נְשָׁמָה
a puff, i.e. wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. or (concretely) an animal
Definition
The Hebrew word נְשָׁמָה (nᵉshâmâh) primarily refers to the 'breath of life' or 'vital breath' that animates living beings. In its most foundational sense, it describes the life-giving breath from God, as seen when God breathes the 'breath of life' into Adam (Genesis 2:7). It can also signify the breath or spirit of God Himself, representing divine power, inspiration, or judgment, such as the 'blast' of His nostrils (2 Samuel 22:16). In some contexts, particularly in the conquest narratives, it refers to the life force of all living creatures, including animals (Genesis 7:22; Joshua 11:11).
Biblical Usage
נְשָׁמָה appears 24 times across various literary contexts. It is used in foundational theological narratives (Genesis), historical accounts of conquest (Joshua, 1 Kings), and poetic descriptions of God's power (2 Samuel, Job). A key pattern is its use to distinguish between mere biological life and divinely imparted life. For example, in Genesis 2:7, it is the specific breath from God that makes Adam a 'living being,' while in Genesis 7:22 and the conquest passages (e.g., Joshua 10:40), it denotes the animating breath in all creatures, human and animal, that perishes in judgment.
Etymology
The noun נְשָׁמָה (nᵉshâmâh) is derived from the root verb נָשַׁם (nāsham, H5395), meaning 'to pant,' 'to blow,' or 'to breathe.' This connection emphasizes the physical act of breathing. Cognates exist in other Semitic languages, like Ugaritic and Arabic, with similar meanings related to breath or soul. The development from a physical action ('to breathe') to a noun for the breath itself, and then to the abstract concept of life, spirit, or inspiration, is a natural semantic progression.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it points directly to the source of life. It underscores that human life is not merely biological but is a direct gift from God, imbued with a unique spiritual dimension (Genesis 2:7). It connects humanity's origin to the Creator in a way distinct from the rest of creation. Understanding נְשָׁמָה enriches the reading of passages about life, death, judgment, and divine inspiration, highlighting the intimate link between God's spirit and human existence.
In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, breath was intimately connected with the essence of life and the presence of a deity. The concept of a god imparting breath to create or animate was not unique to Israel, but the biblical use of נְשָׁמָה uniquely ties this life-force to the one sovereign God, Yahweh. Unlike some neighboring cultures that might see the breath-soul as a detachable entity, the Hebrew concept often presents it as the vitalizing principle of the whole person, inseparable from physical life when in the body.
רוּחַ (rûach, H7307) — A broader term for wind, breath, spirit, or direction; often used for God's Spirit or a human's inner spirit. נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh, H5315) — Often translated 'soul' or 'life'; refers to the whole living being, person, or appetite, more encompassing than breath alone.
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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