English · KJV
H5380

נָשַׁב

nâshab /naw-shab'/ Ask about this word
Roota primitive root
Meaningto blow; by implication, to disperse
KJV usage(cause to) blow, drive away.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of nâshab — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word nâshab, represented by H5380, is a primitive root meaning to blow. It appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. By implication, its meaning extends to include the concepts of dispersion and driving something away, describing both a natural force and a deliberate act.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H5380 is applied in different contexts to show a powerful force in action. In Genesis, it describes a physical act of dispersion, where "Abram drove them away" when fowls descended on his sacrifice Genesis 15:11. The word is also used to illustrate God's command over the natural world, as in Psalms, where "he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow" Psalms 147:18. In Isaiah, the term takes on a sovereign, metaphorical weight, where the "spirit of the LORD bloweth upon" the grass, causing it to wither and demonstrating the frailty of people Isaiah 40:7.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the context and impact of H5380:

  • H7307 rûwach (wind; by resemblance breath... by resemblance spirit): This word is intrinsically linked to H5380, appearing as the "wind" God causes to blow Psalms 147:18 and the "spirit" of the Lord that blows upon the people Isaiah 40:7.
  • H7971 shâlach (to send away, for, or out): This verb appears in tandem with H5380 to show divine agency. God first "sendeth out his word" and then causes the wind to blow, linking the act to His direct will Psalms 147:18.
  • H3381 yârad (to descend; literally, to go downwards): This word provides the context for Abram's action in Genesis 15:11, where the fowls "came down" upon the carcasses, prompting him to "drive them away".
  • H5140 nâzal (to drip... flow): This word describes the direct result of the action in Psalms 147:18. When God causes the wind to blow, the consequence is that "the waters flow," showing a clear cause-and-effect relationship in nature under God's control.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of H5380 centers on God's absolute sovereignty.

  • Divine Control Over Nature: The word is used to show God's direct command over the elements. He causes the wind to blow, which in turn melts ice and makes waters flow, demonstrating His authority over the physical world Psalms 147:18.
  • The Power of God's Spirit: The action of blowing is directly attributed to the "spirit of the LORD" Isaiah 40:7. This powerful breath causes the grass—symbolic of humanity—to wither, illustrating that human life and its transience are subject to the will of God.
  • Purposeful Action: In the narrative of Abram, the act to "drive away" is not a random gust but a deliberate action to protect and preserve the sanctity of a covenant sacrifice, showing how the concept can apply to purposeful intervention Genesis 15:11.

Summary

In summary, H5380 is a dynamic verb that carries meaning far beyond a simple puff of air. It is used to describe a range of actions, from a man protecting a sacrifice to the overwhelming power of God's spirit acting upon His creation. It illustrates how a single, simple word can articulate the profound biblical theme of divine power and sovereignty over both the natural world and the lives of humanity.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • יַּשֵּׁב
  • יַשֵּׁב
  • נָשְׁבָה

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7307 רוּחַ from רוּחַ; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubs H7971 שָׁלַח a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on t H3381 יָרַד a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, H5140 נָזַל a primitive root; to drip, or shed by trickling; distil, drop, flood, (cause to) flow(-ing), gush out, melt, pour (down)

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis, Psalms, and Isaiah (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Genesis
1
Psalms
1
Isaiah

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.