Anna, Wife of Tobit
The Faithful Weaver
Exile in Nineveh
Tobit's wife in Nineveh, who supported her blind husband by weaving and waited daily for her son's return.
“Now I see you, my child; I am ready to die.” — Tobit 11:9Talk with Anna, Wife of Tobit
The story of Anna, Wife of Tobit
Anna was the wife of Tobit, a faithful Israelite living in exile in Nineveh. When Tobit became blind and could no longer work, Anna supported the family by weaving cloth for others.
When her employers gave her a young goat as a bonus, Tobit suspected it was stolen, and Anna answered him sharply, a very honest picture of the strain of hard times. Later, when Tobit sent their only son Tobias on a long journey, Anna wept and feared she would never see him again.
Every day she sat by the road watching for her son. When she finally saw Tobias coming home, she ran to him, embraced him and said she was ready to die in peace. Tobias then healed his father's eyes with the help of the angel Raphael.
Key passages
Tobit 2:11–14
Anna weaves to support the family and argues with Tobit over the goat.
Tobit 5:17–6:1
Anna weeps as Tobias leaves on his journey.
Tobit 10:1–7
Anna waits and watches the road for her son every day.
Tobit 11:5–9
Anna sees Tobias returning and runs to embrace him.
Key books
- Tobit
Questions you can ask
- “How did you keep hope while Tobias was away?”
- “What was life like in Nineveh?”
- “How do you handle worry for your children?”
Common questions
Who was Anna in the Book of Tobit?
She was Tobit's wife and the mother of Tobias, who supported her family by weaving during Tobit's blindness.
Is this the same Anna as in Luke?
No. The prophetess Anna in Luke 2 lived centuries later in Jerusalem.
What can we learn from Anna?
Her story shows honest struggle, hard work and hope in God while waiting for answers.