What does נָפַשׁ (nāpaš) mean in the Bible?
נָפַשׁ (nāpaš): Breathing metaphorically grounds refreshment and restoration in physical restoration of vital breath-life itself
Hebrew · H5314
נָפַשׁ
To breathe ; passively, to be breathed upon , i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air)
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נָפַשׁ H5314
Pronunciation nāpaš
What does נָפַשׁ (nāpaš) mean in the Bible?
נָפַשׁ (nāpaš): Breathing metaphorically grounds refreshment and restoration in physical restoration of vital breath-life itself
Full entry for נָפַשׁ (H5314) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H5314?
The BSB source-word alignment has 3 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include and was refreshed (1), he refreshed himself (1), may be refreshed (1).
Where does נָפַשׁ (nāpaš) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 23:12. Its strongest book concentrations include Exodus (2), 2 Samuel (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It and was refreshed 1× Exodus 31:17
he refreshed himself 1× 2 Samuel 16:14
may be refreshed 1× Exodus 23:12
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 23:12 וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ to may be refreshed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 31:17 וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ׃ס to and was refreshed Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2 Samuel 16:14 וַיִּנָּפֵ֖שׁ to he refreshed himself Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Exodus 23:12
Aligned rows 3
Books represented 2
Exodus 2 2 Samuel 1
Source forms
וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ 1x wə·yin·nā·p̄êš Exodus 23:12
וַיִּנָּפֵ֖שׁ 1x way·yin·nā·p̄êš 2 Samuel 16:14
וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ׃ס 1x way·yin·nā·p̄aš Exodus 31:17
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Exodus 31:17, 2 Samuel 16:14
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Exodus 23:12
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Breathing metaphorically grounds refreshment and restoration in physical restoration of vital breath-life itself
Source Gloss
to breathe ; passively, to be breathed upon , i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Breathing metaphorically grounds refreshment and restoration in physical restoration of vital breath-life itself
to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon , i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air) BDB: take breath Usage: (be) refresh selves (-ed).
Word Origins
נָפַשׁ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain