נָשַׁם (na.sham)
na.sham
to pant
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nasham describes the act of panting, specifically capturing the heavy, deep breathing associated with intense physical exertion. While the root can imply general breathlessness, its most distinctive usage in Scripture focuses on the labor pains of a woman in childbirth. This narrow application gives the word a visceral quality, linking the rhythm of breath directly to the struggle and intensity of bringing new life into the world.
The only occurrence of this verb appears in Isaiah 42:14, where God declares, "I have long time held my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry like a travailing woman; I will destroy and devour at once." Here, the prophet uses nasham to illustrate a sudden shift from divine patience to active intervention. The imagery suggests that God’s restraint was not inactivity, but a gathering of strength, much like the moments between contractions before the final, decisive effort.
This rare word highlights how biblical language often draws on human biological experiences to describe spiritual realities. By comparing God’s coming action to the panting of labor, the text emphasizes both the inevitability and the transformative power of that moment. The focus remains on the intensity of the breath as a sign of imminent change, rather than on suffering alone.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Hebrew word nasham captures the heavy, rhythmic breathing of intense physical exertion, specifically linking it to the labor pains of childbirth. In Isaiah 42:14, this rare verb describes God’s shift from long silence to active intervention. The imagery suggests that divine restraint was not inactivity, but a gathering of strength before a decisive moment.
For your faith, this offers comfort in seasons of waiting. When God seems silent, it may be a time of preparation rather than absence. Just as labor leads to new life, these periods of tension often precede significant spiritual breakthroughs. The breath itself becomes a sign of imminent change, reminding us that God’s timing is purposeful and powerful.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- I puff1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- אֶשֹּׁ֥ם1×
Key Verses
-
Isaiah 42:14
“I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant.
This verse uniquely applies the verb to God's own actions, using the imagery of a travailing woman to illustrate the intensity and inevitability of His coming intervention after a period of silence.