Lexical Summary nachar: To snort, to snore, to breathe heavily Original Word: נַחַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance nostrils, snorting And (feminine) nacharah {nakh-ar-aw'}; from an unused root meaning to snort or snore; a snorting -- nostrils, snorting. Brown-Driver-Briggs [נַ֫חַר] noun [masculine] a snorting; suffix נַחְרוֺ Job 39:20 (of horse). [נַחֲרָה] noun feminine id.; — construct נַחֲרַת סוּסָיו Jeremiah 8:16. Topical Lexicon Overview and Imagery נַחַר portrays the explosive, audible breath of a spirited horse. In both canonical settings its sound signals power in motion, conjuring images of pounding hooves, dilated nostrils, and dust-choked battlefields. Whether describing a creature formed by the Creator or the cavalry of an invading empire, the term communicates irresistible energy that demands a human response of awe, fear, or repentance. Occurrences and Context Job 39:20 – The Lord points Job to the “proud snorting” of the warhorse as evidence of divine craftsmanship that lies beyond human control. Jeremiah 8:16 – The prophet hears “the snorting of their horses … from Dan,” a chilling acoustic omen of Babylonian judgment racing southward through the land. The War Horse in Job 39 1. Divine Sovereignty: God alone equips the horse with its terrifying breath, setting a boundary between Creator and creature (Job 39:19-25). Impending Judgment in Jeremiah 8 1. Acoustic Warning: The snorting reaches Judah “from Dan” (the northern border), granting the nation audible advance notice of invasion. Themes and Theology • Power and Vulnerability: נַחַר frames power in motion, yet in both passages the power is ultimately subject to God—either bestowed (Job) or deployed for discipline (Jeremiah). Historical Background • Ancient Warfare: Cavalry and chariot units relied on the momentum and psychological impact of charging horses. Their snorting would echo across valleys, announcing conflict before first contact. Practical and Pastoral Insights 1. Listening for Warning: Just as Judah was called to heed the approaching hooves, believers today must discern providential alarms—cultural, moral, or personal—that urge repentance. Connections to the New Testament • Eschatological Cavalry: Revelation 9:16-17 describes vast mounted forces whose horses breathe fire and brimstone, echoing Old Testament motifs of judgment announced by terrifying equine breath. Forms and Transliterations נַחְר֣וֹ נַחְרַ֣ת נחרו נחרת nachRat nachRo naḥ·raṯ naḥ·rōw naḥraṯ naḥrōwLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 39:20 HEB: כָּאַרְבֶּ֑ה ה֖וֹד נַחְר֣וֹ אֵימָֽה׃ NAS: His majestic snorting is terrible. KJV: the glory of his nostrils [is] terrible. INT: grasshopper beauty snorting is terrible Jeremiah 8:16 2 Occurrences |