H2237 H2237
Sneeze (Poel); respiratory expulsion, sign of life returning (2 Kings 4:35)
This onomatopoetic verb appears in 2 Kings 4:35, when Elisha raises the Shunammite's son: 'the boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.' Sneezing signals the return of autonomous breathing—life flowing back. The seven repetitions emphasize completeness: full restoration. The sound of the word mimics the action (onomatopoeia), and Aramaic has a similar term. Some manuscripts omit this, seeing textual duplication, but the vivid detail of seven sneezes before eye-opening captures resurrection's physical, gradual unfolding.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Sneeze in 2 Kings 4:35, marking the revived boy's return to life. The seven repetitions emphasize complete restoration—not partial resuscitation but full return of autonomous respiratory function. The onomatopoetic verb mimics the sound, lending realism to the miracle account. Though some manuscripts omit it, the detail of multiple sneezes before eye-opening vividly portrays resurrection's physical, staged progression from death to life. 1×
AR["فَعَطَسَ"]·ben["এবং-হাঁচি-দিল"]·DE["und-sneezed"]·EN["and-sneezed"]·FR["et-sneezed"]·heb["ו-התעטש"]·HI["और-छींका"]·ID["Dan-bersinlah"]·IT["e-sneezed"]·jav["lan-wacis"]·KO["그리고-재채기했다"]·PT["e-espirrou"]·RU["и-чихнул"]·ES["Y-estornudó"]·SW["na-akapiga-chafya"]·TR["ve-haplirdi"]·urd["اور-چھینکا"]
Related Senses
H4325 1. water, waters (582×)H6965b 1. Qal: to rise, arise, get up (432×)H2091 1. gold (the metal) (389×)H0068 1. stone, rock (material/object) (267×)H5178a 1. bronze/copper as metal (131×)H6083 1. dust, dry earth, soil (108×)H8313 1. burn, set fire to (94×)H2734 1. anger was kindled (82×)G5204 1. water (80×)H2822 1. darkness, absence of light (80×)G5457 1. light (illumination) (71×)G0450 1. rise, stand up (physical) (69×)H6965b 2. Qal: to stand firm, endure, be valid (50×)H6999a 2. burn sacrifice on altar (Hifil) (45×)H5553 1. rock, cliff (physical feature) (43×)H6965b 4. Hifil: to establish, confirm (covenant/kingdom/word) (40×)H1197a 1. burn, be on fire (39×)H4306 1. rain, showers (38×)H1653 1. rain, precipitation (34×)G4655 1. darkness (30×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
† [זָרַר] vb. only Po. sneeze (cf. זְרִירוֹ(ה)י 𝔗 Jb 41:10 for Heb. עֲטִישֹׁתָיו; vb. prob. onomatop.);—וַיְזוֹרֵר הַנַּעַר עד שׁבע פעמים 2 K 4:35. וַיְזוֹרֵר 2 K 4:35 om. 𝔊 Gr Bur think MT arose (by dittogr.) from וַיִּגְהַר עַל־הַנַּעַר.