Lexical Summary sha'aph: To pant, to gasp, to long for Original Word: שָׁאַף Strong's Exhaustive Concordance desire earnestly, devour, haste, pant, snuff up, swallow up 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. Brown-Driver-Briggs I. שָׁאַף verb gasp, pant, pant after, long for (so ᵑ7 Job 7:2); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular וְשָׁאַף consecutive Job 5:5, 3feminine singular שָֽׁאֲפָה Jeremiah 2:24, 3plural שָֽׁאֲפוּ Jeremiah 14:6; Imperfect3masculine singular יִשְׁאַף Job 7:2, etc.; Participle active שׁוֺאֵף Ecclesiastes 1:5; — 1 gasp, as a woman in travail, figurative of ׳י, Isaiah 42:14 ("" נָשַׁם); pant after, snuff up the wind (accusative), of wild ass Jeremiah 2:24; Jeremiah 14:6; construction praegn.׳וְאֶלמְֿקוֺמוֺ שׁ Ecclesiastes 1:5 unto his place he panteth (comes panting), of sun under figure of racer. 2 gasp or pant with desire Psalm 119:131 ("" יָאַב); pant after, be eager for, with accusative Job 5:5 (compare צַמִּים p. 855:b), Job 7:2 ("" יְקַוֶּה), Job 36:20 (but obscure in context). II. [שָׁאַף] verb crush, trample upon ("" form of שׁוּף (q. v.), if pointing right, compare Köi. 439; We Now read שָׁאפִים, etc., from שׁוּף, compare Ges§ 72p; perhaps originally pulverize by rubbing, but also apparently by pounding, stamping, treading, LevyChWB שׁוּף, JastrDict.שׁוּף, שׁאף; — most make = I. שׁאף, but Vrss render as above); — Qal Perfect3masculine singular suffix שְׁאָפַ֫נִי Psalm 56:2, 3plural שָֽׁאֲפוּ Psalm 56:3; ,Infinitive absolute שָׁאֹף Ezekiel 36:3; Participle suffix שֹׁאֲפִי Psalm 57:4; plural שֹׁאֲפִים Amos 2:7; Amos 8:4; — trample upon, crush (the poor, etc.), figurative, with accusative of person Amos 8:4; strangely Amos 2:7 (We Now Marti strike out לְַעֲֿפַראֶֿרֶץ, which TorreyJBL xv (1896), 152 explained as old doublet, compare ᵐ5 ᵑ6; AV RV pant after the dust, etc., hyperb. for extreme avarice, compare Hi Dr; but Dr thinks ᵑ9 possibly original: crush the heads of the poor upon the dust [compare Isaiah 3:15], in any case strike out בְּ after ׳שׁ crush); אֶתְכֶם מִסָּבִיב ׳שַׁמּוֺת וְשׁ Ezekiel 36:3; Psalm 56:2; Psalm 57:4 and (accusative omitted) Psalm 56:3. Topical Lexicon Semantic Range and Imagery The term depicts intense inhalation—gasping, panting, or snorting—and, by extension, any vigorous pursuit, whether driven by appetite, desire, or hostility. The same verb can describe the wheezing of an exhausted animal, the eager breath of one who craves, and the trampling fury of an oppressor. The imagery is earthy, visceral, and unmistakably vivid, inviting readers to feel the hot breath of pursuit or the desperate gasp for relief. Occurrences in Wisdom Literature Job and Ecclesiastes employ the verb to portray human restlessness. In these texts, the verb exposes frailty—whether social (poverty), existential (mortality), or cosmic (the groaning creation). Psalms: Personal Lament and Devotion David adopts the term for both threat and thirst. Prophetic Accents: Judgment and Mercy The prophets broaden the word’s reach from individual experience to national drama. Thematic Threads 1. Oppression versus Protection – The panting oppressor is answered by a panting God who rises to defend (Psalms 56–57). Ministry Implications • Pastoral Care: Recognize the raw breath of grief; sufferers may feel hunted (Psalm 56) or desperate for shade (Job 7). Offer Scripture-saturated hope that God hears every gasp. Summary Shā’aph traces a line from desperate longing and ruthless trampling to divine intervention and satisfied hunger. Whether on the lips of sufferers, in the nostrils of beasts, or in the breath of God Himself, the verb testifies that every urgent breath is known to the Lord who both judges oppression and fills the panting soul with life. Forms and Transliterations הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֖ים הַשֹּׁאֲפִ֤ים השאפים וְאֶשְׁאַ֖ף וְשָׁאַ֖ף וְשָׁאֹ֨ף וָאֶשְׁאָ֑פָה ואשאף ואשאפה ושאף יִשְׁאַף־ ישאף־ שְׁאָפַ֣נִי שָׁאֲפ֣וּ שָׁאֲפ֥וּ שָׁאֲפָ֣ה שֹׁאֲפִ֣י שׁוֹאֵ֛ף שאפה שאפו שאפי שאפני שואף תִּשְׁאַ֥ף תשאף haš·šō·’ă·p̄îm hashshoaFim haššō’ăp̄îm šā’ăp̄āh šā’ăp̄ū šā·’ă·p̄āh šā·’ă·p̄ū šə’āp̄anî šə·’ā·p̄a·nî shaaFah shaaFu sheaFani shoaFi shoEf šō’ăp̄î šō·’ă·p̄î šō·w·’êp̄ šōw’êp̄ tiš’ap̄ tiš·’ap̄ tishAf vaeshAfah veeshAf veshaAf veshaOf wā’eš’āp̄āh wā·’eš·’ā·p̄āh wə’eš’ap̄ wə·’eš·’ap̄ wə·šā·’ap̄ wə·šā·’ōp̄ wəšā’ap̄ wəšā’ōp̄ yiš’ap̄- yiš·’ap̄- yishafLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Job 5:5 HEB: מִצִּנִּ֥ים יִקָּחֵ֑הוּ וְשָׁאַ֖ף צַמִּ֣ים חֵילָֽם׃ NAS: And the schemer is eager for their wealth. KJV: and the robber swalloweth up their substance. INT: thorns and take is eager and the schemer their wealth Job 7:2 Job 36:20 Psalm 56:1 Psalm 56:2 Psalm 57:3 Psalm 119:131 Ecclesiastes 1:5 Isaiah 42:14 Jeremiah 2:24 Jeremiah 14:6 Ezekiel 36:3 Amos 2:7 Amos 8:4 14 Occurrences |
    |