Ana BeKoach

Ana BeKoach is a medieval Jewish piyyut called by its incipit. This piyyut, the acronym of which is said to be a 42-letter name of God, is recited daily by those Jewish communities which include a greatly expanded version of Korbanot in Shacharit and more widely as part of Kabbalat Shabbat. Some also recite it as part of Bedtime Shema or during the Omer.

History

The exact wording of the piyyut differs widely between manuscripts, with smaller variations in the resulting acronym. Hayy ben Sherira, the first scholar to mention its 42-letter acronym, did not know of any piyyut and writes that the name was only passed down among the Babylonian geonim. By contrast, Rashi and Maimonides write that the 42-letter name is lost.
According to Shlomo ibn Aderet, "The letters differ between our tradition and that of the Ashkenazic masters, but the baqasha of Nehunya ben HaKanah agrees with our version." Many different piyyutim based on the 42-letter acronym were popular at the time, all obviously the work of medieval poets. According to Moshe Hallamish, the first piyyut to largely resemble the modern form of Ana BeKoach was recorded by Jacob of Segovia, who probably learned it from the Ashkenazi Hasidim, who had been composing piyyutim around the 42-letter name since the early 12th century.

Usage

The piyyut is included in some siddurim in the Parashat Korbanot reading during Shacharit as well as during Kabbalat Shabbat before Lekha Dodi. It is also recited in some communities after each of the 49 daily Omer countings, both in its full form and intertwined in commentary verses included after the count for each day.

Siddur [Nusach \|]	Used by	Weekday Shacharit	Kabbalat Shabbat	Sephirat Ha'Omer
Siddur Ashkenaz	Ashkenazi	At the end of the introductory prayers as part of the Korbanot recital, before the start of Pesukei Dezimra.	After the opening Psalms, and before Lekha Dodi.	After counting the Omer towards the end of Maariv
Siddur Edot HaMizrach	Sephardi Mizrahi	At the end of the introductory prayers as part of the Korbanot recital, before the start of Pesukei Dezimra.	After the opening Psalms, and before Lekha Dodi.	After counting the Omer and reciting towards the end of Maariv. After each counting section these siddurim include verses for contemplation put together with the word from Ana BeKoach for each Omer day, extracts from Psalm 67 and the combined Sephirot for that day
Siddur Sefard	Sephardi Chasidic	At the end of the introductory prayers as part of the Korbanot recital, before the start of Pesukei Dezimra.	After the opening Psalms, and before Lekha Dodi.	After counting the Omer and reciting towards the end of Maariv. After each counting section these siddurim include verses for contemplation put together with the word from Ana BeKoach for each Omer day, extracts from Psalm 67 and the combined Sephirot for that day
Siddur Chabad	Chabad-Lubavitch	At the end of the introductory prayers as part of the Korbanot recital, before the start of Pesukei Dezimra.	After the opening Psalms, and before Lekha Dodi	After counting the Omer and reciting towards the end of Maariv. After each counting section these siddurim include verses for contemplation put together with the word from Ana BeKoach for each Omer day, extracts from Psalm 67 and the combined Sephirot for that day

Other times Ana BeKoach is said outside formal services:

As part of Krias [Shema She'Al Hamita|Shema al HaMitah], to support the soul which departs until the morning. This arose from Nusach Ari.
If they can, before someone dies, they say this prayer after Vidui.
As part of the funeral service to help the soul rise to heaven.
Any time when needing additional strength for daily life.

It is the custom of Hasidim to recite the piyyut during:

the laps of Simchat Torah, with one sentence recited in the order of each lap.
Tashlikh ceremony on Rosh Hashanah or during the blowing of the Shofar.
in the hymns of the Hosanna, during the beating of the willow in the Hoshana Rabbah.
when lighting Hanukkah candles, seven times.
Text of Ana BeKoach

This table highlights the 42-word name by indicating the initial letter from each word forming it in bold. The greyed-out acronyms are not spoken aloud in Orthodox practice.
Each verse is linked to:

A Day of creation. First verse linked to the first day, second verse to the second day etc.
A Day of the week. First verse linked to Sunday, second verse to Monday etc.
The lower seven Sephirot of the Kabbalah. First verse linked to Chesed, second verse to Gevura etc.

The eighth verse following the piyyut is not part of it but serves to close it like Amen closes blessings. This verse is also recited after the first verse of the Shema.

v.	English translation	Transliteration	42-letter name	Hebrew	Sephira	Day
The 3-letter acronyms form the 42–word name. They are obtained by extracting the first letter of each word. In Orthodox practice, these are not said aloud.	-	-	-	-	-	-
1	We beg you! With the strength and greatness of your right arm, untie our bundled sins.	Ana BeKoach gedullat yemincha, tattir tzerurah.			חסד	יום ראשון
2	Accept your nation's song; elevate and purify us, O Awesome One.	Kabbel rinnat ammecha; Saggevenu taharenu, nora.			גבורה	יום שני
3	Please, O Heroic One, those who foster your Oneness, guard them like the pupil of an eye.	Na gibbor, doreshei yichudecha, kevabbat shamerem.			תפארת	יום שלישי
4	Bless them, purify them, pity them. May Your righteousness always reward them.	Barechem, taharem, rachamei. Tzidkatecha tamid gamelem.			נצח	יום רביעי
5	Powerful Holy One, in much goodness guide Your congregation.	Chasin kadosh, berov tuvecha nahel adatecha.			הוד	יום חמישי
6	Unique and Exalted One, turn to Your nation which proclaims Your holiness.	Yachid ge'eh, Le'ammecha peneh zocherei kedushettecha.			יסוד	יום שישי
7	Accept our entreaty and hear our screams, O Knower of Mysteries.	Shav'atenu kabbel veshama tza'akatenu, yodea' ta'alumot.			מלכות	יום שבת
Said in a whisper, except on Yom Kippur when it is said aloud.	-	-	-	-	-	-
8	Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom, forever and ever.	Baruch shem kevod malchuto, le'olam va'ed.			-	-

Kabbalah influence on Ana BeKoach

Central aspects of Kabbalah related to Ana BeKoach

the meaning, structure and power of the piyyut can be explained using the following Kabbalah related ideas:

Sephirot: The ten attributes/emanations of Ein Sof, through which the universe's existence is sustained.
Letters of the Torah: Not only the words of the Torah, but each of its letters contain deep mystical meaning. Torah study must include the learning of these meanings. Gematria#Methods of [Hebrew gematria|Gematria] is one of many methods used to understand this meaning.
Other names of HaShem: The 4-letter name of HaShem, revealed to Moses from the burning bush, is the most important name in terms of Kabbalah and orthodox Judaisms understanding of HaShem. Kabbalah investigates other names of HaShem, which are contained in the 4-letter name and have mystical significance which can influence the physical universe. These names are derived from the Torah and have various numbers of letters. The most important are the 42-letter and 72-letter names.
The numbers 42 and 49: 42 is metophorically related to the exodus from Egypt and the journey to Eretz Yisrael. 49 is related to the counting of the Omer.
Living Kabbalah: The inclusion of Kabbalah learning in daily life and particularly in prayer services.
Adoption by other Jews: Kabbalah learning has been accepted by most orthodox Jewish traditions as Halacha, especially but not limited to Chasidim. Most Orthodox Jews have adopted some Kabbalah practices in their Nusach. Isaac Luria and his Nusach Ari have been central to this adoption.
The importance of the number 42 (7×6)

42 Journeys from Egypt to the Promised Land

sets out the route the Israelites took from leaving Egypt to entering the Promised Land. The route includes 42 journeys from one camp to another over 40 years before they eventually enter the land of Israel. According to the Baal Shem Tov each of the 42 camps represents steps that person must successfully navigate to fulfill their life purpose from birth to death and entry into Olam Haba equated with the Israelites entering the Promised Land.
Piyyut and other liturgy based on 42, and the 42-letter name assist those who contemplate them to understands each of the 42 personal waypoints they must encounter, and how to surmount them.

Using the 42-letter name to create the world

A permutation of the first 42 letter of Genesis are said to indirectly encode the 42-letter name. This is interpreted by Kabbalah and Talmud as indicating that HaShem used his 42-letter name to create the world. The Hebrew name for the 42 letter name is שם מ'בֶ.

Using the 42-letter name to reintroduce HaShem to the enslaved Israelites

When Moses asked HaShem who he should tell the Israelites had sent him, he was told that HaShem's name was "Ehyeh asher Ehyeh" . The Gematria numerical equivalent for Hebrew word "Ehyeh" is 21. Since the word appears twice in the name this gives 42, referring to the 42-letter name.

42 in the holy texts

There are forty-two lines in each column of the Torah.
The scripts in each Tefillin each mentions HaShem's name 21 times, in total 42 times for both Tefillin.
The Geonim say the Shem HaMephorash pronounced by the Kohen Gadol when he entered the Kodesh HaKodashim on Yom Kippur was the 42-letter name.
42 is the number of days of Sefirat HaOmer after seven days of Passover.
there are 42 words in the piyyut Ana BeKoach, the first letters of which spell out the 42-letter name.
The Shema is the most important prayer in the siddur. Its opening paragraph starting "Ve'ahavta" contains 42 words which originally contained 42 words which also encoded the 42-letter name. This is no longer apparent in modern siddurim because of millennia of transcription errors.
Verses 10 and 11 of Kaddish contain the 7 words . These 7 words which have important meaning each consists of 6 letters, giving a total of 42 letters. The first letter of each word is "Vav" which has a Gematria numerical value of 6.
To match the Omer days, 49 (7×7) elements are required

Ana BeKoach: Each verse of the 7 verses of the piyyut contains contains 6 word. The 6-letter acronym, derived from each verse, which forms part of the 42-letter name, is added to the end of the verse as a word. Constructed in this way it has 49 words.
Psalm 67: After counting the Omer for the day, Psalm 67 is recited and then Ana BeKoach is read. If the first verse to Psalm 67 is ignored, the Psalm consists of 49 words each of which is associated with successive Omer days. Similarly verse 5 of Psalm 67 contains 49 letters which are also each linked to the Omer days. This Psalm is further associated with the Temple menorah, the 7 armed oil lamp used in the Beit HaMikdash services, which links the Psalm and the Omer count to the Beit HaMikdash where the Omer was brought on the second day of Pesach as an offering of the first part of the harvest to HaShem.
Exodus journey stations: The stations represent life experiences which a person needs to overcome. The lower 7 sefirot are part of these experiences each of which needs to be understood for a person to proceed in life. The 42 stations and 7 sefirot make 49 life stages.
Sephirot: The 7 lower Sephirot are said to contain each of the Sephirot within them. There are therefore 49 permutations of Sephirot. Each Sefira is linked to a week in the Omer count. On each day of that week the week's Sefira is contemplated in relation to one of the others it contains. On the seventh day of a particular Sefira's week, the Sefira is contemplated, as it relates to itself.

Associating these concepts with Ana BeKoach

the 49 days of the Omer should remind Jews of the journey of the nation from Egypt to Israel through 42 waypoints and 7 Sephirot, and how this relates to the steps they must take in their personal life journey. The piyyut with its 49 nine words, the 49 words of Psalm 67 and the 49 letters of verse 5 of that Psalm are associated with days of the Omer, to assist a Jew to understand the life steps and how to confront them.
Ana BeKoach is one of the Kabbalistic inspired piyyut included in all orthodox services. It was constructed to associate it with the mystical meaning of the lower seven Sephirot and the 42-letter name. Its various uses by all Jewish traditions include the devine mystical power into these observances. Reciting the piyyut has the power of bringing the Ein Sof light to earth strengthening the person reciting it, and the nation to face it ongoing journey.
Every time the piyyut is recited one must focus on how it's can assist them in their life journey. The piyyut is said in the Parashat Korbanot read during Shacharit and during Kabbalat Shabbat. It reaches its full potential of guiding a person through life by its association with the counting of the Omer, through its intertwining with the other 49–derived items.
An additional verse for contemplation is inserted in the Omer service after the day's count in Edut Hamizrach, Sefard and Chasid Siddurim. These siddurim give the formula for the verse as:
This constructed verse combines all the Kabbalah elements in these various sources into the counting of the Omer for each day.
The table below shows how all these parts for each Omer day fit together. For example:

Week 1, Weekday 1 = Day 1 of the Omer: Ana BeKoach word – Ana, Sephirot – loving kindness within loving kindness, Psalm 67 word – Elokim, Verse 5 letter – Yud. Combining these gives the contemplation verse for the day 1 counting as: "Ana – loving kindness within loving kindness – Elokim – Yud". In Hebrew:.
Week 2, Weekday 3 = Day 10 of the Omer: Ana BeKoach word – ammecha, Sephirot – beauty within strength, Psalm 67 word – darchecha, Verse 5 letter – Nun. Combining these gives the contemplation verse for the day 10 counting as: "Ammecha – beauty within strength – darchecha – Nun". In Hebrew:.

By counting the Omer and contemplating the other items, associated with it a Jew can understand their journey through life, and which areas they currently need to work on to achieve the goal of finally uniting with Ein Sof.

		Week 1 חסד	Week 2 גבורה	Week 3 תפארת	Week 4 נצח	Week 5 הוד	Week 6 יסוד	Week 7 מלכות

Weekday 1 חסד	Hebrew Date	16 Nissan	23 Nissan	30 Nissan	7 Iyar	14 Iyar	21 Iyar	28 Iyar
Weekday 1 חסד	Day count	1 day	8 days	15 days	22 days	29 days	36 days	43 days
Weekday 1 חסד	Week count	–	1 week 1 day	2 weeks 1 day	3 weeks 1 day	4 weeks 1 day	5 weeks 1 day	6 weeks 1 day
Weekday 1 חסד	Ana BeKoach
Weekday 1 חסד	Sephira	חסד שבחסד	חסד שבגבורה	חסד שבתפארת	חסד שבנצח	חסד שבהוד	חסד שביסוד	חסד שבמלכות
Weekday 1 חסד	Psalm 67	אלקים	לדעת	עמים	לאמים	תנחם	כלם	יברכנו
Weekday 1 חסד	Psalm 67:5	י	ר	י	ו	י	מ	ת
Weekday 1 חסד	Camp	Ramses	Red Sea	Kibroth-hattaavah	Mithkah	Abronah	Oboth

Weekday 2 גבורה	Hebrew Date	17 Nissan	24 Nissan	1 Iyar	8 Iyar	15 Iyar	22 Iyar	29 Iyar
Weekday 2 גבורה	Day count	2 days	9 days	16 days	23 days	30 days	37 days	44 days
Weekday 2 גבורה	Week count	–	1 week 2 days	2 weeks 2 days	3 weeks 2 days	4 weeks 2 days	5 weeks 2 days	6 weeks 2 days
Weekday 2 גבורה	Ana BeKoach
Weekday 2 גבורה	Sephira	גבורה שבחסד	גבורה שבגבורה	גבורה שבתפארת	גבורה שבנצח	גבורה שבהוד	גבורה שביסוד	גבורה שבמלכות
Weekday 2 גבורה	Psalm 67	יחננו	בארץ	אלקים	כי	סלה	ארץ	אלקים
Weekday 2 גבורה	Psalm 67:5	ש	נ	ם	ט	ש	י	נ
Weekday 2 גבורה	Camp	Sukkot	Sin wilderness	Hazeroth	Mount Shepher	Hashmonah	Ezion-geber	Iye-abarim

Weekday 3 תפארת	Hebrew Date	18 Nissan	25 Nissan	2 Iyar	9 Iyar	16 Iyar	23 Iyar	1 Sivan
Weekday 3 תפארת	Day count	3 days	10 days	17 days	24 days	31 days	38 days	45 days
Weekday 3 תפארת	Week count	–	1 week 3 days	2 weeks 3 days	3 weeks 3 days	4 weeks 3 days	5 weeks 3 days	6 weeks 3 days
Weekday 3 תפארת	Ana BeKoach
Weekday 3 תפארת	Sephira	תפארת שבחסד	תפארת שבגבורה	תפארת שבתפארת	תפארת שבנצח	תפארת שבהוד	תפארת שביסוד	תפארת שבמלכות
Weekday 3 תפארת	Psalm 67	ויברכנו	דרכך	יודוך	תשפוט	יודוך	נתנה	וייראו
Weekday 3 תפארת	Psalm 67:5	מ	נ	כ	ע	ו	ם	ח
Weekday 3 תפארת	Camp	Etham	Dophkah	Rithmah	Haradah	Moseroth	Kadesh	Dibon-gad

Weekday 4 נצח	Hebrew Date	19 Nissan	26 Nissan	3 Iyar	10 Iyar	17 Iyar	24 Iyar	2 Sivan
Weekday 4 נצח	Day count	4 days	11 days	18 days	25 days	32 days	39 days	46 days
Weekday 4 נצח	Week count	–	1 week 4 days	2 weeks 4 days	3 weeks 4 days	4 weeks 4 days	5 weeks 4 days	6 weeks 4 days
Weekday 4 נצח	Ana BeKoach
Weekday 4 נצח	Sephira	נצח שבחסד	נצח שבגבורה	נצח שבתפארת	נצח שבנצח	נצח שבהוד	נצח שביסוד	נצח שבמלכות
Weekday 4 נצח	Ps 67	יאר	בכל	עמים	עמים	עמים	יבולה	אתו
Weekday 4 נצח	Psalm 67:5	ח	ו	י	מ	ר	ב	ם
Weekday 4 נצח	Camp	Pi-HaCheirus	Alush	Rimmon-perez	Makheloth	Bene-jaakan	Mount Hor	Almon-diblathaim

Weekday 5 הוד	Hebrew Date	20 Nissan	27 Nissan	4 Iyar	11 Iyar	18 Iyar	25 Iyar	3 Sivan
Weekday 5 הוד	Day count	5 days	12 days	19 days	26 days	33 days	40 days	47 days
Weekday 5 הוד	Week count	–	1 week 5 days	2 weeks 5 days	3 weeks 5 days	4 weeks 5 days	5 weeks 5 days	6 weeks 5 days
Weekday 5 הוד	Ana BeKoach
Weekday 5 הוד	Sephira	הוד שבחסד	הוד שבגבורה	הוד שבתפארת	הוד שבנצח	הוד שבהוד	הוד שביסוד	הוד שבמלכות
Weekday 5 הוד	Ps 67	פניו	גוים	כלם	פניו	אלקים	יברכנו	כל
Weekday 5 הוד	Psalm 67:5	ו	ל	ת	י	ו	א	ס
Weekday 5 הוד	Camp	Marah	Rephidim	Libnah	Tahath	Hor-haggidgad	Zalmonah	Aviram Mountain

Weekday 6 יסוד	Hebrew Date	21 Nissan	28 Nissan	5 Iyar	12 Iyar	19 Iyar	26 Iyar	4 Sivan
Weekday 6 יסוד	Day count	6 days	13 days	20 days	27 days	34 days	41 days	48 days
Weekday 6 יסוד	Week count	–	1 week 6 days	2 weeks 6 days	3 weeks 6 days	4 weeks 6 days	5 weeks 6 days	6 weeks 6 days
Weekday 6 יסוד	Ana BeKoach
Weekday 6 יסוד	Sephira	יסוד שבחסד	יסוד שבגבורה	יסוד שבתפארת	יסוד שבנצח	יסוד שבהוד	יסוד שביסוד	יסוד שבמלכות
Weekday 6 יסוד	Ps 67	אתנו	ישועתך	ישמחו	ולאמים	יודוך	אלקים	אפסי
Weekday 6 יסוד	Psalm 67:5	ו	א	ש	ם	ל	ר	ל
Weekday 6 יסוד	Camp	Elim	Sinai	Rissah	Terah	Jotbath	Punon	Moab Plains

Weekday 7 מלכות	Hebrew Date	22 Nissan	29 Nissan	6 Iyar	13 Iyar	20 Iyar	27 Iyar	5 Sivan
Weekday 7 מלכות	Day count	7 days	14 days	21 days	28 days	35 days	42 days	49 days
Weekday 7 מלכות	Week count	1 week	2 weeks	3 weeks	4 weeks	5 weeks	6 weeks	7 weeks
Weekday 7 מלכות	Ana BeKoach
Weekday 7 מלכות	Sephira	מלכות שבחסד	מלכות שבגבורה	מלכות שבתפארת	מלכות שבנצח	מלכות שבהוד	מלכות שביסוד	מלכות שבמלכות
Weekday 7 מלכות	Ps 67	סלה	יודוך	וירננו	בארץ	עמים	אלקינו	ארץ
Weekday 7 מלכות	Psalm 67:5	י	מ	פ	מ	א	ץ	ה
Weekday 7 מלכות	Camp	Sefira Chesed	Sephira Gevura	Sephira Tiferet	Sephira Netsuch	Sephira Hod	Sefira Yesod	Sephira Malchut

In popular culture

King David — An Israeli hip-hop song released by Israeli rapper Dudu Faruk includes a rapid recitation of Ana beKoach at the end of the track.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — A rendition of Ana BeKoach is featured in the television show in a synagogue scene.