נָשַׁף
𐤍𐤔𐤐
nâshaph
H5398 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To blow, especially with reference to the movement of wind or air; to breathe out or expel air with force. Used primarily to describe the action of the wind blowing in a fresh or forceful manner.
Semantic Range
to blow (of wind), to breathe out forcefully, to send forth a gust, to expel air, to move air with force
Root / Etymology
Root is נָשַׁף, uncertain etymological relationship to other known Semitic roots. The verb is considered primitive and may reflect an onomatopoeic origin, imitating the sound of blowing or exhaling forcefully.
Historical & Contextual Notes
נָשַׁף appears infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, typically describing the action of the wind or breath moving with force. It is distinct from other roots such as נשׁב (H5399), which also means 'to blow', but often refers more generally to the movement of air or breath, and from פוח and הפיח, which denote panting or inciting. During the monarchic period, נָשַׁף is used poetically to evoke the freshness and vigor of the wind, particularly in prophetic and poetic texts. Its meaning remains relatively stable throughout biblical usage and does not undergo major semantic expansion in later periods. Later English translations sometimes render the term as 'breathe' or 'blow', but these may not always capture the freshness or specific forcefulness described, particularly the nuance of a fresh or renewing wind. The root does not carry the figurative senses found in some related terms, such as inciting (פיח).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to breeze, i.e. blow up fresh (as the wind); blow.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
נשף (n-š-p) — to blow, to exhale forcefully, to breathe out
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5398-01 |
נָשַׁ֤ף | nashaf | HVqp3ms |
blows | he blew forcefully | 1 |
H5398-02 |
נָשַׁ֥פְתָּ | nashafeta | HVqp2ms |
You blew | you blew forth | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5398-02 |
Exodus 15:10 | נָשַׁ֥פְתָּ | nashafeta | HVqp2ms |
You blew | you blew forth |
H5398-01 |
Isaiah 40:24 | נָשַׁ֤ף | nashaf | HVqp3ms |
blows | he blew forcefully |