [they are] soothsayers like the Philistines,
KJV: from the east, and [are] soothsayers like the Philistines,
INT: are filled the east soothsayers the Philistines the children
Isaiah 57:3
HEB: הֵ֖נָּה בְּנֵ֣י עֹנְנָ֑ה זֶ֥רַע מְנָאֵ֖ף
NAS: you sons of a sorceress, Offspring
KJV: hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed
INT: here sons of a sorceress Offspring of an adulterer
Jeremiah 27:9
HEB: חֲלֹמֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְאֶל־ עֹֽנְנֵיכֶ֖ם וְאֶל־ כַּשָּׁפֵיכֶ֑ם
NAS: your dreamers, your soothsayers or your sorcerers
KJV: nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers,
INT: your dreamers about your soothsayers about your sorcerers
Micah 5:12
HEB: כְשָׁפִ֖ים מִיָּדֶ֑ךָ וּֽמְעוֹנְנִ֖ים לֹ֥א יִֽהְיוּ־
NAS: And you will have fortune-tellers no
KJV: out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no [more] soothsayers:
INT: sorceries your hand fortune-tellers no will have