HEBREW WORD STUDY – OUR AFFLICTION – ‘ANEYNU  ענינו 

Deuteronomy 26:7: “And we cried unto the Lord, the God of our fathers, and the Lord heard our cries and saw our affliction.” 

Deuteronomy 26:7 gives us an example of the heart of God as well as a promise.  When we cry unto the Lord He hears our cries and sees our afflictions.  But, soft, that is just a reading of this verse.  Let’s really dive below the surface and see just how glorious this promise is. There are some wonderful things wrapped up in the words cry and affliction. I know cry and affliction does not seem so wonderful, but let’s take a close look at these words.

Among the many tools God has given us to study His word, you may discover the Gematria to be quite valuable. This is the study of numbers and the numerical value of Hebrew words.  Unlike English which has a numbering system apart from the Alphabet, in Hebrew the letters also are your numbers. Aleph is not only the first letter in the alphabet, but it is also the number 1.Beth is not only “b” but it is the number 2.  Thus each letter of a word may offer a meaning behind the word but it also offers a numerical value and the sages teach that when two words have the same numerical value, one should search for a relationship between these words for God may have hidden a message for those who seek for Him and search for Him with all their hearts. 

Numbers are very prominent in the Bible, we even have a whole book called “Numbers.”   Where is the Spiritual value in Genesis 6:15 where Noah is told to build the ark 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high?  Like big deal, I don’t even know what a cubit is.  But who needs to know what a cubit is when you have a powerful spiritual lesson in 300, 50, and 30.  The Hebrew words for Egypt, thick darkness, oppressed, desolate, astonished, slip off, cast out, folly, weakness, beak off, crossroad, firmament, flock, goats and many others all have a numerical value of 380.  The ark represents God freeing Noah from oppression, darkness, desolation, weakness.   It represents something astonishing that God will do etc. 

So take the word in Deuteronomy 26;7: “our cry.”  It is spelled Qop which is also the number 100, Lamed which is also the number 30, Nun which is the number 50, and Vav which is the number 6.  This totals 186.  That is the numerical value of the word qolenu” which means our cry. Now let’s look for other Hebrew words that have the same numerical value.  My goodness but the very next word affliction is ‘aneynu which is spelled Ayin = 70, Nun = 50, Yod = 10, Nun = 50, and Vav = 6.  The total numerical value of our affliction is 186.  Co-incidence or God-incidence?  You choose, but no doubt the words are related. To me the message is clear, our affliction causes us to cry out.  

Let’s drill down deeper.  Check out the Hebrew word kesalemo which means “after his image.”  The numerical value is also 186.  Do you ever consider the fact that God is afflicted and cries out in His affliction?   Every time we sin, every time a sinner dies and goes to Hell, is not God afflicted, does he not, like a parent, feel the pains of affliction or the sufferings of His children?   We are after all made in His image.  So if we suffer it stands to reason we inherited that trait from our Heavenly Father.   

Hey, look at the letter Qop itself, it is spelled Qop = 100, Vav = 6, and Pei = 80 which totals 186.  The word Qop for the letter Qop means growth and holiness.  In our crying out to God in our affliction we will grow in holiness.  Did not David say in Psalms 119, “But for my affliction, I would not have sought the Lord.”  Affliction can be a road to holiness if we call out to God. 

Let’s check out another random Hebrew word that has a value of 186 and see if there is a relationship which gives us a further message. How about the word henimesa’ which has a numerical value of 186. This is an interrogative Qal imperfect form from the root masa’  and means “can we find?”

Is this Gematria stuff really divinely rooted or is it just mere coincidence?  That is for you to decide. However, the message of the numerical value of henimesa is still some mighty good preaching for Deuteronomy 26:7 “Can I find God in this affliction?”