The term "gasp" is not explicitly found in the text of the Bible; however, the concept of gasping, as an expression of shock, awe, or desperation, can be inferred from various biblical narratives and descriptions of human emotion and divine encounters. In the biblical context, gasping can be associated with moments of intense spiritual revelation, fear, or the overwhelming presence of God.

Expressions of Awe and Fear

Throughout Scripture, individuals often experience profound awe or fear in the presence of God or His messengers. These encounters can be so overwhelming that they might be described metaphorically as causing one to gasp. For instance, when the prophet Isaiah has a vision of the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, he is struck by the holiness of God and his own unworthiness, leading to a profound reaction (Isaiah 6:1-5). Although the text does not use the word "gasp," the intensity of the experience suggests a similar response.

Moments of Desperation

Gasping can also be associated with moments of desperation or deep emotional distress. In the Psalms, David often cries out to God in times of trouble, expressing a sense of urgency and need for divine intervention. Psalm 42:1-2 captures this longing: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When shall I come and appear in God’s presence?" The imagery of panting, akin to gasping, conveys a deep spiritual thirst and desperation for God's presence.

Divine Encounters

Encounters with the divine often leave individuals breathless or in a state of shock. When the angel of the Lord appears to the shepherds in the fields to announce the birth of Jesus, they are initially terrified (Luke 2:9). The sudden appearance and the glory of the Lord shining around them would have been a moment of gasping awe and fear, as they were confronted with the supernatural.

Prophetic Visions

Prophets in the Bible often experience visions that leave them overwhelmed. In the book of Daniel, the prophet is left without strength and falls into a deep sleep with his face to the ground after receiving a vision (Daniel 10:8-9). While the text does not describe a gasp, the physical and emotional impact of the vision suggests a similar reaction of being overwhelmed by the divine revelation.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly mention "gasping," the concept is woven into the fabric of biblical narratives through expressions of awe, fear, desperation, and divine encounters. These moments highlight the human response to the majesty and holiness of God, as well as the deep longing for His presence and intervention in times of need.1. (v. i.) To open the mouth wide in catching the breath, or in laborious respiration; to labor for breath; to respire convulsively; to pant violently.

2. (v. i.) To pant with eagerness; to show vehement desire.

3. (v. t.) To emit or utter with gasps; -- with forth, out, away, etc.

4. (n.) The act of opening the mouth convulsively to catch the breath; a labored respiration; a painful catching of the breath.

4682. sparasso -- to mangle, convulse
... Word Origin akin to spairo (to gasp) Definition to mangle, convulse NASB Word Usage
throwing...into...convulsions (2), throws...into a convulsion (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4682.htm - 6k7602a. shaaph -- to gasp, pant, pant after, long for
... 7602, 7602a. shaaph. 7602b . to gasp, pant, pant after, long for.
Transliteration: shaaph Short Definition: pant. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/7602a.htm - 5k

7602. sha'aph -- to gasp, pant, pant after, long for
sha'aph. 7601, 7602. sha'aph. 7602a . to gasp, pant, pant after, long for.
Transliteration: sha'aph Phonetic Spelling: (shaw-af') Short Definition: pant. ...
/hebrew/7602.htm - 5k

5395. nasham -- to pant
... to pant. Transliteration: nasham Phonetic Spelling: (naw-sham') Short Definition:
gasp. Word Origin a prim. root Definition to pant NASB Word Usage gasp (1). ...
/hebrew/5395.htm - 5k

3021. yaga -- to toil, grow or be weary
... faint, make to labor, be weary. A primitive root; properly, to gasp; hence, to be
exhausted, to tire, to toil -- faint, (make to) labour, (be) weary. ...
/hebrew/3021.htm - 6k

Time Changes Nations' Dresses --And Fortunes.
... [11] When, however, their country's fortunes are at the last gasp, and the ram,
now turned Roman, is doing his deeds of daring against the ramparts which erst ...
/.../tertullian/on the pallium/chapter i time changes nations dressesand.htm

Wesley's Hymns Reconsidered
... College, Oxford. Get an edition with tunes, and turn to the index of metres.
You will gasp with astonishment at the variety. You will ...
/.../the hymns of wesley and watts five papers/wesleys hymns reconsidered.htm

The Right to Regulate My Private Affairs as I Wish
... What was wrong with that for a child of her size? I looked at the two women, trying
my best to understand their point of view. What I saw made me gasp. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/williamson/have we no rights/chapter 4 the right to.htm

Of the Voice.
... Moreover, also, the voice is not affected by that greatest breath with which we
gasp, but with a light and not compressed breath, as often as we wish. ...
/.../lactantius/on the workmanship of god/chap xv of the voice.htm

The Completion of Our Saviour's Prophecies Confirmed Pagans in ...
... Christians who, according to this prediction of our Saviour, being brought before
kings and governors for his sake, are pressed to their latest gasp of breath ...
/.../sect viii the completion of.htm

The Crucifixion
... gored with nails, His limbs stretched from their sockets, naked upon the shameful
cross, the Son of God hung, lingering slowly towards the last gasp, in the ...
/.../kingsley/twenty-five village sermons/sermon xvi the crucifixion.htm

Vanished Hopes
... long handling. Here were the proofs of her identity! Laodice shrank from
him with a gasp that was almost a cry. Behold, the faithful ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxii vanished hopes.htm

Diamond and his Mother Sat Down Upon the Edge of the Rough Grass ...
... And how is he to take care of us if he's got nothing to eat himself?". "Oh dear!"
said Diamond with a gasp; "hasn't he got anything to eat? Oh! ...
/.../macdonald/at the back of the north wind/chapter 13 diamond and his.htm

Matt. viii. 5
... "For neither was it possible," saith he, "paralyzed as he was, and tormented, and
at his last gasp, to lift and convey him." For that he was at the point of ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xxvi matt viii 5.htm

A Prayer for the Spirit of Devotion
... Withdraw not Thou Thy comfort from me, lest my soul "gasp after thee as a thirsty
land." Lord, teach me to do Thy will, teach me to walk humbly and uprightly ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kempis/imitation of christ/a prayer for the spirit.htm

Gasp (5 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Gasp (5 Occurrences). Job 3:11 Why from the womb do
I not die? From the belly I have come forth and gasp! (YLT). ...
/g/gasp.htm - 8k

Pant (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To breathe quickly or in a labored manner, as after exertion or from eagerness
or excitement; to respire with heaving of the breast; to gasp. ...
/p/pant.htm - 9k

Ghost (123 Occurrences)
... 20, "the giving up of the ghost" (so the Revised Version (British and American)),
and Jeremiah 15:9, "She hath given up the ghost"; gawa`, "to gasp out, "expire ...
/g/ghost.htm - 39k

Gasping (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Gasp. Multi-Version Concordance
Gasping (2 Occurrences). Isaiah 42:14 I have long ...
/g/gasping.htm - 7k

Gashmu (1 Occurrence)

/g/gashmu.htm - 7k

Gaspeth (1 Occurrence)

/g/gaspeth.htm - 6k

Travailing (16 Occurrences)
... I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing
woman. I will both gasp and pant. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT). ...
/t/travailing.htm - 11k

Panting (5 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Isaiah 42:14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained
myself: now will I cry out like a travailing woman; I will gasp and pant ...
/p/panting.htm - 7k

Heliodorus
... When "quite at the last gasp" he was by the intercession of Onias restored to life
and strength and "testified to all men the works of the great God which he ...
/h/heliodorus.htm - 8k

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