Strong's Lexicon sha'aph: To pant, to gasp, to long for Original Word: שָׁאַף Word Origin: A primitive root Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Greek equivalent in Strong's Concordance, the concept of longing or yearning can be found in Greek words such as "ἐπιποθέω" (epipotheo - Strong's G1971), which means to long for or desire earnestly. Usage: The Hebrew verb "sha'aph" primarily conveys the idea of panting or gasping, often used metaphorically to express a deep longing or intense desire. It can describe both physical panting, as in the case of an animal, and a figurative yearning or craving for something. Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Hebrew culture, the imagery of panting or gasping was a vivid way to express intense emotions or desires. This could relate to physical needs, such as thirst or hunger, or to spiritual and emotional longings. The arid climate of the Near East would have made the imagery of panting for water particularly poignant and relatable. 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. 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. 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 |