Anna
Gender: Female
Scriptures: חַנָּה (Hebrew) · Άννα (Greek) · Анна (Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Church Slavonic) · Ἄννα (Ancient Greek)
The name Anna is a form of Channah or Hannah, which in Hebrew (חַנָּה) means “favor, grace.” This term reflects a central concept of biblical faith: divine grace as a free gift from GOD. The name was used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, and some translations prefer the spelling Hannah instead of Anna.
Anna in the Old Testament: The Mother of Samuel
Anna is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, described as the wife of Elkanah and the mother of the prophet Samuel. Her story, narrated in the First Book of Samuel, is an example of faith and persevering prayer.
📖 1 Samuel 1:10-11
“Deeply distressed, she prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly. And she vowed a vow and said, ‘O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your servant and remember me and not forget Your servant, but will give to Your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life’.”
Initially barren, Anna fervently prays in the Temple, promising that if GOD grants her a son, she will dedicate him entirely to Him. Her vow is fulfilled, and Samuel is born, who will become one of Israel’s greatest prophets.
The Song of Anna, recorded in 1 Samuel 2:1-10, is a powerful hymn of praise to GOD, which foreshadows Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55). Both songs celebrate GOD’s intervention in exalting the humble and bringing justice.
📖 1 Samuel 2:2
“There is none holy like the Lord; there is no rock like our GOD.”
Anna in the New Testament: The Prophetess in the Temple
The name Anna also appears in the New Testament, in the Gospel of Luke, associated with a prophetess who recognizes Jesus as the Messiah.
📖 Luke 2:36-38
“And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years […] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour, she began to give thanks to GOD and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
Anna represents faithfulness and perseverance in prayer, qualities that allow her to recognize Jesus’ mission immediately. This episode highlights how GOD rewards those who seek Him with a sincere heart.
Anna in Christian Tradition
Beyond the figure of the prophetess, in Christian tradition, the name Anna is associated with the mother of the Virgin Mary, though she is not mentioned in canonical biblical texts.
Her story is first narrated in apocryphal gospels, such as the Protoevangelium of James and the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew, which recount her miraculous motherhood. According to these sources, Anna and her husband Joachim were childless, but GOD answered their prayers by granting them Mary, who was destined to become the Mother of the Messiah.
Over time, the figure of Saint Anna was enriched by hagiographic traditions, becoming a symbol of protection, motherhood, and the transmission of faith.
📖 Proverbs 31:26-28
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
Anna in Islam
Although the name Anna (Hannah) is not directly mentioned in the Qur’an, the figure of Ḥannah (حَنَّة), the mother of Mary (Maryam), holds a fundamental role in Islamic tradition. Islam recognizes her as a pious and devoted woman, whose fervent faith led to the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus (‘Isa, عليه السلام).
📖 Qur’an, Surah Al-‘Imran 3:35-36
“When the wife of ‘Imran said: ‘O my Lord, I have vowed to You what is in my womb, consecrated ; so accept this from me. Indeed, You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.’ But when she delivered her, she said: ‘My Lord, I have given birth to a female’—and GOD knew best what she had delivered—‘and I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her and her offspring in You from Satan, the accursed’.”
In this narrative, the wife of ‘Imran (Amram in biblical tradition), identified in hadith as Ḥannah, prays to GOD for her child to be consecrated to divine service. Although she expected a son, she humbly accepted GOD’s will, and her daughter, Mary, became one of the most revered women in Islam.
The name Ḥannah is thus associated with piety, devotion, and absolute trust in divine will, values that unite Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions. This convergence among the Abrahamic faiths highlights how the figure of Anna/Hannah serves as a universal example of faith and reliance on GOD’s grace.
Conclusion
The name Anna, in its various linguistic forms, serves as a reminder of divine grace and the power of prayer. The biblical figures who bore this name exemplify **unwavering faith, patient waiting, and deep gratitude toward GOD, proving that whoever trusts in the Lord will never be disappointed.
📖 Psalm 37:5
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.”