In the context of the Bible, the act of sniffing is not directly mentioned as a significant action or ritual. However, the concept of smell and the use of the nose are present in various passages, often symbolizing discernment, the presence of God, or the offering of sacrifices.

Symbolism of Smell:

The sense of smell in the Bible is often associated with discernment and the ability to perceive what is pleasing or displeasing. In the spiritual sense, it can represent the discernment of good and evil, or the recognition of what is holy and acceptable to God. For instance, in 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 , the Apostle Paul writes, "For we are to God the sweet aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one, we are an odor of death and demise; to the other, a fragrance that brings life." Here, the metaphor of aroma is used to describe the impact of the Gospel message.

Sacrificial Offerings:

The act of offering sacrifices in the Old Testament often involved the burning of incense or animal sacrifices, which produced a pleasing aroma to the Lord. This is frequently mentioned in the Pentateuch, where the sacrifices are described as "a pleasing aroma to the LORD" (e.g., Leviticus 1:9). The aroma signifies the acceptance of the offering by God, symbolizing His satisfaction with the obedience and devotion of His people.

Divine Displeasure:

Conversely, the absence of a pleasing aroma or the presence of a foul smell can symbolize divine displeasure or judgment. In Isaiah 65:5 , God expresses His disdain for hypocritical worship, saying, "They say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long." Here, the imagery of smoke in the nostrils conveys irritation and rejection.

Prophetic Imagery:

In prophetic literature, the imagery of smell is sometimes used to convey the spiritual state of a nation or people. For example, in Amos 4:10 , God recounts the plagues He sent upon Israel, saying, "I sent plagues among you like those of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camps, yet you have not returned to Me," declares the LORD. The stench here symbolizes the corruption and decay resulting from sin and rebellion.

Conclusion:

While the specific act of sniffing is not highlighted in the biblical text, the broader concept of smell serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual discernment, divine acceptance, and judgment. The use of aroma in sacrificial contexts underscores the importance of sincere worship and obedience to God, while the imagery of unpleasant smells often denotes sin and divine displeasure.1. (v. t.) To draw air audibly up the nose; to snuff; -- sometimes done as a gesture of suspicion, offense, or contempt.

2. (v. t.) To draw in with the breath through the nose; as, to sniff the air of the country.

3. (v. t.) To perceive as by sniffing; to snuff, to scent; to smell; as, to sniff danger.

4. (n.) The act of sniffing; perception by sniffing; that which is taken by sniffing; as, a sniff of air.

5301. naphach -- to breathe, blow
... to breathe, blow NASB Word Usage blow (3), blows (1), boiling (2), breathe (1),
breathed (1), breathing is labored* (1), disdainfully sniff (1), lose (1 ...
/hebrew/5301.htm - 6k

"We must Increase, but I must Decrease. "
... It is said that cattle, sick and harried with the voyage across the Atlantic, will
show signs of revival as they sniff the first land breezes laden with the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/meyer/john the baptist/ix we must increase but.htm

The Terror by Night
... listened. Nearer and nearer came the rustling of the bushes, and every little
while he could hear an animal sniff the air. Finally ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the terror by night.htm

Christ's Authority to Forgive
... Nobody came crowding to them, nor hung on their lips. Professional jealousy has
often a great deal to do in helping zeal for truth to sniff out heresy. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/christs authority to forgive.htm

Drawing Nearer to the Storm
... Why he is introduced here, as if a stranger, we cannot tell, and it is useless to
guess, and absurd to sniff suspicion of genuineness in the peculiarity. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/drawing nearer to the storm.htm

In Him: Like Him
... Why, it becomes to them a thing of contempt. They sniff at it. It is so much dung
and sweepings of the street to them, and so it ought to be. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 29 1883/in him like him.htm

The Destroyer Destroyed
... cannot endure. You may tell the devil, "Oh! but I prayed so many times."
He will sniff at your prayers. You may tell him, "Ah! but ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the destroyer destroyed.htm

The Fainting Warrior
... to escape? Am I always to have this dead man chained to my back, and sniff
the pestiferous exhalations of his putrid body? No, no ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the fainting warrior.htm

The Political Constitution of Egypt
... He is approached, moreover, as a god is approached, with downcast eyes, and head
or back bent; they "sniff the earth" before him, they veil their faces with ...
/.../chapter ithe political constitution of.htm

Sniff (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (vt) To draw in with the breath through the nose; as, to sniff the air of
the country. ... Multi-Version Concordance Sniff (1 Occurrence). ...
/s/sniff.htm - 7k

Snuff (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vi) To draw in, or to inhale, forcibly through the nose; to sniff. ... 7.
(n.) The act of snuffing; perception by snuffing; a sniff. ...
/s/snuff.htm - 8k

Nose (23 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To utter in a nasal manner; to pronounce with a nasal twang; as,
to nose a prayer. 7. (vi) To smell; to sniff; to scent. ...
/n/nose.htm - 19k

Sniffed (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Sniff. Multi-Version Concordance
Sniffed (1 Occurrence). Malachi 1:13 You say also,'Behold ...
/s/sniffed.htm - 6k

Sneezings (1 Occurrence)

/s/sneezings.htm - 6k

Sniffing (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Sniff. 2. (n.) A rapid respiratory act, in which the
mouth is kept shut and the air drawn in through the nose. ...
/s/sniffing.htm - 7k

Sniff: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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