Afflict עָנָה

We are in chapter sixteen of Leviticus with our word for today. עָנָה be bowed down, afflicted, wretched, emaciated, cringe, be crouched, humble oneself. It is used 79 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. We find our word used to describe how God’s people were treated in Egypt. Genesis 15:13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, וְעִנּ֣וּ and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. Exodus 1:11-12 Therefore they set taskmasters over them עַנֹּת֖וֹ to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more יְעַנּ֣וּ they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. It is also used to describe how Sarai treated her servant. Genesis 16:6 But Abram said to Sarai, “Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please.” Then Sarai וַתְּעַנֶּ֣הָ dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her. Our word is also used in the sense of humbling oneself. This was something that Pharaoh refused to do in spite of God’s destruction of Egypt. Exodus 10:3 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse לֵעָנֹ֖תto humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me. God set up specific times for his people to humble themselves which would include fasting and refraining from their normal work chores. Leviticus 23:32 It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, וְעִנִּיתֶ֖םand you shall afflict yourselves. On the ninth day of the month beginning at evening, from evening to evening shall you keep your Sabbath. 

This is how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Leviticus 16:29-30 And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, תְּעַנּ֣וּyou shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, וְעִנִּיתֶ֖םand you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever. David makes a specific reference to fasting using our word. Psalm 35:13 But I, when they were sick— I wore sackcloth; עִנֵּ֣יתִיI afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. He also points to the benefit of our word. Psalm 119:71, 75 It is good for me that עֻנֵּ֑יתִיI was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes … I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness עִנִּיתָֽנִי you have afflicted me. When we go through challenging times whether through humbling ourselves through fasting and taking a day off from work for connecting with God or when God allows us to be humbled. We learn to rely closer to God himself. I’ll close with this great passage that reminds us that Jesus allowed himself to be afflicted for us taking the painful consequences for our sins through his death on the cross. Isaiah 53:4-7 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, וּמְעֻנֶּֽהand afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he נַעֲנֶה֮was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth.