Lexical Summary puach: To breathe, blow, speak, utter Original Word: פוּחַ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance blow upon, break, puff, bring into a snare, speak, utter 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. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to breathe, blow NASB Translation blow (1), breathe (1), cool (2), hastens (1), longs (1), set a aflame (1), snorts (1), speaks (1), tells (2), utters (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs [מּוּחַ] verb breathe, blow (Late Hebrew מּוּחַ blow out; Arabic ( ),  = Hebrew, so Aramaic מּוּחַ,  ); — Qal Imperfect3masculine singular יָפוּחַ הַיּוֺם Songs 2:17; Songs 4:6 until the day breathes, i.e. grows cool. Hiph`il Imperfect3masculine singular יָפִיחַ Psalm 10:5 +; יָפִחַ Proverbs 14:25; וְיָפֵחַ Habakkuk 2:3, etc.; Imperative feminine singular הָפִיחִי Songs 4:16; — 1 cause garden (accusative) to exhale (that is, odours) Songs 4:16. 2. a. puff, snort, against, ב person, Psalm 10:5. b. עַל person, Ezekiel 21:36 with the fire of my wrath will I blow against thee. c. excite, inflame city Proverbs 29:8. d. with לוֺ Psalm 12:6 puff, = pant for it (so most; Thes Hi and others against whom men puff; Bae אֹמִּיעַ לוֺ I will shine forth to him); לַקֵּן Habakkuk 2:3 the vision panteth (hasteth) towards the end (so most). 3 breathe out, utter, כְּזָבִים Proverbs 6:19; Proverbs 14:5,25; Proverbs 19:5,9, אֱמוּנָה Proverbs 12:17. Topical Lexicon Breadth of Meaning: Breath, Wind, Speech The Hebrew verb פוּחַ moves fluidly between the concrete act of exhaling air and the figurative act of uttering words. In Scripture it describes literal wind (Song of Solomon 4:16), the proud “puff” of contempt (Psalm 10:5), passionate sighing (Psalm 12:5), the flaming breath of divine wrath (Ezekiel 21:31), and, most frequently, the dishonest testimony that comes from a lying tongue (nine occurrences in Proverbs and Habakkuk). Prideful Breath of the Wicked Psalm 10:5 portrays the arrogant villain whose very breath derides opponents: “He scoffs at all his foes.” The verb paints a vivid image: the chest swells, the nostrils flare, and contempt is breathed out. Such “puffing” grows from a heart that has dismissed God’s judgments (“Your lofty judgments are on high, out of his sight”) and thus models the linkage between inner rebellion and outward expression. Sighs of the Afflicted In Psalm 12:5 פוּחַ becomes the weary exhalation of the downtrodden: “I will bring safety to him who yearns.” The same mouth that can scorn may also sigh under oppression. God hears those sighs and rises in defense, showing that no breath, however faint, escapes His notice. False Witness: Breath Turned to Lies Nine of the fourteen occurrences reside in Proverbs (6:19; 12:17; 14:5; 14:25; 19:5; 19:9; 29:8) and the prophetic indictment of Habakkuk 2:3. In every case פוּחַ is paired with deceit: Here the verb emphasizes the outward flow of untruth—lies are not stumbled over; they are breathed out freely, almost effortlessly. The recurring warning that such witnesses “will not go unpunished” underscores God’s unwavering commitment to truth. Mockers Who Inflame a City Proverbs 29:8 extends the theme of destructive speech: “Mockers inflame a city, but the wise turn away anger.” Words “inflame”—literally, they fan a blaze—revealing how the breath of scorn can ignite societal unrest. The antidote lies with the wise, whose measured responses quench instead of kindle. The Lover’s Breeze Song of Solomon uses פוּחַ for the gentle winds of dawn and the fragrant breeze of love: Love’s fragrance cannot be confined; it must be breathed out and shared. The same term that elsewhere describes hostile or deceitful breath here conveys intimacy, delight, and the spreading of life-giving aroma. Divine Breath in Judgment “I will blow on you with the fire of My fury” (Ezekiel 21:31). The Lord’s own breath kindles judgment, consuming wickedness like a furnace blast. Whereas human falsehood seeks to evade justice, divine breath guarantees it. Truthfulness of Prophetic Vision Habakkuk 2:3 employs פוּחַ negatively—what the vision will not do: “It testifies of the end, and will not lie.” God’s revelation, unlike the false witness condemned in Proverbs, cannot breathe deceit. His word is as reliable as His character; delay is never denial. Theological Threads 1. Speech mirrors character. Whether scornful, deceitful, longing, loving, or righteous, every breath reveals the heart (Matthew 12:34 finds a ready Old-Testament parallel here). Ministry Reflection and Application • Guard the tongue. Because lies are “poured out,” intentional restraint is a primary discipline of wisdom (James 3:5 parallels Proverbs 29:8). Historical Notes Rabbinic commentary often linked פוּחַ with the courtroom, stressing perjury’s gravity. Early Christian writers, reading Proverbs through the lens of Acts 5:1-5, saw Ananias and Sapphira as living proof that God still judges the breath of deceit. New-Covenant Echoes Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:22). The redeemed community is thus empowered to speak truth in love, exchanging the old breath of falsehood for the life-giving breath of God. Forms and Transliterations אָפִ֣יחַ אפיח הָפִ֥יחִי הפיחי וְיָפִ֖חַ וְיָפִ֖יחַ וְיָפִ֥יחַ וְיָפֵ֥חַ ויפח ויפיח יָפִ֣יחַ יָפִ֣יחוּ יָפִ֥יחַ יָפִ֥יחַֽ יפיח יפיחו שֶׁיָּפ֙וּחַ֙ שיפוח ’ā·p̄î·aḥ ’āp̄îaḥ aFiach hā·p̄î·ḥî haFichi hāp̄îḥî še·yā·p̄ū·aḥ šeyāp̄ūaḥ sheiyaFuach veyaFeach veyaFiach wə·yā·p̄ê·aḥ wə·yā·p̄i·aḥ wə·yā·p̄î·aḥ wəyāp̄êaḥ wəyāp̄iaḥ wəyāp̄îaḥ yā·p̄î·aḥ yā·p̄î·ḥū yaFiach yaFichu yāp̄îaḥ yāp̄îḥūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Psalm 10:5 HEB: כָּל־ צ֝וֹרְרָ֗יו יָפִ֥יחַ בָּהֶֽם׃ NAS: his adversaries, he snorts at them. KJV: out of his sight: [as for] all his enemies, he puffeth at them. INT: for all his adversaries snorts Psalm 12:5 Proverbs 6:19 Proverbs 12:17 Proverbs 14:5 Proverbs 14:25 Proverbs 19:5 Proverbs 19:9 Proverbs 29:8 Songs 2:17 Songs 4:6 Songs 4:16 Ezekiel 21:31 Habakkuk 2:3 14 Occurrences |
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