Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "puff" is often associated with the concept of pride, vanity, and the fleeting nature of life. The imagery of something being "puffed up" is used metaphorically to describe arrogance or self-importance, which is cautioned against in Scripture.
Pride and Arrogance:The Apostle Paul frequently uses the term "puffed up" to describe individuals or groups who are filled with pride or arrogance. In
1 Corinthians 4:6, Paul warns the Corinthian church not to be "puffed up" in favor of one leader over another, emphasizing humility and unity within the body of Christ. The Berean Standard Bible translates this as: "Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us not to go beyond what is written. Then you will not be puffed up in favor of one against the other."
Similarly, in
1 Corinthians 8:1, Paul addresses the issue of knowledge leading to pride: "Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up." Here, Paul contrasts the self-inflating nature of knowledge with the edifying nature of love, urging believers to prioritize love over prideful knowledge.
The Fleeting Nature of Life:The concept of "puff" also relates to the transient and insubstantial nature of human life. In
Psalm 144:4 , the psalmist reflects on the brevity of life: "Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." The imagery of a "breath" or "puff" underscores the temporary and fragile nature of human existence, reminding believers of their dependence on God and the importance of living a life that honors Him.
Warnings Against Vanity:Proverbs 21:4 warns against the vanity associated with being "puffed up": "Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin." This proverb highlights the sinful nature of pride and the moral danger it poses. The "puffed up" heart is seen as a guide leading one away from righteousness and towards wickedness.
Humility as a Virtue:Throughout Scripture, humility is presented as a virtue in direct opposition to being "puffed up."
James 4:6 states, "But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" This verse underscores the biblical principle that God favors the humble and resists those who are prideful or "puffed up."
In summary, the biblical use of "puff" serves as a metaphor for pride and the ephemeral nature of life, offering a cautionary message against arrogance and a call to embrace humility and dependence on God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) A sudden and single emission of breath from the mouth; hence, any sudden or short blast of wind; a slight gust; a whiff.
2. (n.) Anything light and filled with air.
3. (n.) A puffball.
4. (n.) a kind of light pastry.
5. (n.) A utensil of the toilet for dusting the skin or hair with powder.
6. (n.) An exaggerated or empty expression of praise, especially one in a public journal.
7. (n.) To blow in puffs, or with short and sudden whiffs.
8. (n.) To blow, as an expression of scorn; -- with at.
9. (n.) To breathe quick and hard, or with puffs, as after violent exertion.
10. (n.) To swell with air; to be dilated or inflated.
11. (n.) To breathe in a swelling, inflated, or pompous manner; hence, to assume importance.
12. (v. t.) To drive with a puff, or with puffs.
13. (v. t.) To repel with words; to blow at contemptuously.
14. (v. t.) To cause to swell or dilate; to inflate; to ruffle with puffs; -- often with up; as, a bladder puffed with air.
15. (v. t.) To inflate with pride, flattery, self-esteem, or the like; -- often with up.
16. (v. t.) To praise with exaggeration; to flatter; to call public attention to by praises; to praise unduly.
17. (a.) Puffed up; vain.
Greek
5448. phusioo -- topuff or blow up... to
puff or blow up. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: phusioo Phonetic Spelling:
(foo-see-o'-o) Short Definition: I inflate,
puff up Definition: I inflate
...5187. tuphoo -- to be conceited, foolish
... to be conceited, foolish. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tuphoo Phonetic
Spelling: (toof-o'-o) Short Definition: Ipuff up, make haughty Definition: I...
1720. emphusao -- to breathe into or upon
... breathe on. From en and phusao (topuff) (compare phuo); to blow at or on -- breathe
on. see GREEK en. see GREEK phuo. (enephusesen) -- 1 Occurrence....
5453. phuo -- to bring forth, produce
... A primary verb; probably originally, to "puff" or blow, ie To swell up; but only
used in the implied sense, to germinate or grow (sprout, produce), literally...
Strong's Hebrew
3306. yaphach -- to breathe,puff... 3305, 3306. yaphach. 3307 . to breathe,
puff. Transliteration: yaphach Phonetic
Spelling: (yaw-fakh') Short Definition: breath. Word Origin a prim.
...6315. puach -- to breathe, blow
... blow upon, break,puff, bring into a snare, speak, utter. A primitive root;
topuff, ie Blow with the breath or air; hence, to fan...
5397. neshamah -- breath
... blast, that breaths, inspiration, soul, spirit. From nasham; apuff, ie
Wind, angry or vital breath, divine inspiration, intellect....
5301. naphach -- to breathe, blow
... A primitive root; topuff, in various applications (literally, to inflate, blow
hard, scatter, kindle, expire; figuratively, to disesteem) -- blow, breath...
6284. paah -- to cleave in pieces
... scatter into corners. A primitive root; topuff, ie Blow away -- scatter into
corners. 6283, 6284. paah. 6285 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
I have Need of Humility.
... perish through boasting. For now it is needful for me to be the more fearful;
and not give heed to those thatpuff me up. For they...
Unbelievers in the Blood of Christ Shall be Condemned.
... [1009] "He that is able to receive it, let him receive it." [1010] Let not [high]
placepuff any one up: for that which is worth all is [1011] faith and love...
What is the Difference Between Wisdom and Knowledge. The Worship...
... For knowledge also has its own good measure, if that in it which puffs up, or is
wont topuff up, is conquered by love of eternal things, which does notpuff up...
Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness...
... God's Word. Theypuff themselves up if, forsooth, they have a gift more
than others, and they hold God and all men as nothing. This...
The Evolution of Language
... The child who says moo for cow, or bow-wow for dog, or tick-tick for watch, or
puff-puff for train, is an authority on the origin of human speech....
How Does it Come?
... Scripture hath said that some things "puff up," and there is a good deal of "puff"
in some hearts through which the living water is supposed to be flowing....
The Pharisee and the Publican
... and expect, that God, though for a while he seemeth not to regard, yet will, in
due time and season, arise and set such in safety from them thatpuff at them...
Knowledge. Worship. Gratitude.
... their condemnation. There is a knowledge which does notpuff up the mind,
but builds up the soul, being joined with holy love. Did...
Book I to Pleasant Songs My Work was Erstwhile Given, and Bright...
... Why, O my friends, did ye so oftenpuff me up, telling me that I was fortunate?
For he that is fallen low did never firmly stand.'....
Who is the Rich Man that Shall be Saved?
... what is the principal thing, liable on this account to the judgment of God; and
treacherous, because, although wealth is of itself sufficient topuff up and...
Thesaurus
Puff (1 Occurrence)... importance. 12. (vt) To drive with a
puff, or with puffs. 13.
... 17. (a.) Puffed
up; vain. Multi-Version Concordance
Puff (1 Occurrence). Psalms
...Puffed (13 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) ofPuff. Multi-Version Concordance Puffed
(13 Occurrences). Romans 11:21 Do not be puffed up with pride....
Blow (124 Occurrences)
... 9. (vi) To breathe hard or quick; to pant; topuff. 10. (vi) To sound on being blown
into, as a trumpet.... 21. (vt) To inflate, as with pride; topuff up. 22....
Pudens (1 Occurrence)
Vent (8 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Sale; opportunity to sell; market. 2. (vt) To sell; to vend. 3. (n.) A baiting
place; an inn. 4. (vi) To snuff; to breathe orpuff out; to snort....
Rise (417 Occurrences)
... 10. (v.) To retire; to give up a siege. 11. (v.) To swell orpuff up in the process
of fermentation; to become light, as dough, and the like. 12....
Engedi (6 Occurrences)
... of two or three. When ripe it is of a rich yellow colour, but on being
pressed it explodes like apuff-ball. It is chiefly filled...
Adder (9 Occurrences)
... 3. (n.) A small venomous serpent of the genus Vipera. The common European adder
is the Vipera (Pelias) berus. Thepuff adders of Africa are species of Clotho....
Smoke (98 Occurrences)
... (vt) To ridicule to the face; to quiz. 14. (vt) To inhale andpuff out the smoke
of, as tobacco; to burn or use in smoking; as, to smoke a pipe or a cigar. 15....
Swell (9 Occurrences)
... 13. (vt) To aggravate; to heighten. 14. (vt) To raise to arrogance; topuff up;
to inflate; as, to be swelled with pride or haughtiness. 15....
Resources
If angels and demons can't die, what is the point of their engaging in battle? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to boast in the Lord? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that love is not proud (1 Corinthians 13:4)? | GotQuestions.orgPuff: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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