יָפַח H3306
Gasping for breath (Hithpael), describing a woman in labor in Jeremiah 4:31
This Hithpael form describes Daughter Zion gasping for breath like a woman in her first labor in Jeremiah 4:31. The reflexive stem emphasizes the involuntary, desperate nature of the breathing. The image is one of extreme distress and vulnerability, fitting Jeremiah's vivid description of coming judgment. The verb is a by-form of the more common pûaḥ (to puff, breathe).
Senses
1. sense 1 — A Hithpael imperfect meaning 'gasping for breath' in Jeremiah 4:31, used of Daughter Zion's desperate condition under judgment. The reflexive stem and the comparison to a woman in first labor both heighten the imagery of involuntary distress, while the Spanish 'jadea' (gasps, pants) preserves the labored breathing connotation. 1×
AR["تَتَنَهَّدُ"]·ben["হাঁপানি-করছে"]·DE["[תתיפח]"]·EN["gasping"]·FR["[תתיפח]"]·heb["תתיפח"]·HI["हांफती-है-वह"]·ID["terengah-engah"]·IT["[תתיפח]"]·jav["sami-kepenthuk"]·KO["헐덭이며"]·PT["suspira"]·RU["задыхается"]·ES["que-jadea"]·SW["anashikashika-pumzi"]·TR["inliyor"]·urd["ہانپ-رہی-ہے"]
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
[יָפַח] vb. breathe, puff (by-form of פּוּחַ, q.v.; see BaNB 189; cf. Talm יפח breath)—only Hithp. Impf. 3 fs. תִּתְיַפֵּחַ Je 4:31 she gaspeth for breath.