מַפָּח (map.pach)
map.pach
exhalation
H:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:N-M
Word Overview
The Hebrew noun map.pach refers to the act of breathing out or exhaling. It appears only once in the entire Old Testament, found in Job 11:20 within Zophar’s speech about the fate of the wicked. In this context, it describes life as something that simply stops, like a final breath leaving the body.
Its root sense is physical expiration, marking the end of vitality. The word carries no metaphorical weight beyond this literal cessation of breath. Translators often render it as "breathing out" or "exhaling," emphasizing the abrupt and final nature of death for those who face divine judgment in Job’s narrative.
Because it occurs just once, map.pach offers a stark image of mortality. It underscores the fragility of human existence when contrasted with the permanence of God’s justice. The rarity of the word highlights how specific biblical language can capture a moment of finality with precision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word מַפָּח describes the simple act of breathing out, or exhaling. It appears only once in the Old Testament, in Job 11:20. Zophar uses it to describe the final moment of life for those who live without regard for God. In that verse, hope is reduced to a last breath leaving the body.
This rare word reminds us how fragile human life can be. Our vitality depends on God’s continued presence. When we reflect on our own mortality, it helps us prioritize what truly matters. We are not self-sustaining; our breath is a gift that requires divine grace to continue.
While the context in Job is sobering, this image invites us to cherish every moment of life. It encourages humility and dependence on God rather than self-reliance. Recognizing the preciousness of each breath can deepen our gratitude for the time we have been given.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [will be] a gasp of1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- מַֽפַּח\־1×
Key Verses
-
Job 11:20
But the eyes of the wicked will fail. They will have no way to flee. Their hope will be the giving up of the spirit.”
Zophar uses this rare term to depict the finality of death for the wicked, where hope ends with the last exhale.