ἐμφυσάω
emphysáō
G1720 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To blow upon or into; specifically, to breathe upon someone. In various contexts, this can refer to exhaling, breathing out toward or upon another, or imparting breath in a deliberate or ritualistic act. The primary sense is the physical act of exhalation directed at an object or person, but it can also carry metaphorical meanings in some texts (such as conferring spirit, life, or authority through the act of breathing upon someone).
Semantic Range
to blow upon; to breathe on; to exhale upon as a ritual or symbolic act; to impart by breathing; to confer spirit or life in a symbolic sense
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐν ('in, on, upon') and the verb φυσάω ('to blow, to breathe'), thus forming a compound meaning 'to blow on' or 'breathe upon.' Cognate with classical Greek terms in medical and ritual contexts. Related to φῦσα ('bellows'), φυσητήρ ('blower'). Root: φύσ- ('to blow, to breathe').
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἐμφυσάω occurs rarely in extant Greek literature, most notably attested in the Septuagint (e.g., Genesis 2:7) for God's act of imparting life to the human by breathing into their nostrils, and in the New Testament (John 20:22) where Jesus breathes on the disciples, accompanied by a command to receive the holy spirit. This usage echoes the Genesis creation account, suggesting a conferral of life or empowerment in biblical contexts. The act is often ritualistic or symbolic—a deliberate, solemn blowing or breathing, not mere exhalation. In classical Greek, similar verbs are used in medical literature to describe blowing air onto wounds or embers, or in magical/ritual contexts. Later translation traditions render the verb as 'to breathe on' or 'to blow on,' but often miss the symbolic and performative connotations present in the biblical texts.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐν and (to puff) (compare φύω); to blow at or on:--breathe on.
Root Family
ἐμφυσάω (emphysaō) — to blow, to breathe, to blow upon
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1720-01 |
ἐνεφύσησεν | enephusesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he breathed | he breathed upon | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1720-01 |
John 20:22 | ἐνεφύσησεν | enephusesen | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he breathed | he breathed upon |