Sources exploring the linguistic roots and theological significance of the prayer phrase 'Ana B'Koach,' tracing its biblical precedents and examining how the word 'ana' functions as both supplication and thanksgiving in Jewish liturgy.
אנא ה׳ הושיעה נא
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What the sources say
The passages provided discuss the word אנא / אנה as a term of supplication or gratitude in Tehillim contexts — Tehillim 118:25-26 uses the plea "O Eternal One, deliver us!" and Ibn Ezra (Tehillim 116:16) explains that the word אנה can carry two distinct meanings, sometimes expressing appeasement or entreaty and sometimes expressing thanksgiving — but neither passage addresses the prayer known as Ana Bekoach, its origin, structure, or significance.
תהילים קי״ח:כ״ה-כ״ו
Psalms 118:25-26
This psalm contains the liturgical cry “Anna Hashem hoshi'ah na” and “Anna Hashem hatzlicha na,” the biblical roots of the language and tone of Ana B'Koach. It is a key Tanach precedent for supplication and divine help.
אָנָּ֣א יְ֭הֹוָה הוֹשִׁ֘יעָ֥ה נָּ֑א אָנָּ֥א יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה הַצְלִ֘יחָ֥ה נָּֽא׃
O ETERNAL One, deliver us! O ETERNAL One, let us prosper!
אבן עזרא על תהילים קט״ז:ט״ז
Ibn Ezra on Psalms 116:16
The word ana can function in two ways—sometimes as a plea for mercy (piyu'im) and sometimes as thanksgiving (toda)—depending on context; ana before the divine name expressing gratitude is not a plea but rather acknowledgment (as in "ana Hashem, ki ani avdecha"), whereas ana as a plea appears when requesting divine intervention (as in "ana Hashem hoshia na"), similar to how the word "ulay" (perhaps) can mean either uncertainty or desire depending on its usage.
אנא חטא והוא לשון תודה כי תתחלף מלת אנה בה"א, או באל"ף לשנים טעמים: פעם לשון פיוס ופעם לשון תודה, כמו זה שהוא מודה לשם אנה ה' כי אני עבדך כי זה איננו לשון פיוס, רק אם יאמר אנה ה' הושיעה נא הוא לשון פיוס וככה מלת אולי פעם שמא ופעם כמו מתאוה, אולי אוכל להלחם אולי יהיה זה ופעם שמא אולי לא תאבה האשה מפי החכם.