from נָשַׁף; properly, a breeze, i.e. (by implication) dusk (when the evening breeze prevails); dark, dawning of the day (morning), night, twilight.
Transliteration:nesheph
Pronunciation:neh'-shef
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew term `{{H5399}}` (nesheph) derives from the root נָשַׁף (nashaph), which signifies "to blow" or "to breathe." This etymological connection provides the primary meaning of `{{H5399}}` as "a breeze." From this foundational sense, the word extends semantically to denote specific times of day characterized by such breezes: "dusk" or "twilight." This extension is logical, as the evening breeze often accompanies the transition from day to night.
Critically, `{{H5399}}` possesses a dual temporal application, referring to both the "evening twilight" (dusk) and the "morning twilight" (dawn, dawning of the day). In both instances, it marks a liminal period, a boundary between the full light of day and the deep darkness of night, or vice-versa. Contextually, it can also imply the "dark" or "night" itself, particularly when emphasizing the period immediately following or leading into twilight, or a state of profound obscurity.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The usage of `{{H5399}}` in the Hebrew Bible consistently reflects its core meaning of twilight, often highlighting the transitional, liminal, or obscured nature of this time.
* In [[1 Samuel 30:17]], `{{H5399}}` describes the duration of David's battle against the Amalekites: "David smote them from the twilight (nesheph) even unto the evening of the next day." Here, "twilight" clearly refers to dawn, indicating a battle that commenced at first light and continued relentlessly.
* [[Job 24:15]] employs `{{H5399}}` to depict the time when evildoers operate: "The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight (nesheph), saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face." This verse emphasizes the secrecy and hiddenness afforded by the dim light of dusk, a time conducive to illicit activities.
* Similarly, [[Proverbs 7:9]] uses `{{H5399}}` within a vivid description of temptation: "In the twilight (nesheph), in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and the darkness." This progression from twilight into deep night underscores the increasing vulnerability to sin as darkness falls, providing cover for the seductress.
* [[Isaiah 5:11]] speaks of those who indulge in revelry: "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night (nesheph), till wine inflame them!" Here, `{{H5399}}` denotes the end of the day, the onset of night, marking the duration of their excessive consumption.
* In [[Isaiah 21:4]], the prophet laments: "My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into trembling unto me." While some translations use "night," the Hebrew `{{H5399}}` here suggests the anticipated calm and pleasure of evening twilight turning into terror, a profound disruption of peace.
* [[Jeremiah 13:16]] presents a more ominous usage: "Give glory to the Lord your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness (nesheph)." In this prophetic warning, `{{H5399}}` signifies a deep, oppressive darkness, perhaps symbolic of divine judgment or a state of spiritual desolation, where hope (light) is replaced by profound gloom. This usage moves beyond mere temporal designation to a metaphorical state.
### Related Words & Concepts
`{{H5399}}` is intrinsically linked to other Hebrew terms denoting periods of the day and states of light or darkness.
* **Root:** Its direct etymological parent, נָשַׁף (nashaph - `{{H5599}}`), meaning "to blow" or "to breathe," grounds `{{H5399}}` in the physical sensation of a breeze, particularly the gentle winds that characterize dawn and dusk.
* **Temporal designations:**
* עֶרֶב (erev - `{{H6153}}`): "evening," often used interchangeably or in conjunction with `{{H5399}}` for the end of the day.
* בֹּקֶר (boker - `{{H1242}}`): "morning," the counterpart to evening, also a time of twilight.
* יוֹם (yom - `{{H3117}}`): "day," representing the period of full light.
* לַיְלָה (laylah - `{{H3915}}`): "night," the period of full darkness.
* **Light and Darkness:**
* אוֹר (or - `{{H216}}`): "light," the antithesis of the darkness associated with `{{H5399}}`.
* חֹשֶׁךְ (choshek - `{{H2822}}`): "darkness," a broader term that `{{H5399}}` can lead into or be a form of.
Conceptually, `{{H5399}}` embodies the idea of transition, liminality, and obscurity. It is the time when boundaries are blurred, when visibility diminishes, and when activities, both mundane and illicit, take on a different character.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H5399}}` stems primarily from its representation of a transitional period between light and darkness, day and night.
1. **Moral Ambiguity and Sin:** The repeated association of `{{H5399}}` with illicit activities ([[Job 24:15]], [[Proverbs 7:9]]) highlights the theological understanding that sin often thrives in obscurity. The dimness of twilight provides a cover for deeds that shun the light, underscoring humanity's propensity to hide from divine scrutiny. This contrasts sharply with God's nature as light ([[1 John 1:5]]), which exposes all things.
2. **Vulnerability and Divine Protection:** The "twilight" can be a time of vulnerability, as seen in the long battle of [[1 Samuel 30:17]] or the terror described in [[Isaiah 21:4]]. Yet, the cycles of day and night are part of God's created order, testifying to His constant providence. Even in the dimness, God's sovereignty remains, and for the righteous, He is a refuge.
3. **Judgment and Spiritual Darkness:** In [[Jeremiah 13:16]], `{{H5399}}` takes on a profound metaphorical weight, symbolizing the onset of divine judgment, a spiritual "twilight" that deepens into utter darkness. This speaks to the consequences of disobedience, where the light of God's favor is withdrawn, leaving a people in profound obscurity and despair. This usage elevates `{{H5399}}` beyond a mere temporal marker to a descriptor of a spiritual state.
4. **The Promise of Dawn:** While `{{H5399}}` can denote the onset of night, its capacity to also mean "dawn" ([[1 Samuel 30:17]]) subtly alludes to the biblical theme of hope emerging from darkness. Just as dawn follows the deepest part of the night, so too does God's faithfulness bring new light after periods of trial or judgment.
### Summary
`{{H5399}}` (nesheph) is a rich Hebrew term primarily denoting "twilight," encompassing both dawn and dusk. Rooted in the concept of a gentle "breeze," it captures the liminal periods between day and night. Its biblical occurrences reveal its nuanced usage, from marking the beginning or end of a temporal period ([[1 Samuel 30:17]], [[Isaiah 5:11]]) to serving as a backdrop for human moral choices and vulnerability ([[Job 24:15]], [[Proverbs 7:9]]). Theologically, `{{H5399}}` speaks to the human tendency to hide sin in obscurity, the vulnerability inherent in transitional times, and profoundly, the onset of divine judgment as a form of spiritual darkness ([[Jeremiah 13:16]]). It reminds us of the constant cycles of creation under God's sovereignty and the spiritual implications of light's diminishing presence.
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