Anath 1 is a masculine name appearing in the English, Greek, and Latin Bibles. It derives from the Hebrew root ʿānâ (עָנָה), meaning roughly "to answer" or "to respond." The name itself is likely a short form or derivative, its primary signification being "answer." In the Old Testament, Anath appears uniquely as the patronymic of Shamgar ben Anath, one of the minor judges of Israel. The precise relationship conveyed by the name—whether it designates Shamgar as a devotee of the goddess Anat or simply affirms that he is an "answer" from God—remains a matter of scholarly debate. Biblical Context Anath is only mentioned in Judges 3:31 and again in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5:6), where Shamgar is identified as "Shamgar son of Anath." This formula, common in Hebrew patronymics, indicates that Anath was his father's personal name. Shamgar himself wielded palpable significance as one of Israel's deliverers: he defeated six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad, showcasing the Lord's strength through humble means. In this light, his father’s name Anath complemented that martial feat—testifying that God provided an ”answer“ to Israel's oppression. Linguistic and Comparative Notes Intriguing connections exist between the personal name Anath and the name of the Canaanite goddess Anat 2, a chief deity of war and hunting. Both forms are homographic in Hebrew consonants (ʿnt), though the vocalization and gender diverge. This overlap has tempted some scholars to suggest that Shamgar's father might have been named after the goddess, perhaps to signal divine patronage. However, Judges uses the masculine forms (Anath without explicit feminine markers), and late biblical onomastics treat it consistently as a male anthroponym with the underlying sense of 'answer.' The related name 'Ana occurs in the pre-exilic period as well, corroborating discrete use of this root. Cultural and Religious Impact Outside Scripture proper, Anath has not achieved widespread currency as a living given name, partly due to its rarity and the confusion with goddess Anat. Within the Judaeo-Christian tradition, commentaries from Jerome to modern exegetes uphold an etymology favoring “answer” or “affliction heard,” reinforcing that the name captures how God responds to prayer in times of crisis. Nonetheless, in liturgical contexts, the patronymic matters chiefly for identifying Shamgar's lineage; the name's personal significance is eclipsed by the exploits of its son. Meaning: Answer (from Hebrew ʿānâ) Origin: Hebrew Usage Regions: Ancient Near East (Canaan/Israel) Notable Bearer: Father of the judge Shamgar (Biblical, fl. c. 12th cen. BCE) Related Names: 'Ana (Biblical Hebrew), Anat 2 (Hebrew)