נָשַׁף (na.shaph)
na.shaph
to blow
H:VQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- H:V
Word Overview
The Hebrew verb nashaph means simply to blow, describing the physical act of expelling air from the mouth or lungs. It is a straightforward action word, appearing only twice in the entire Old Testament: in Exodus 15:8 and Isaiah 40:7. In both instances, it describes a forceful exhalation that creates movement or wind.
In Exodus 15:8, Moses uses nashaph to describe how the breath of God’s nostrils gathered the waters into a heap at the Red Sea. Here, the word conveys power and suddenness; it is not a gentle breeze but a divine force that parts the sea. Isaiah 40:7 applies the same verb to human beings, noting that people wither like grass because the breath (ruach) blows upon them. This usage highlights fragility and impermanence.
The word’s rarity makes its occurrences stand out. It connects the physical act of breathing with significant theological moments: divine intervention in salvation history and the fleeting nature of human life. Translators typically render it as "blew" or "breathed," capturing the simple yet potent image of air moving with purpose.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word nashaph describes a simple, physical act: blowing air. In Scripture, this ordinary action becomes a powerful image of God’s presence. At the Red Sea, it was not a gentle breeze but a forceful breath that parted the waters, showing us that God can move mountains with a word. This reminds us that the same power that delivers us is always available when we face impossible situations.
Yet this word also carries a sobering truth about our own lives. In Isaiah, it describes how quickly human strength fades, like grass withering under a breath. We are fragile, and our plans can vanish in an instant. This does not leave us hopeless, but rather points us to where true stability lies. When we recognize our limits, we find rest in the One who never changes.
Understanding this word helps us see the balance in our faith. We trust in God’s mighty power to save, while also accepting our human weakness with humility. It invites us to rely not on our own strength, but on the steady breath of the Spirit that sustains us every day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you blew1×
- he blows1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- נָשַׁ֥פְתָּ1×
- נָשַׁ֤ף1×
Key Verses
-
Exodus 15:10
You blew with your wind. The sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
This verse uses the word to describe God's powerful intervention at the Red Sea, showing how His breath can overcome overwhelming obstacles.
-
Isaiah 40:24
They are planted scarcely. They are sown scarcely. Their stock has scarcely taken root in the ground. He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the whirlwind takes them away as stubble.
Here the word highlights human fragility, illustrating that even the strongest leaders wither quickly under God's breath.