Genesis 2:7 HEB:וַיִּפַּ֥ח בְּאַפָּ֖יו נִשְׁמַ֣ת חַיִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִ֥י NAS: into his nostrils the breath of life; KJV: into his nostrils the breath of life; INT: and breathed his nostrils the breathA living became
Genesis 7:22 HEB:כֹּ֡ל אֲשֶׁר֩ נִשְׁמַת־ ר֨וּחַ חַיִּ֜ים NAS: nostrils was the breath of the spirit INT: of all whose was the breath of the spirit of life
Deuteronomy 20:16 HEB:תְחַיֶּ֖ה כָּל־ נְשָׁמָֽה׃ NAS: anything that breathes. KJV: thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth: INT: leave anything breathes
Joshua 10:40 HEB:וְאֵ֤ת כָּל־ הַנְּשָׁמָה֙ הֶחֱרִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר NAS: all who breathed, just KJV: but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD INT: survivor all who utterly after
Joshua 11:11 HEB:נוֹתַ֖ר כָּל־ נְשָׁמָ֑ה וְאֶת־ חָצ֖וֹר NAS: one left who breathed. And he burned KJV: [them]: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt INT: left every who Hazor burned
2 Samuel 22:16 HEB:בְּגַעֲרַ֣ת יְהוָ֔ה מִנִּשְׁמַ֖ת ר֥וּחַ אַפּֽוֹ׃ NAS: of the LORD, At the blast of the breath KJV: of the LORD, at the blast of the breath INT: the rebuke of the LORD the blast of the breath of his nostrils
1 Kings 15:29 HEB:הִשְׁאִ֧יר כָּל־ נְשָׁמָ֛ה לְיָרָבְעָ֖ם עַד־ NAS: any persons alive, until KJV: not to Jeroboam any that breathed,until he had destroyed INT: leave any persons to Jeroboam until
1 Kings 17:17 HEB:נֽוֹתְרָה־ בּ֖וֹ נְשָׁמָֽה׃ NAS: that there was no breath left KJV: sore, that there was no breath left INT: no left breath
Job 4:9 HEB:מִנִּשְׁמַ֣ת אֱל֣וֹהַ יֹאבֵ֑דוּ NAS:By the breath of God they perish, KJV:By the blast of God they perish, INT:the breath of God perish
Original Word: נְשָׁמָה Part of Speech: Noun Feminine Transliteration: nshamah Pronunciation: neh-shaw-maw' Phonetic Spelling: (nesh-aw-maw') Definition: Breath, spirit, soul Meaning: a puff, wind, angry, vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect, an animal
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
blast, that breaths, inspiration, soul, spirit
From nasham; a puff, i.e. Wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect. Or (concretely) an animal -- blast, (that) breath(-eth), inspiration, soul, spirit.
4spirit of man, "" רוּחַ, אָדָם ׳נ ׳נֵר י Proverbs 20:27the spirit of man is a lamp of ׳י.
Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from the root נָשַׁם (nasham), which means to pant or blow.
Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • G2372 (thumos): Often translated as "wrath" or "passion," this term can relate to the idea of breath or spirit in the sense of emotional fervor or intensity. • G4151 (pneuma): This is the Greek equivalent of "spirit" or "breath," used extensively in the New Testament to denote the Holy Spirit, human spirit, or breath of life. • G4157 (pnoe): Meaning "breath" or "wind," this term is used in Acts 2:2 to describe the sound of a mighty rushing wind, symbolizing the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
In summary, "neshamah" is a multifaceted term that captures the essence of life, spirit, and divine inspiration, reflecting the breath of God that animates and sustains all living beings.
Usage: The word "neshamah" is used in various contexts within the Hebrew Bible to denote the breath of life given by God, the spirit or soul of a person, and occasionally the breath of animals. It is a term that signifies the life-giving force and divine inspiration.
Context: • Breath of Life: In Genesis 2:7, "neshamah" is used to describe the breath of life that God breathed into Adam, making him a living being: "Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." • Divine Inspiration: The term is also used to convey the idea of divine inspiration or the spirit of God that imparts wisdom and understanding. For example, in Job 32:8, it is written, "But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding." • Vital Breath: In Isaiah 42:5, "neshamah" is used to describe the life-giving breath that God gives to all living creatures: "Thus says God the LORD—He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it." • Intellect and Spirit: The term can also refer to the intellectual and spiritual aspects of a person, as seen in Proverbs 20:27: "The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being." • Animal Life: In some contexts, "neshamah" is used to refer to the breath or life force of animals, indicating that all living creatures share in this divine gift of life.