נָשַׁב (na.shav)
na.shav
to blow
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nashav means simply to blow, describing the movement of air or wind. It appears in only three verses across Scripture, yet it carries significant atmospheric weight. In Genesis 8:1, God causes a wind to blow over the earth after the flood, marking a transition from chaos to order. The word captures the physical force of breath or gale without necessarily implying emotion.
Its usage highlights the power of divine agency. When used in the Hiphil stem, it often means to cause something to blow or be driven away. This active sense appears in Isaiah 40:7, where the grass withers because the wind blows upon it. The text contrasts human frailty with the enduring word of God, using nashav to illustrate how transient life is under the force of nature.
Translators typically render this verb as "blow" or "wind." It does not carry the complex theological baggage of other Hebrew terms for spirit or breath. Instead, it serves as a straightforward descriptor of natural phenomena that reveal God’s control over creation. The word reminds readers that even the wind obeys its Creator.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nashav describes the simple, physical act of blowing air or wind. In Scripture, this ordinary force becomes a clear sign of God’s power over nature. After the great flood in Genesis, God sends a wind to dry the earth, turning chaos into a place where life can begin again. This shows that even the strongest storms are under His control.
Isaiah uses this same word to remind us of our own fragility. The grass withers when the breath of God blows upon it. This is not meant to frighten us, but to help us see what truly lasts. While human strength fades like summer grass, God’s promises remain steady and sure.
When you feel overwhelmed by changing circumstances, remember that the same God who commands the wind also cares for you. His word does not fade with the weather. You can rest in the fact that He holds your life in His steady hands, just as He held the waters back.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- it blows1×
- he makes blow1×
- and/ he drove away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נָ֣שְׁבָה1×
- יַשֵּׁ֥ב1×
- וַ/יַּשֵּׁ֥ב1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 40:7
The grass withers, the flower fades, because Yahweh’s breath blows on it. Surely the people are like grass.
Here the word illustrates human frailty, showing how quickly life withers under the breath of the Lord compared to His enduring word.
-
Psalms 147:18
He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
The psalmist links God’s spoken word directly to the physical blowing of wind, demonstrating His command over natural elements.