נָשַׁם

נָשַׁם

properly, to blow away, i.e. destroy

Definition

The Hebrew verb נָשַׁם (nâsham) is a rare word meaning 'to pant,' 'to gasp,' or 'to breathe hard.' It describes a state of intense, labored breathing, often arising from profound emotional or physical exertion. In its single biblical occurrence in Isaiah 42:14, it is used metaphorically to depict God's passionate restraint and subsequent outburst of action, like a woman in labor holding her breath and then crying out. This imagery powerfully conveys divine emotion, moving from silent, pent-up zeal to a decisive, roaring intervention.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the Old Testament, in Isaiah 42:14. It appears in a prophetic context where God describes His own patient waiting and imminent, forceful action on behalf of His people. The usage is entirely metaphorical, employing the vivid, physical imagery of labored breathing to express a deep internal struggle and the release of pent-up energy. The context is one of divine judgment and salvation.

Etymology

נָשַׁם (nâsham) is a primitive root. It is closely related to the more common word נְשָׁמָה (neshamah, H5397), meaning 'breath,' 'spirit,' or 'soul.' The connection highlights the core idea of breathing. Cognates in other Semitic languages also point to meanings associated with panting or breathing hard, confirming its sense of vigorous respiratory action.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it provides a rare and powerful anthropomorphic description of God's emotional life. It portrays the Lord not as a detached deity but as one who experiences passionate, visceral concern for His people, exercising self-restraint until the proper time for action (Isaiah 42:14). Understanding this Hebrew term enriches the reading of this prophecy, revealing the depth of God's zeal and the certainty of His coming intervention, framed in intensely human terms of breath and cry. The metaphor in Isaiah 42:14 draws directly from the near-universal human experience of childbirth. In the ancient Near East, as today, the imagery of a woman laboring—holding breath, straining, and then crying out—was a potent symbol of both intense pain and the productive, life-bringing struggle that precedes a new beginning. This cultural touchstone made God's message of impending, transformative action immediately relatable to the original audience. נָפַח (naphach, H5301) — to blow, breathe; typically a gentler or more deliberate act of breathing or blowing. נָשַׁם implies agitated, heavy panting.

Word Details