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{{Short description|Possible race mentioned in the bible}}
{{Distinguish|Anakin (disambiguation){{!}}Anakin}}
'''Anakim''' ({{Langx|he|עֲנָקִים}} ''ʿĂnāqīm'') are mentioned in the [[Bible]] as descendants of [[Anak]].<ref name="eastons-bible-dictionary">[http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionaries/eastons-bible-dictionary/anakim.html eastons-bible-dictionary]</ref>

According to the [[Old Testament]], the Anakim lived in the southern part of the land of [[Canaan]], near [[Hebron]] (Gen. 23:2; Josh. 15:13). {{bibleref2|Genesis|14:5-6}} states that they inhabited the region later known as [[Edom]] and [[Moab]] in the days of [[Abraham]]. The name may come from a Hebrew root meaning "necklace" or "neck-chain".<ref name=Chambers>"Anakim" in ''[[Chambers's Encyclopædia]]''. London: [[George Newnes Ltd|George Newnes]], 1961, Vol. 1, p. 397.</ref> They were also a [[Rephaite]] tribe according to {{Bible|Deuteronomy|2:11}}. 

Their formidable appearance, as described by ten of [[the Twelve Spies|the twelve spies]] sent to search the land, filled the [[Israelites]] with terror. The Israelites seem to have identified them with the [[Nephilim]] of the [[antediluvian]] age ({{bibleref2|Genesis|6:4}}, {{bibleref2|Numbers|13:33}}). However, the two faithful spies [[Caleb]] and [[Joshua]] do not verify this report, leading some scholars to believe that the fearful reports from the other ten are hyperbolic and should not be taken literally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How did the ten spies see Nephilim after the Flood? {{!}} Verse By Verse Ministry International |url=https://versebyverseministry.org/bible-answers/did-the-ten-spies-actually-lie |access-date=2023-05-03 |website=versebyverseministry.org}}</ref> 

Joshua finally expelled the Anakim from the land, except for some who found a refuge in the Philistine cities of [[Gaza City|Gaza]], [[Gath (city)|Gath]], and [[Asdudu|Ashdod]] ({{bibleref2|Joshua|11:22}}). Thus, some scholars conclude that the Philistine giants such as [[Goliath]] whom [[David]] encountered (2 Samuel 21:15–22) were descendants of the Anakim.<ref name="eastons-bible-dictionary" />

The [[Septuagint]] translation of [[Jeremiah 47#Verse 5a|Jeremiah 47:5]] refers to the descendants of the Anakim mourning after the destruction of Gaza.<ref>Streane, A. W., [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/cambridge/jeremiah/47.htm Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges] on Jeremiah 47, accessed 13 April 2019</ref>

The Egyptian [[Execration texts]] of the [[Middle Kingdom of Egypt|Middle Kingdom]]<ref>{{cite book|last=Wyatt|first=Nicolas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yz6vAwAAQBAJ|title=Space and Time in the Religious Life of the Near East|publisher=A&C Black|year=2001|isbn=978-0-567-04942-1}}</ref> (c. 2055–1650 BC) mention a list of political enemies in Canaan, and among this list are a group called the "ly Anaq" or people of Anaq. The three rulers of ly Anaq were Erum, Abiyamimu, and Akirum.{{sfn|Wyatt|2001}}

==See also==
* [[Nephilim]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{eastons|Anakim}}
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[[Category:Anakim| ]]
[[Category:Book of Genesis]]
[[Category:Edom]]
[[Category:Moab]]
[[Category:Giants in the Hebrew Bible]]
[[Category:Hebrew Bible nations]]
[[Category:Rephaites]]


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