נָשַׁב
𐤍𐤔𐤁
nâshab
H5380 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To blow, move air by wind or breath; in extended use, to drive away, scatter, or disperse by wind or air movement. The verb primarily describes the act of wind or breath setting something in motion, often with the result of dispersion or removal. Metaphorically, it can convey the sudden removal, scattering, or vanishing of objects, people, or forces through the agency of wind.
Semantic Range
to blow (of wind), to move air, to cause something to be blown away or scattered, to drive away or disperse (objects, enemies, or people), to vanish suddenly as if carried by wind
Root / Etymology
Root: נשב. The root seems to convey the action of blowing or causing air to move, related to movement produced by wind or breath. The verb נָשַׁב derives directly from this root, retaining the core action of blowing but extending, through context, to the dispersal or removal of objects by wind. Cognate verbs in other Semitic languages (e.g., Arabic نَسَبَ nasaba, Aramaic נְשַׁב neshav) display similar meanings involving air movement.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In biblical usage, נָשַׁב describes both natural phenomena (such as wind blowing over a landscape: Exodus 10:13, 'the LORD brought an east wind upon the land') and metaphorical notions of dispersal (e.g., enemies or objects being driven away by a strong force like wind). The verb occurs in both narrative and poetic contexts, sometimes with a causative sense. While the English 'blow' matches the basic sense, the Hebrew frequently implies active removal or scattering, which can be more forceful or decisive than the English suggests. The term is distinct from other Hebrew wind-related verbs such as נָפַח (to breathe, blow with the mouth) or רוּחַ (spirit, wind as a substantive), as נָשַׁב focuses on the act or effect of wind rather than its source or substance. Usage is rare and largely poetic after the monarchic period, and post-biblical Hebrew seldom employs the verb.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to blow; by implication, to disperse; (cause to) blow, drive away.
Bantu Hebrew
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נשב (n-sh-b) — to blow, to drive away, to scatter
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5380-01 |
נָ֣שְׁבָה | nashevah | HVqp3fs |
blows | she blew | 1 |
H5380-03 |
יַשֵּׁ֥ב | yashev | HVhi3ms |
He causes to blow | he causes to blow | 1 |
H5380-02 |
וַ/יַּשֵּׁ֥ב | vayashev | HC/Vhw3ms |
drove away | and he caused to blow | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
3 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H5380-02 |
Genesis 15:11 | וַ/יַּשֵּׁ֥ב | vayashev | HC/Vhw3ms |
drove away | and he caused to blow |
H5380-01 |
Isaiah 40:7 | נָ֣שְׁבָה | nashevah | HVqp3fs |
blows | she blew |
H5380-03 |
Psalms 147:18 | יַשֵּׁ֥ב | yashev | HVhi3ms |
He causes to blow | he causes to blow |