4157. pnoé

Lexical Summary

pnoé: Breath, wind

Original Word: πνοή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: pnoé
Pronunciation: pno-ay'
Phonetic Spelling: (pno-ay')
KJV: breath, wind
NASB: breath, wind
Word Origin: [from G4154 (πνέω - blew)]

1. respiration, a breeze

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

breath, wind.

From pneo; respiration, a breeze -- breath, wind.

see GREEK pneo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from pneó
Definition
a blowing, wind, breath
NASB Translation
breath (1), wind (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4157: πνοή

πνοή, πνοῆς, ἡ (πνέω), from Homer down, the Sept. for נְשָׁמָה

1. breath, the breath of life: Acts 17:25 (Genesis 2:7; Proverbs 24:12; Sir. 30:29 (21); 2 Macc. 3:31 2Macc. 7:9).

2. wind: Acts 2:2 (Job 37:9). (Cf. πνεῦμα, 1 b.)

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The term designates the invisible yet powerful phenomenon of breath or wind, standing at the intersection of physical life and divine activity. In Scripture it pictures both the ordinary breath that sustains every creature and the extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit.

Old Testament Background

The Septuagint repeatedly employs the same Greek word to translate the Hebrew concepts of “breath” and “spirit.” Notable examples include Genesis 2:7, where God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,” and Genesis 7:22, describing every creature that possessed “the breath of life.” These passages frame breath as the direct gift of the Creator, inseparable from life itself.

New Testament Usage

Acts contains the word’s only two occurrences in the Greek New Testament, each reinforcing key truths about God.
• Acts 2:2 presents the inauguration of the Church: “Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.” The wind-like sound heralds the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit, linking breath with spiritual empowerment.
• Acts 17:25 proclaims God’s self-sufficiency before Athenian philosophers: “He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.” Here breath is universal and underscores humanity’s utter dependence on the Creator.

Theological Significance

1. Source of Life. Breath symbolizes the life imparted in creation and sustained continually (Job 33:4; Psalm 104:29–30).
2. Token of Divine Presence. The Pentecost narrative connects the rushing breath-sound with the arrival of the Spirit, echoing the Garden of Eden and Ezekiel’s valley of dry bones.
3. Christological Parallels. After His resurrection Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:22), combining creation imagery with the new‐creation reality inaugurated through the Gospel.

Historical and Cultural Context

Ancient Greeks viewed breath (pneuma) as the animating principle, but Luke’s usage corrects this worldview by locating the gift of breath in the one true God. Paul’s Areopagus address employs the familiar concept to confront idolatry and declare God’s sovereignty over life and existence.

Ministry Application

• Worship: Recognizing every breath as God’s gift fosters humility and thankfulness (Psalm 150:6).
• Preaching: Acts 17:25 offers a concise statement of divine generosity suitable for evangelistic proclamation.
• Prayer and Dependence: The Pentecost event encourages believers to seek the continual filling of the Spirit for witness and service (Ephesians 5:18).
• Pastoral Care: God’s provision of breath assures the suffering that their lives remain in His hands (Isaiah 42:5).

Related Themes and Cross-References

Genesis 2:7; Genesis 7:22; Job 27:3; Job 33:4; Psalm 104:29–30; Ezekiel 37:5–10; John 20:22; Romans 8:11.

Summary

While occurring only twice in the New Testament, the word gathers the Bible’s grand narrative of creation, redemption, and new creation. It reminds believers that the God who once breathed life into Adam now breathes spiritual life into the Church, sustaining every heartbeat and empowering every act of ministry.

Forms and Transliterations

πνοή πνοην πνοήν πνοὴν πνοης πνοής πνοῆς πόα πόαν pnoen pnoēn pnoḕn pnoes pnoês pnoēs pnoē̂s

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 2:2 N-GFS
GRK: ὥσπερ φερομένης πνοῆς βιαίας καὶ
NAS: rushing wind, and it filled
KJV: mighty wind, and
INT: as rushing of a wind violent and

Acts 17:25 N-AFS
GRK: ζωὴν καὶ πνοὴν καὶ τὰ
NAS: [people] life and breath and all things;
KJV: life, and breath, and all things;
INT: life and breath and the

Strong's Greek 4157
2 Occurrences

πνοὴν — 1 Occ.
πνοῆς — 1 Occ.