נָשַׁב
to blow; by implication, to disperse
Definition
The verb נָשַׁב (nâshab) primarily means 'to blow,' specifically describing the action of wind or breath. In its literal sense, it refers to the wind blowing, as seen in Psalm 147:18 where God sends His wind (רוּחַ, rûach) to blow and melt the ice. By implication, this blowing action can have a dispersive or driving effect. This is illustrated in Genesis 15:11, where Abram drives away (נָשַׁב) birds of prey from his sacrifice, using the concept of blowing or shooing them off. In Isaiah 40:7, the word describes how the breath (רוּחַ) of the Lord blows upon the grass, causing it to wither, emphasizing a destructive or dispersive force.
Biblical Usage
נָשַׁב is used only three times in the Old Testament, appearing in narrative (Genesis), poetic (Psalms), and prophetic (Isaiah) books. Its usage consistently involves an agent—either a person or, more significantly, God's breath/wind (רוּחַ)—exerting force. In Genesis 15:11, Abram is the agent driving away birds. In Psalm 147:18 and Isaiah 40:7, God is the agent whose wind or breath blows with creative or destructive power, respectively. This pattern ties the word to themes of divine action and authority over creation.
Etymology
נָשַׁב is a primitive root in Hebrew. It is related to the concept of blowing or breathing. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Arabic nasafa ('to blow'), suggesting a shared ancient root for air movement. The word's development from a basic physical action ('to blow') to a causative implication ('to drive away' or 'disperse') is typical of Hebrew verbs where an action's effect becomes part of its semantic range.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it is directly linked to the action of God's רוּחַ (rûach, 'wind/spirit/breath'). In Psalm 147:18, God's blowing wind is part of His sovereign, life-giving governance of nature. In Isaiah 40:7, the same breath symbolizes His transient judgment and the frailty of human life compared to His eternal word. Understanding נָשַׁב enriches reading by highlighting how a simple physical action (blowing) becomes a metaphor for God's powerful, immediate, and sometimes contrasting acts of provision and judgment.
In the ancient Near Eastern context, wind was often perceived as a direct manifestation of divine power or presence, not merely a natural phenomenon. The action of blowing to drive something away, as Abram does in Genesis 15:11, would be a familiar, physical gesture of protection for a sacred ritual. The concept of a divine breath withering vegetation (Isaiah 40:7) resonated in an agrarian society as a stark display of supreme authority over life and sustenance.
נָשַׁף (nâshaph, H5398) — a less common synonym also meaning 'to blow,' often used for blowing a trumpet or gentle blowing. פּוּחַ (pûach, H6315) — to blow, puff, often with connotations of kindling or scattering. גָּרַשׁ (gârash, H1644) — to drive out or cast out; shares the 'driving away' implication but is a stronger, more general term not specific to blowing.
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.
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