Sneezing is a natural reflex that occurs when the nasal passages are irritated, resulting in a sudden, forceful expulsion of air through the nose and mouth. While sneezing is a common human experience, it is mentioned only sparingly in the Bible. The act of sneezing itself is not given significant theological or doctrinal emphasis in the Scriptures, but it does appear in a notable biblical narrative.

Biblical Reference:

The most prominent mention of sneezing in the Bible is found in the account of the prophet Elisha and the Shunammite woman's son. In 2 Kings 4:32-35, Elisha performs a miracle by raising the child from the dead. After Elisha prays and stretches himself upon the child, the boy sneezes seven times and opens his eyes:

"When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. Elisha turned away and paced back and forth across the room. Then he got on the bed and stretched out over him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes." (2 Kings 4:32-35)

In this passage, the act of sneezing is associated with the restoration of life. The seven sneezes may symbolize completeness or divine intervention, as the number seven often represents perfection or completion in biblical literature.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In ancient cultures, sneezing was sometimes viewed with superstition or as an omen. However, the biblical narrative does not attribute any superstitious significance to the act of sneezing. Instead, it is presented as a natural part of the miraculous event of the boy's revival. The focus remains on God's power working through the prophet Elisha to restore life.

Theological Implications:

While sneezing itself is not a theological concept, the context in which it appears in the Bible highlights themes of divine power, resurrection, and the role of prophets as instruments of God's will. The miracle performed by Elisha serves as a testament to God's authority over life and death and His compassion for those who seek Him.

Conclusion:

Though sneezing is not a major theme in the Bible, its mention in the account of Elisha and the Shunammite woman's son underscores the miraculous nature of God's interventions in human affairs. The narrative invites believers to recognize the power of prayer and the significance of faith in God's ability to bring about restoration and life.1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sneeze.

2. (n.) The act of violently forcing air out through the nasal passages while the cavity of the mouth is shut off from the pharynx by the approximation of the soft palate and the base of the tongue.

5846. atishah -- a sneezing
... 5845, 5846. atishah. 5847 . a sneezing. Transliteration: atishah Phonetic
Spelling: (at-ee-shaw') Short Definition: sneezes. ... sneezing. ...
/hebrew/5846.htm - 5k

Directions for those who Live Together.
... If any one is attacked with sneezing, just as in the case of hiccup, he must not
startle those near him with the explosion, and so give proof of his bad ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter vii directions for those who.htm

Tobacco.
... To illustrate: A particle of tobacco dust no sooner comes into contact with the
lining membrane of the nose, than violent sneezing is produced. ...
/.../judy/questionable amusements and worthy substitutes/i tobacco.htm

The Death of Darius.
... He was an old man, and his teeth"those that remained"were loose. One of them was
thrown out in the act of sneezing, and it fell into the sand. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/darius the great/chapter xii the death of.htm

Whether we Ought to Distinguish Several Species of Divination?
... If one observe the movements and cries of birds or of any animals, or the sneezing
of men, or the sudden movements of limbs, this belongs in general to "augury ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether we ought to distinguish.htm

Reverence in Prayer
... about a creaking chair when he is on his knees: another yawning till the whole room
is ashamed of the indecency: another coughing and sneezing without ceremony ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/whyte/lord teach us to pray/xvii reverence in prayer.htm

The Misery of Man Without God
... Turks. 114. Variety is as abundant as all tones of the voice, all ways of walking,
coughing, blowing the nose, sneezing. We distinguish ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pascal/pensees/section ii the misery of.htm

On Pentecost.
... has "he contracted himself upon the child until seven times, and the child opened
his eyes;" saying nothing about the sneezing of the child, which the Hebrew ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/oration xli on pentecost.htm

Sneezing (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sneezing (1 Occurrence). Job 41:18 His sneezing flashes
out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning. ...
/s/sneezing.htm - 7k

Neesing
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Neese. 2. (n.) Sneezing.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. NEESING. ne'-zing (Job ...
/n/neesing.htm - 7k

Flashes (16 Occurrences)
... voice is heard. (DBY). Job 41:18 His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes
are like the eyelids of the morning. (WEB NIV). Psalms 18 ...
/f/flashes.htm - 11k

Flash (19 Occurrences)
... (DBY NIV). Job 38:25 Who hath divided a channel for the rain-flood, and a way for
the thunder's flash; (DBY). Job 41:18 His sneezing flashes out light. ...
/f/flash.htm - 13k

Throws (8 Occurrences)
... wait, (See NIV). Job 41:18 His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are
like the eyelids of the morning. (See NIV). Proverbs 14:16 ...
/t/throws.htm - 8k

Rays (5 Occurrences)
... Let it look for light, but have none, neither let it see the eyelids of the
morning, (See NIV). Job 41:18 His sneezing flashes out light. ...
/r/rays.htm - 7k

Eyelids (12 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Job 41:18 His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids
of the morning. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/e/eyelids.htm - 9k

Sneezeth (1 Occurrence)

/s/sneezeth.htm - 6k

Sneeze
... Standard Bible Encyclopedia. SNEEZE. snez (zorer, Pho`el-form zarar): "The child
sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes" (2 Kings 4:35). "Sneezing...
/s/sneeze.htm - 7k

Sneezings (1 Occurrence)

/s/sneezings.htm - 6k

Why do we say, ʺGod bless you,ʺ when someone sneezes? | GotQuestions.org

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