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πνοή

pnoḗ

G4157 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Breath, wind, or a current of air—primarily referring to the act or result of blowing, either as physical breath (the air expelled by a living being) or, by extension, a gentle wind, breeze, or puff of air. Also used metaphorically in some contexts to refer to life, the animating force, or vital energy, as the breath that signifies life.

Semantic Range

breath, respiration, wind, breeze, puff of air, life-breath, animating breath

Root / Etymology

From the verb πνέω (to blow, to breathe), forming a noun denoting what is blown or breathed. The suffix -η creates an abstract or result noun from the verbal root.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πνοή generally refers to the physical act of breathing or to moving air (wind or breeze). In the Septuagint, πνοή is often used for the Hebrew נְשָׁמָה (neshamah), denoting breath or vital spirit. In the New Testament, πνοή appears rarely, but when it does (e.g., Acts 2:2), it describes a powerful moving wind or breath, often in contexts conveying both the physical phenomenon and metaphorical associations with life or divine activity. English translations typically render πνοή as 'breath' or 'wind'; however, the word may carry nuances of life-force (the breath that signifies life) or a momentary puff, especially in Hellenistic writings. It is conceptually related to πνεῦμα (spirit, wind, breath), but πνοή emphasizes the physical aspect or the movement of air/breath itself, whereas πνεῦμα more frequently denotes an animating spirit or disposition. The semantic distinction is sometimes blurred in theological contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πνέω; respiration, a breeze:--breath, wind.

Root Family

πνοή (pnoē) — breath, wind, blowing, life-breath

Root πνε- to blow, to breathe, breath, wind

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4157-02 πνοῆς pnoes N GEN F SG a wind of breath wind 1
G4157-01 πνοὴν pnoen N ACC F SG breath breath breath 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4157-02 Acts 2:2 πνοῆς pnoes N GEN F SG a wind of breath wind
G4157-01 Acts 17:25 πνοὴν pnoen N ACC F SG breath breath breath
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