יָפֵחַ (ya.phe.ach)
ya.phe.ach
breathing
H:AQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:A
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun yāp̄ēaḥ denotes a forceful exhalation, such as the breath of wind or the act of blowing. Its root conveys the physical action of puffing out air with significant pressure, suggesting movement and power rather than gentle respiration.
This term appears only once in the Hebrew Bible, in Psalm 27:12. There it describes how enemies "blow" against David, using the image of a strong wind to illustrate their aggressive intent to destroy him. The word captures the tangible force of their opposition.
Translators typically render this as "breath" or "blast," depending on the context of the surrounding verbs. It serves as a concrete metaphor for hostile pressure, grounding spiritual conflict in the physical reality of wind and breath.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word yāp̄ēaḥ describes a forceful exhalation, like a strong wind or blast. It appears only once in Scripture, in Psalm 27:12. David uses this vivid image to describe the cruelty of his enemies. They do not just speak against him; they blow out their hostility with intense pressure. This metaphor grounds spiritual conflict in physical reality, showing how opposition can feel like a gale trying to knock you down.
When you face unfair criticism or false accusations, it can feel overwhelming. The Bible acknowledges this weight. David did not hide from the intensity of the attack; he brought it directly to God. He asked for protection against those who breathe out cruelty. This reminds us that we do not have to manage every hostile breath alone.
You are invited to bring your own experiences of pressure to the Lord. Like David, you can acknowledge the force of the opposition without letting it define your worth. Trusting in God’s presence brings stability when the winds of criticism blow hard. His faithfulness remains steady regardless of how strong the opposing breath may be.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- and/ a witness of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- וִ/יפֵ֥חַ1×
Key Verses
-
Psalms 27:12
Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries, for false witnesses have risen up against me, such as breathe out cruelty.
David uses this rare term to depict false witnesses as exhaling cruelty with physical force, emphasizing the aggressive intensity of their opposition.