נַחַר
a snorting
Definition
The Hebrew noun נַחַר (nachar) refers to the sound of forceful breathing through the nose, specifically a snorting. In its two biblical occurrences, it describes the powerful, audible snorting of a horse in Job 39:20, a sound associated with its strength, vigor, and eagerness for battle. In Jeremiah 8:16, the same word is used metaphorically; the 'snorting' is the sound of the enemy's warhorses, symbolizing the imminent, terrifying approach of an invading army. Thus, the word consistently conveys a loud, aggressive respiratory sound tied to power and impending conflict.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the Old Testament, both times in poetic contexts. In Job 39:20, it is part of God's rhetorical description of the warhorse's majestic power. In Jeremiah 8:16, the prophet uses the 'snorting of his [the enemy's] horses' as a vivid auditory image of the coming judgment from the north. The usage pattern shows it is a specialized term for the snorting of horses, particularly in a martial or threatening context.
Etymology
The noun נַחַר (nachar) derives from an unused Hebrew root meaning 'to snort' or 'to snore.' It is related to the feminine form נַחֲרָה (nacharah), which appears in lists of animals and may refer to a mare. The root concept is the production of a loud, nasal sound, linking it to the physical act of forceful exhalation.
Semantic Range
While not a central theological term, נַחַר enriches the biblical imagery of divine power and judgment. In Job, it illustrates God's creative mastery over even the fearsome aspects of nature (Job 39:20). In Jeremiah, it becomes part of the prophetic toolkit for depicting God's use of foreign nations as instruments of discipline (Jeremiah 8:16). Understanding this specific sound connects the reader to the tangible, sensory reality of biblical metaphors for strength and impending doom.
In the ancient Near East, the warhorse was a supreme symbol of military might and terror. Its snorting was not just a biological sound but a recognized auditory signal of a charging cavalry unit, evoking fear and signaling unstoppable force. The modern reader might miss this immediate, visceral association, which the biblical authors leveraged for maximum emotional impact.
אַף (aph, H639) — A primary word for 'nose' or 'nostril,' often used for the organ itself or figuratively for anger, whereas נַחַר is the specific sound it produces.
Word Details
How this works
Hebrew definitions are from Brown-Driver-Briggs (1906) and Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890), both public domain. BDB was groundbreaking for its era but reflects 19th-century assumptions about Semitic etymology. Modern scholarship (HALOT, DCH) has revised many entries. Use these definitions as a starting point for exploration, not as the final word on a term's meaning in context.
Full methodology & sources →