Breath נְשָׁמָה-neshemah

One interesting characteristic of Hebrew is that it is a root-based language. It takes a base word and via some slight vowel sound alterations or the addition or subtraction of a consonant, it expands on the original meaning. However, no matter how much transformation the word undergoes, its original essence is never lost. For example, this is sort of similar to the connection between the words “water” and “wet”. Although different in meaning, spelling and pronunciation, the etymological similarity between these two words is very apparent.

So keeping that in mind, let’s take a look at an interesting Hebrew word that appears frequently in Scripture. In Genesis 2:7, the Scripture states that G-d breathed the breath of life into the man he had made. The word for breathed in Hebrew is “naphach” and the word for breath is “neshemah”. Do you notice the root word similarity? In other words, “G-d naphach the neshemah of life into the man he had made.” Incidentally, do you remember what the Hebrew word for life is? It is “chai” (singular-life) or “chayyim” (plural=lives). Now what is interesting is that the Hebrew expression for a living being is “chai nephesh”. So we can see that the biblical definition of a living creature is one that has the G-d-originated breath of life breathed into it.

Now another point that is absolutely astounding is that the Hebrew word for “soul” comes from this same word “nephesh”. So man is not just flesh and blood but there is an invisible spiritual force that is part of his makeup. Furthermore, this intangible thing that gives humans and animals life comes from outside the physical universe. Life could not have originated from some biological chemical soup. Without the “neshemah chayyim”, life is just not possible.

Let us thank our L-rd for the “neshemah chayyim” he has breathed into us.

Amen.