נָפִישׁ
𐤍𐤐𐤉𐤔
Nafish
H5305 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Proper noun: Naphish — the name of a son of Ishmael, and by extension, his descendants as a clan or tribal group. In biblical contexts, נָפִישׁ is used exclusively as a personal and collective name and does not carry a common noun or verb sense in the Hebrew Bible. The term appears in genealogical lists as identifying a specific group among the descendants of Ishmael.
Semantic Range
personal name of an Ishmaelite ancestor; designation for his descendants or clan; does not occur as a common noun or adjective in the Hebrew Bible
Root / Etymology
Derived from the root נפשׁ (n-p-sh), meaning 'to breathe, to respire, to recover, refresh oneself,' though as a personal name, the precise formation may reflect a traditional naming practice rather than a directly descriptive meaning. The personal name may be cognate with other Semitic names that incorporate root elements referring to vitality or breath, but the etymology as a proper noun is ultimately uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, נָפִישׁ (Naphish) appears in genealogies associated with the descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 25:15; 1 Chronicles 1:31) and in later returnee lists (1 Chronicles 5:19), denoting both an individual and the clan arising from him. The name's root association with 'breath' or 'refreshment' is primarily etymological and does not inform the character or narrative significance of Naphish within the texts. English translations traditionally leave the name untranslated, preserving its function as a proper noun. There is no indication of religious, ethnic, or geographic connotations beyond its genealogical role. As a personal name, it should be distinguished from שֵׁם נָפוּשׁ (shem nafush) or other terms for 'life' or 'soul.' Additionally, the later use in returnee contexts may indicate the persistence or recollection of the group identified by this ancestor's name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from נָפַשׁ; refreshed; Naphish, a son of Ishmael, and his posterity; Naphish.
Bantu Hebrew
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נפשׁ (n-p-sh) — to breathe, to recover, to refresh oneself
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5305-01 |
נָפִ֖ישׁ | nafish | HNp |
Naphish | Naphish | 2 |
H5305-02 |
וְ/נָפִ֖ישׁ | venafish | HC/Np |
Naphish | and Naphish | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5305-01 |
Genesis 25:15 | נָפִ֖ישׁ | nafish | HNp |
Naphish | Naphish |
H5305-01 |
1 Chronicles 1:31 | נָפִ֖ישׁ | nafish | HNp |
Naphish | Naphish |
H5305-02 |
1 Chronicles 5:19 | וְ/נָפִ֖ישׁ | venafish | HC/Np |
Naphish | and Naphish |