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פּוּחַ

𐤐𐤅𐤇

pûwach

H6315 verb

SILEX Entry

Root פּוּחַ to blow, to breathe out, to puff

Definition

To emit or expel air forcefully, to blow, breathe out, or puff; by extension, to set afire or fan into flame (by blowing); figuratively, to utter (words) or express, often with an implication of speaking impetuously or rashly; also used in the sense of expressing scorn or derision (as in puffing at something or someone). The word encompasses both physical actions related to the movement of air and metaphorical uses related to speech or contempt.

Semantic Range

to breathe out forcefully, to puff, to blow (as on a fire), to fan, to kindle (by blowing), to utter (words), to speak rashly or contemptuously, to scoff, to ensnare (by blowing), to express derision

Root / Etymology

From the root פּוּחַ (puach), a verb meaning 'to blow' or 'to breathe out,' denoting a forcible exhalation or outflow of breath. The root is likely onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of puffing or blowing. The verb form in the Hebrew Bible carries extensions into speech and emotional expression, showing development beyond the literal action.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פּוּחַ (pûach) occurs in various contexts in the Hebrew Bible, ranging from literal descriptions of blowing air (as when kindling a fire or fanning embers, e.g., Isaiah 54:16) to snare-setting (where blowing induces an animal to enter a trap, Habakkuk 1:15), to figurative uses such as the utterance of false words (as in Psalm 10:5, where 'blowing' is used metaphorically for contemptuous speech or scoffing). In later post-biblical Hebrew, the verbal stem retains similar meanings but is less commonly used. English translations sometimes obscure the metaphorical force by rendering it simply as 'speak' or 'utter,' but the original nuance often includes an element of forcefulness, rashness, or derision. פּוּחַ is distinct from רוּחַ (ruach, 'spirit, wind, breath'), which names the substance or force itself, whereas פּוּחַ refers to the outward act or motion. No religious or cultic connotations are intrinsic to פּוּחַ.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to puff, i.e. blow with the breath or air; hence, to fan (as a breeze), to utter, to kindle (a fire), to scoff; blow (upon), break, puff, bring into a snare, speak, utter.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פוח (p-w-ḥ) — blowing, breathing out, puffing

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6368 פִּיחַ wind-blown ash
H647 אֲפִיחַ Aphiach

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6315-06 יָפִ֥יחַ yaficha HVhi3ms he puffs he blows forth 4
H6315-05 וְ/יָפִ֥יחַ veyaficha HC/Vhi3ms and breathes out and he will cause to breathe out 4
H6315-03 שֶׁ/יָּפ֨וּחַ֙ sheyafucha HTr/Vqi3ms the day breathes he will blow out 2
H6315-04 וְ/יָפֵ֥חַ veyafecha HC/Vhi3ms it pants he causes to blow 1
H6315-02 הָפִ֥יחִי hafichi HVhv2fs blow Cause to blow forth! 1
H6315-07 יָפִ֣יחוּ yafichu HVhi3mp set aflame they will cause to blow forth 1
H6315-01 אָפִ֣יחַ aficha HVhi1cs I-will-blow Blowing-one 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6315-01 Ezekiel 21:36 אָפִ֣יחַ aficha HVhi1cs I-will-blow Blowing-one
H6315-04 Habakkuk 2:3 וְ/יָפֵ֥חַ veyafecha HC/Vhi3ms it pants he causes to blow
H6315-06 Psalms 10:5 יָפִ֥יחַ yaficha HVhi3ms he puffs he blows forth
H6315-06 Psalms 12:6 יָפִ֥יחַֽ yaficha HVhi3ms he puffs he blows forth
H6315-06 Proverbs 6:19 יָפִ֣יחַ yaficha HVhi3ms who breathes he blows forth
H6315-06 Proverbs 12:17 יָפִ֣יחַ yaficha HVhi3ms speaks truth he blows forth
H6315-05 Proverbs 14:5 וְ/יָפִ֥יחַ veyaficha HC/Vhi3ms and breathes out and he will cause to breathe out
H6315-05 Proverbs 14:25 וְ/יָפִ֖חַ veyaficha HC/Vhi3ms breathes out and he will cause to breathe out
H6315-05 Proverbs 19:5 וְ/יָפִ֥יחַ veyaficha HC/Vhi3ms [he who] speaks and he will cause to breathe out
H6315-05 Proverbs 19:9 וְ/יָפִ֖יחַ veyaficha HC/Vhi3ms and he who breathes out and he will cause to breathe out
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