a primitive root; properly, to blow away, i.e. destroy; destroy.
Transliteration:nâsham
Pronunciation:naw-sham'
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew root נָשַׁם (nâsham, `{{H5395}}`) is a primitive root, conveying the fundamental idea of "to blow away." This core meaning implies a forceful, often destructive, expulsion or dispersion, akin to something being swept away by a powerful gust of wind. From this foundational sense, the semantic range extends directly to "to destroy." The destruction implied is not a gradual decay but a swift, often complete, removal or annihilation, suggesting an overwhelming force that leaves nothing in its wake. It is inherently tied to concepts of breath, wind, and the power to dissipate.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The root נָשַׁם (nâsham, `{{H5395}}`) appears only once in the Masoretic Text, lending it a singular, potent significance.
* [[Job 4:9]]: "By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed."
* In this sole occurrence, spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite, נָשַׁם is translated as "perish" or "are consumed." The context is a discourse on the fate of the wicked, whose prosperity is fleeting. The destruction is explicitly attributed to the divine: "the breath of God" (מִנִּשְׁמַת אֱלוֹהַּ) and "the blast of his anger" (וּמֵרוּחַ אַפּוֹ). This direct attribution to God's very breath and spirit underscores an immediate, irresistible, and divinely orchestrated demise. The imagery of a powerful "blast" or "breath" causing utter destruction aligns perfectly with the root's primary meaning of "to blow away." It suggests a form of annihilation that is swift, complete, and emanating from the very essence of God's being and wrath.
### Related Words & Concepts
The semantic richness of נָשַׁם (nâsham, `{{H5395}}`) is best understood in relation to its cognates and the broader semantic field of breath, wind, and destruction.
* **Cognates:**
* נֶשֶׁם (neshem, `{{H5396}}`): This noun is also related to "breath" or "spirit," often in the context of a living creature.
* נְשָׁמָה (neshamah, `{{H5397}}`): This is a crucial cognate, meaning "breath," "spirit," or "soul." It is famously used in [[Genesis 2:7]] where God "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life," making man a living soul. The profound connection between נָשַׁם (to destroy by blowing away) and נְשָׁמָה (the breath of life) highlights a powerful theological tension: the same divine breath that imparts life can, in its wrath, also utterly remove or "blow away" that life.
* **Semantic Field:**
* רוּחַ (ruach, `{{H7307}}`): "Spirit," "wind," "breath." This term frequently describes the divine Spirit and its powerful, often unseen, effects, whether life-giving or destructive. The "blast of his anger" in [[Job 4:9]] uses a form of רוּחַ.
* Words for destruction or perishing, such as אָבַד (avad, `{{H6}}`, "to perish") or כָּלָה (kalah, `{{H3615}}`, "to consume, finish"). While these terms describe the *result* of destruction, נָשַׁם uniquely emphasizes the *manner* of destruction—by a powerful, breath-like force.
### Theological Significance
The singular yet profound occurrence of נָשַׁם (nâsham, `{{H5395}}`) offers significant theological insights:
* **Divine Sovereignty and Power:** The word unequivocally links destruction to the direct agency of God. It is "the breath of God" and "the blast of his anger" that causes the wicked to perish. This portrays God not merely as a judge who decrees destruction, but as the active, immediate cause of it through His very essence or utterance. It speaks to His absolute sovereignty over life and death.
* **The Fragility of Human Existence:** In the face of God's powerful breath, human life, particularly that of the wicked, is depicted as incredibly fragile. Just as a breath can be exhaled and dissipate, so too can human existence be "blown away" by divine displeasure. This serves as a stark reminder of humanity's dependence on God for sustenance and being.
* **Divine Justice and Wrath:** The context in Job associates this divine "blowing away" with the fate of the wicked, underscoring God's righteous judgment. It is an expression of His holy wrath against sin, demonstrating that He is not merely distant but actively intervenes to uphold justice. The imagery of a destructive "blast" is a common biblical motif for divine judgment, often associated with theophany and the awesome power of God.
* **Reversal of Creation:** Given the strong connection to נְשָׁמָה (the breath of life), נָשַׁם can be seen as a theological counterpoint to creation. If God's breath gives life, His "blowing away" signifies a reversal, an undoing of that life, a return to non-existence or desolation for those who incur His wrath.
### Summary
The Hebrew root נָשַׁם (nâsham, `{{H5395}}`) carries the core meaning of "to blow away," which extends directly to "to destroy." Its sole biblical occurrence in [[Job 4:9]] powerfully attributes this destruction to "the breath of God" and "the blast of his anger," highlighting God's immediate and overwhelming power. The word's profound theological significance is amplified by its close relationship to נְשָׁמָה (breath/spirit, `{{H5397}}`), emphasizing that the same divine breath that imparts life can, in its righteous wrath, also utterly "blow away" and consume. נָשַׁם thus serves as a potent descriptor of divine sovereignty, the fragility of human life before God, and the swift, decisive nature of His judgment against wickedness.
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