נְחִיר
a nostril
Definition
The Hebrew noun נְחִיר (nᵉchîyr) specifically means 'nostril' or 'nose.' It is used exclusively in the dual form (נְחִירַיִם, nᵉchîrayim), referring to the two nostrils. In its single biblical occurrence, it describes the powerful, steam-emitting nostrils of the mighty creature Leviathan in Job 41:20. The word focuses on the physical organ of the nose as an aperture for breath and, by poetic extension, a source of forceful exhalation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Job 41:20. It appears in a poetic description of God's awe-inspiring creation, specifically the sea monster Leviathan. The context is God's rhetorical challenge to Job, highlighting His supreme power over fearsome creatures. The usage emphasizes the creature's terrifying vitality and breath, as smoke or steam pours from its nostrils.
Etymology
נְחִיר (nᵉchîyr) is derived from the root נ־ח־ר (n-ch-r), which relates to snorting or blowing, as seen in the verb נָחַר (nāchar, H5170) meaning 'to snort' or 'to be angry.' The noun form thus denotes the orifice from which such a forceful breath emerges. It is a cognate with similar words in related Semitic languages for 'nostril' or 'nose.'
Semantic Range
While a simple anatomical term, its use in Job 41 connects to the theological theme of God's sovereign power and inscrutable wisdom in creation. The description of Leviathan's nostrils underscores the creature's fearsome, untamable nature, which is still utterly under God's control. Understanding this vivid imagery enriches the reader's appreciation of the poetic argument in Job, where God uses the physical might of His creations to illustrate His own transcendent majesty.
In ancient Near Eastern culture, the nose or nostrils were closely associated with breath, life, and anger. A snorting or flaring of the nostrils was a visible sign of rage or immense power, as seen in depictions of deities and mythical beasts. The single biblical usage taps into this cultural understanding, using the nostrils as a symbol of the terrifying life-force and fiery breath attributed to a chaotic sea monster.
אַף (aph, H639) — A more common word for 'nose' or 'face,' often used metaphorically for anger ('nostrils flaring') or as a preposition ('also'). חֹטֶם (chōṭem, H639) — Another word for 'nose,' used less frequently, primarily in literal physical descriptions.
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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