Anath @ an answer; i.e., to "prayer", the father of Shamgar, who was one of the judges of Israel Judges:3:31).
Anathema @ anything laid up or suspended; hence anything laid up in a temple or set apart as sacred. In this sense the form of the word is _anath(ee)ma_, once in plural used in the Greek New Testament, in Luke:21:5, where it is rendered "gifts." In the LXX. the form _anathema_ is generally used as the rendering of the Hebrew word _herem_, derived from a verb which means (1) to consecrate or devote; and (2) to exterminate. Any object so devoted to the Lord could not be redeemed Numbers:18:14; Leviticus:27:28-29); and hence the idea of exterminating connected with the word. The Hebrew verb (haram) is frequently used of the extermination of idolatrous nations. It had a wide range of application. The _anathema_ or _herem_ was a person or thing irrevocably devoted to God Leviticus:27:21-28); and "none devoted shall be ransomed. He shall surely be put to death" (27:29). The word therefore carried the idea of devoted to destruction Numbers:21:2-3; Joshua:6:17); and hence generally it meant a thing accursed. In Deuteronomy:7:26 an idol is called a _herem_ = _anathema_, a thing accursed. In the New Testament this word always implies execration. In some cases an individual denounces an anathema on himself unless certain conditions are fulfilled Acts:23:12-14, 21). "To call Jesus accursed" [anathema] ( 1Corinthians:12:3) is to pronounce him execrated or accursed. If any one preached another gospel, the apostle says, "let him be accursed" Galatians:1:8-9); i.e., let his conduct in so doing be accounted accursed. In Romans:9:3, the expression "accursed" (anathema) from Christ, i.e., excluded from fellowship or alliance with Christ, has occasioned much difficulty. The apostle here does not speak of his wish as a possible thing. It is simply a vehement expression of feeling, showing how strong was his desire for the salvation of his people. The anathema in 1Corinthians:16:22 denotes simply that they who love not the Lord are rightly objects of loathing and execration to all holy beings; they are guilty of a crime that merits the severest condemnation; they are exposed to the just sentence of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord."
Anathoth @ the name of one of the cities of refuge, in the tribe of Benjamin Joshua:21:18). The Jews, as a rule, did not change the names of the towns they found in Palestine; hence this town may be regarded as deriving its name from the goddess Anat. It was the native place of Abiezer, one of David's "thirty" ( 2Samuel:23:27), and of Jehu, another of his mighty men ( 1Chronicles:12:3). It is chiefly notable, however, as the birth-place and usual residence of Jeremiah Jeremiah:1:1Jeremiah:11:21-23Jeremiah:29:27 ; 32:7-9). It suffered greatly from the army of Sennacherib, and only 128 men returned to it from the Exile Nehemiah:7:27; Ezra:2:23). It lay about 3 miles north of Jerusalem. It has been identified with the small and poor village of 'Anata, containing about 100 inhabitants.
