### 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.
TRV