נָפַח
𐤍𐤐𐤇
nâphach
H5301 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To blow air, especially by expelling through the mouth or nostrils; to exhale forcibly. The term covers a variety of contexts: the act of breathing life into something; blowing upon, as in the act of kindling fire; expelling air in a strong gust; or, in a more figurative sense, to breath out in the sense of exhaling the last breath, i.e., to expire or die. Occasionally it can also carry the connotation of driving or scattering by means of air currents (wind), or metaphorically of expressing contempt (considered to 'puff at').
Semantic Range
to blow air, to exhale or breathe (especially with force), to breathe life into, to kindle or fan (a fire), to scatter (by blowing), to expire or die (by breathing out one's last breath), to express contempt by 'puffing at' or dismissing
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נ-פ-ח, meaning primarily 'to blow, exhale.' As a primitive verb, it is used to denote the physical act of blowing or breathing, from which additional meanings related to life (breathing), death (expiring), and action upon other objects (blowing on fire) are developed.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, נָפַח appears in contexts emphasizing the active force of blowing, particularly the origin of life (e.g., breathing into the nostrils of humanity in Genesis 2:7), the maintenance or destruction of fire (as in kindling or scattering flames), and the finality of breath at death. The concept of God 'blowing' or 'breathing' life is distinct from other terms for create or make and carries a stronger sense of imparting vitality by an act of exhalation. Occasionally, the act of blowing expresses disdain or diminishment (cf. Psalm 10:5, where some translations use 'puff at'). The semantic range covers both literal and metaphorical uses, and English translations may restrict it to 'blow' or 'breathe,' but the Hebrew sense is broader, encompassing physical, vital, and emotive responses. The root is also foundational for nouns such as נֶפֶשׁ (life, soul, life-breath), though with distinct semantic developments.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to puff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow hard, scatter, kindle, expire; figuratively, to disesteem); blow, breath, give up, cause to lose (life), seething, snuff.
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 exhale, to breathe out
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H4646 | מַפָּח | final exhalation of |
| H4647 | מַפֻּחַ | forge bellows |
| H5302 | נֹפַח | Nophach |
| H8598 | תַּפּוּחַ | fragrant apples |
Word Forms
10 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5301-10 |
וְ/נָפַחְתִּ֥י | venafacheti | HC/Vqq1cs |
and I blew | and I blew | 2 |
H5301-04 |
נָפ֨וּחַ֙ | nafucha | HVqsmsa |
boiling | blown | 2 |
H5301-01 |
הִפָּֽחְתִּי | hipacheti | HVhp1cs |
I have caused to expire | I caused to breathe out | 1 |
H5301-09 |
וְ/הִפַּחְתֶּ֣ם | vehipachetem | HC/Vhq2mp |
and you sniff at | and you caused to blow | 1 |
H5301-06 |
נֻפָּ֑ח | nupach | HVPp3ms |
blown | was blown | 1 |
H5301-07 |
וּ/פְחִ֛י | ufechi | HC/Vqv2fs |
and breathe | and blow out! | 1 |
H5301-03 |
נָפְחָ֥ה | nafechah | HVqp3fs |
she has breathed out | she breathed out | 1 |
H5301-08 |
וַ/יִּפַּ֥ח | vayipach | HC/Vqw3ms |
and breathed | and he blew out | 1 |
H5301-02 |
לָ/פַֽחַת | lafachat | HR/Vqc |
to blow | to blow out | 1 |
H5301-05 |
נֹפֵ֨חַ֙ | nofecha | HVqrmsa |
who blows | blowing one | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
12 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5301-08 |
Genesis 2:7 | וַ/יִּפַּ֥ח | vayipach | HC/Vqw3ms |
and breathed | and he blew out |
H5301-05 |
Isaiah 54:16 | נֹפֵ֨חַ֙ | nofecha | HVqrmsa |
who blows | blowing one |
H5301-04 |
Jeremiah 1:13 | נָפ֨וּחַ֙ | nafucha | HVqsmsa |
boiling | blown |
H5301-03 |
Jeremiah 15:9 | נָפְחָ֥ה | nafechah | HVqp3fs |
she has breathed out | she breathed out |
H5301-02 |
Ezekiel 22:20 | לָ/פַֽחַת | lafachat | HR/Vqc |
to blow | to blow out |
H5301-10 |
Ezekiel 22:21 | וְ/נָפַחְתִּ֥י | venafacheti | HC/Vqq1cs |
and I will blow | and I blew |
H5301-07 |
Ezekiel 37:9 | וּ/פְחִ֛י | ufechi | HC/Vqv2fs |
and breathe | and blow out! |
H5301-10 |
Haggai 1:9 | וְ/נָפַ֣חְתִּי | venafacheti | HC/Vqp1cs |
and I blew | and I blew |
H5301-09 |
Malachi 1:13 | וְ/הִפַּחְתֶּ֣ם | vehipachetem | HC/Vhq2mp |
and you sniff at | and you caused to blow |
H5301-06 |
Job 20:26 | נֻפָּ֑ח | nupach | HVPp3ms |
blown | was blown |