מַפֻּחַ
𐤌𐤐𐤇
mappuach
H4647 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A device or instrument used to produce and direct a strong current of air, especially for the purpose of increasing the heat of a fire, commonly associated with metalworking (forge) contexts. The term specifically refers to 'bellows,' the apparatus for blowing air into a furnace or flame.
Semantic Range
bellows, implement for blowing air into a forge, blower (especially for melting or refining metals)
Root / Etymology
From the root נָפַח (n-p-ḥ), meaning 'to blow,' with the nominal pattern מַקְטֵל forming nouns that denote instruments or tools associated with the root action. Thus, מַפֻּחַ is literally 'a blower.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
מַפֻּחַ occurs primarily in the context of ancient metallurgy, where the ability to raise high temperatures was essential for working with metals. The only attestation in the Hebrew Bible appears in Jeremiah 6:29, where it is associated with the process of refining or smelting. The image is that of the smith's bellows forcefully blowing to intensify the furnace heat, often in reference to purification or testing, either literal (metallurgical) or metaphorical (purification of people). Later translations sometimes generalize the term to mean 'blower,' but the primary referent in biblical usage is an implement for working iron or other metals. The word's rarity means it did not develop broader figurative senses in the biblical period. English translations such as 'bellows' accurately capture the technical function, but may lack the wider semantic associations present in contexts of ancient craftsmanship. There are no significant shifts in usage across biblical periods due to its specialized meaning. Related terms like נָפַח ('to blow, breathe') are broader and not confined to smithing.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָפַח; the bellows (i.e. blower) of aforge; bellows.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נפח (n-p-ḥ) — to blow, to breathe, to exhale
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4646 | מַפָּח | final exhalation of |
| H5301 | נָפַח | I caused to breathe out |
| H5302 | נֹפַח | Nophach |
| H8598 | תַּפּוּחַ | fragrant apples |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4647-01 |
מַפֻּ֔חַ | mapucha | HNcmsa |
the bellows | forge bellows | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H4647-01 |
Jeremiah 6:29 | מַפֻּ֔חַ | mapucha | HNcmsa |
the bellows | forge bellows |