Lexical Summary naphash: To be refreshed, to take breath, to revive Original Word: נָפַשׁ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be refreshed A primitive root; to breathe; passively, to be breathed upon, i.e. (figuratively) refreshed (as if by a current of air) -- (be) refresh selves (-ed). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origindenominative verb from nephesh Definition to be refreshed NASB Translation refresh (1), refreshed (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נָפַשׁ] verb denominative (compare Syriac  refresh;  ,  be refreshed; Ethiopic  ); — Niph`al Imperfect3masculine singular יִנָּפֵשׁ Exodus 23:12 (E) 2 Samuel 16:14; וַיִּנָּפַ֑שׁ Exodus 31:17 (P); — take breath, refresh oneself. Topical Lexicon Root Meaning and Conceptual Rangeנָפַשׁ pictures the act of taking in breath after exertion and, by extension, the recovery of strength that follows it. Scripture employs the term both positively—renewal after labor—and negatively—the cessation of breath that marks death. Thus, the word stands at the intersection of life’s vitality and its vulnerability, a reminder that every creaturely breath depends upon the Creator. Covenantal Rhythm of Rest Exodus 23:12 links נָפַשׁ to the Sabbath statute: “For six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you must cease, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your maidservant and the foreign resident may be refreshed”. Here personal, domestic, and even animal welfare converge in a weekly ordinance designed to mirror divine example and to display social justice. The refreshment promised is not merely physical relaxation but covenantal benefit—an opportunity to recognize God as sustainer. Sabbath Theology and Divine Refreshment Exodus 31:17 unfolds the theological ground: “It will be a sign forever between Me and the Israelites, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed”. God’s “refreshment” is not recovery from fatigue but the divine enjoyment of completed creation. By appropriating נָפַשׁ for Himself, the LORD dignifies human rest, rooting Sabbath observance in His own character and work. In New Testament perspective, Hebrews 4 locates ultimate Sabbath rest in Christ, inviting believers to enter a completed redemption analogous to the finished creation. War-Time Respite and Human Weakness Joshua 11:14 demonstrates the opposite pole: “They left no one breathing”. In judgment, נָפַשׁ is withheld; breath ceases, and life ends. The verb thereby underscores the gravity of divine warfare against persistent rebellion. Conversely, 2 Samuel 16:14 portrays David’s entourage: “Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, and they were exhausted. And there they refreshed themselves”. Royal exhaustion and renewal illustrate how even God’s anointed king depends on grace for the next breath. Between the battlefield and the wilderness road, נָפַשׁ frames both mortality and mercy. Refreshment as Ministry Principle The word’s range informs pastoral practice. Shepherds of God’s people are called to create environments where weary souls may “lie down in green pastures” (Psalm 23:2) and receive spiritual breath. Jesus’ invitation, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), echoes the Exodus motif and fulfills it. Corporate worship, regular Sabbath rhythms, and retreats for prayer embody the theology of נָפַשׁ, acknowledging that effective ministry issues from those who have first been refreshed by the Lord. Historical and Cultural Notes 1. Ancient Near Eastern cultures practiced cycles of rest, but Israel’s Sabbath was unique in its divine origin and ethical breadth, extending refreshment to servants, immigrants, and livestock alike. Practical Applications for the Church • Embrace weekly rest as a testimony to God’s sufficiency, resisting cultural idolatry of productivity. Summary נָפַשׁ spans the arc from God’s celebratory rest to humanity’s last breath. It invites all people to inhale grace, exhale praise, and find their ultimate refreshment in the Lord who both gives and sustains life. Forms and Transliterations וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ וַיִּנָּפֵ֖שׁ וַיִּנָּפַֽשׁ׃ וינפש וינפש׃ נְשָׁמָֽה׃ נשמה׃ nə·šā·māh nəšāmāh neshaMah vaiyinnaFash vaiyinnaFesh veyinnaFesh way·yin·nā·p̄aš way·yin·nā·p̄êš wayyinnāp̄aš wayyinnāp̄êš wə·yin·nā·p̄êš wəyinnāp̄êšLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Exodus 23:12 HEB: שֽׁוֹרְךָ֙ וַחֲמֹרֶ֔ךָ וְיִנָּפֵ֥שׁ בֶּן־ אֲמָתְךָ֖ NAS: as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves. KJV: and the stranger, may be refreshed. INT: your ox and your donkey may refresh and the son of your female Exodus 31:17 Joshua 11:14 2 Samuel 16:14 4 Occurrences |
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