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שָׁאַף

𐤔𐤀𐤐

shâʼaph

H7602 verb

SILEX Entry

Root שָׁאַף to pant, to breath in, gasp, snuff, eagerly desire

Definition

To pant, gasp, or breathe heavily, either from physical exertion, intense desire, anger, or anticipation. The word primarily depicts the act of inhaling sharply or eagerly, often as a response to exertion, emotional intensity, or longing. In figurative contexts, it can denote the burning intensity of desire (for something or someone), the seething of anger, or the pursuit of something with great eagerness. Occasionally, it conveys the notion of devouring or consuming, emphasizing overwhelming appetite or greed.

Semantic Range

to pant, to gasp for breath, to inhale eagerly, to long for ardently, to express intense desire, to be enflamed with anger or passion, to pursue with eagerness, to attempt to devour or consume, to haste eagerly

Root / Etymology

Root: שָׁאַף (sh-'-f). The root is associated with the physical act of panting or gasping, with extension to inhaling, snuffing, or breathing heavily. From this physical basis, the verbal forms develop figurative senses relating to intense actions or emotions such as desire, anger, or hastening. In some contexts, it is semantically adjacent to roots conveying to gulp, devour, or consume.

Historical & Contextual Notes

שָׁאַף most often describes an intense, almost uncontrollable action, whether physical (panting, gasping) or metaphorical (desiring, striving, expressing anger). In poetic and prophetic literature, it sometimes conveys the imagery of wild animals, armies, or enemies panting after prey or victims (e.g., Jeremiah 2:24; Habakkuk 2:4). Its usage emphasizes an urgency or intensity that is not simply 'to breathe,' but to breathe with effort or passion. In some contexts, shâʼaph converges with roots for devouring or swallowing up, but its focus remains on the initial, eager drawing in (inhalation) rather than the consummation. Later biblical usage, particularly in poetic texts, employs the term to express intense longing or emotional force. Standard English translations sometimes flatten its vivid imagery into generic terms such as 'pant,' 'desire,' or 'devour,' which may not fully capture the dynamic and often urgent sense of the original. This root is distinct from similar roots such as לָעַט (to swallow up) or תָּאָב (to crave), though contexts occasionally overlap, especially in metaphorical usages.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; to inhale eagerly; figuratively, to cover; by implication, to be angry; also to hasten; desire (earnestly), devour, haste, pant, snuff up, swallow up.

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

שׁאף (sh-ʾ-f) — panting, gasping, eager inhaling, ardent desire

Word Forms

12 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H7602-01 הַ/שֹּׁאֲפִ֤ים hashoafim HTd/Vqrmpa those who trample the panting-ones 2
H7602-03 שָׁאֲפ֥וּ shaafu HVqp3cp pant after they panted eagerly 2
H7602-04 שְׁאָפַ֣/נִי sheafani HVqp3ms/Sp1cs pants after me he panted for me 1
H7602-11 וְ/שָׁאֹ֨ף veshaof HC/Vqa and-panting and panting 1
H7602-07 תִּשְׁאַ֥ף tisheaf HVqj2ms long for may you pant eagerly 1
H7602-10 וְ/שָׁאַ֖ף veshaaf HC/Vqq3ms and pants and he panted 1
H7602-02 שָׁאֲפָ֣ה shaafah HVqp3fs she sniffs she panted eagerly 1
H7602-05 שֹׁאֲפִ֣/י shoafi HVqrmsc/Sp1cs my devourer my panting one 1
H7602-06 שׁוֹאֵ֛ף shoef HVqrmsa panting one 1
H7602-08 וָ/אֶשְׁאָ֑פָ/ה vaesheafah HC/Vqw1cs/Sh and I panted and I panted 1

Occurrences in Scripture

14 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H7602-09 Isaiah 42:14 וְ/אֶשְׁאַ֖ף veesheaf HC/Vqi1cs and pant and I pant eagerly
H7602-02 Jeremiah 2:24 שָׁאֲפָ֣ה shaafah HVqp3fs she sniffs she panted eagerly
H7602-03 Jeremiah 14:6 שָׁאֲפ֥וּ shaafu HVqp3cp they pant they panted eagerly
H7602-11 Ezekiel 36:3 וְ/שָׁאֹ֨ף veshaof HC/Vqa and-panting and panting
H7602-01 Amos 2:7 הַ/שֹּׁאֲפִ֤ים hashoafim HTd/Vqrmpa those who trample the panting-ones
H7602-01 Amos 8:4 הַ/שֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים hashoafim HTd/Vqrmpa who-trample-the the panting-ones
H7602-04 Psalms 56:2 שְׁאָפַ֣/נִי sheafani HVqp3ms/Sp1cs pants after me he panted for me
H7602-03 Psalms 56:3 שָׁאֲפ֣וּ shaafu HVqp3cp pant after they panted eagerly
H7602-05 Psalms 57:4 שֹׁאֲפִ֣/י shoafi HVqrmsc/Sp1cs my devourer my panting one
H7602-08 Psalms 119:131 וָ/אֶשְׁאָ֑פָ/ה vaesheafah HC/Vqw1cs/Sh and I panted and I panted
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