Topical Encyclopedia
In the Bible, nostrils are often mentioned in both literal and metaphorical contexts, symbolizing life, breath, and divine attributes. The term "nostrils" is used to describe the physical part of the human body through which breath enters and exits, as well as to convey deeper spiritual meanings.
Creation and Life:The nostrils are first mentioned in the context of creation. In
Genesis 2:7 , it is written, "Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." Here, the nostrils are the entry point for the breath of life, signifying the divine act of giving life to humanity. This passage underscores the intimate connection between God and man, as life itself is imparted through the breath of God.
Divine Wrath and Power:Nostrils are also used metaphorically to describe the power and wrath of God. In
Exodus 15:8 , during the song of Moses after the crossing of the Red Sea, it is said, "At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; like a wall the currents stood firm; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea." This imagery portrays God's mighty power over creation, where His breath, emanating from His nostrils, controls the natural elements, demonstrating His sovereignty and ability to deliver His people.
Human Emotion and Frailty:The Bible also uses nostrils to depict human emotion and frailty. In
Job 27:3 , Job declares, "as long as my breath is still within me and the breath of God remains in my nostrils," emphasizing the transient nature of human life and the dependence on God's sustaining breath. This reflects the belief that life is fragile and ultimately sustained by God's will.
Symbol of Anger:In some instances, nostrils are associated with anger. The Hebrew word for anger, "aph," can also mean "nose" or "nostrils," indicating the flaring of nostrils as a physical expression of anger. This is seen in passages like
2 Samuel 22:9 , "Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; glowing coals blazed forth." Here, the imagery of smoke and fire from God's nostrils conveys His righteous indignation and judgment against sin.
Breath and Spirit:The breath that passes through the nostrils is often equated with the spirit. In
Ezekiel 37:5 , God says, "This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live." The breath entering through the nostrils symbolizes the Spirit of God bringing life and renewal, as seen in the vision of the dry bones coming to life.
In summary, the concept of nostrils in the Bible serves as a powerful symbol of life, divine power, human emotion, and the spiritual connection between God and His creation. Through the imagery of nostrils, the Scriptures convey profound truths about the nature of God and humanity.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
NOSE; NOSTRILSnoz, nos'-trilz ('aph, "nose," nechirayim, dual of nechir, "nostrils"): The former expression ('aph from 'anph, like Arabic 'anf) is often translated "face" (which see under the word) in the English Versions of the Bible. It is frequently referred to as the organ of breathing, in other words, as the receptacle of the breath or spirit of God: "Yahweh.... breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7; compareGenesis 7:22); "My life is yet whole in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils" (Job 27:3). Therefore a life which depends on so slight a thing as a breath is considered as utterly frail and of no great consequence: "Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for wherein is he to be accounted of?" (Isaiah 2:22; compare Wis 2:2).
In poetical language such a breath of life is ascribed even to God, especially with regard to the mighty storm which is thought to proceed from His nostrils (Exodus 15:82 Samuel 22:9Psalm 18:8, 15).
The phrase, "a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day" (Isaiah 65:5), is equivalent to a perpetual annoyance and cause of irritation. A cruel custom of war, in which the vanquished had their noses and ears cut off by their remorseless conquerors, is alluded to inEzekiel 23:25. As a wild animal is held in check by having his nose pierced and a hook or ring inserted in it (Job 40:24;Job 41:2 (Hebrew 40:26)), so this expression is used to indicate the humbling and taming of an obstinate person (2 Kings 19:28Isaiah 37:29; compareEzekiel 29:4;Ezekiel 38:4). But men, and especially women, had their noses pierced for the wearing of jewelry (Genesis 24:47Isaiah 3:21Ezekiel 16:12). In one passage the meaning is not quite clear, namely, in the enumeration of blemishes which disable a "son of Aaron" from the execution of the priest's office (Leviticus 21:18), where English Versions of the Bible translates "flat (margin "slit") nose." The Hebrew word is charum, which is a hapax legomenon. It corresponds, however, to the Arabic charam, charman (kharam, kharman), which means "to open," "to pierce the nose," especially the bridge of the nose. We may accept this meaning as the one intended in the passage.
Another dark and much discussed passage must still be referred to: "And, lo, they put the branch to their nose" (Ezekiel 8:17). The usual explanation (whereof the context gives some valuable hints) is that a rite connected with the worship of Baal (the sun) is here alluded to (see Smend and A.B. Davidson's commentaries on the passage). A similar custom is known from Persian sun-worship, where a bunch (baretsma) of dates, pomegranates or tamarisks was held to the nose by the worshipper, probably as an attempt to keep the Holy One (sun) from being contaminated by sinful breath (Spiegel, Eranische Altertamer, III, 571). Among modern Jews posies of myrtle and other fragrant herbs are held to the nose by the persons attending on the ceremony of circumcision, for the alleged reason of making the sight and smell of blood bearable. Another interpretation of the above passage would understand zemorah, in the sense of "male sexual member" (see Gesenius-Buhl, under the word; Levy, Nhb. Worterbuch, I, 544), and the whole passage as a reference to a sensuous Canaanite rite, such as is perhaps alluded to inIsaiah 57:8. In that case the 'appam, "their nose "of the Massoretic Text would have to be considered as tiqqun copherim (a correction of the scribes) for 'appi, "my face." Or read "They cause their stench (zemoratham) to come up to my face" (Kraetzschmar, at the place).
SeeBRANCH.
H. L. E. Luering
Strong's Hebrew
5156. nachir -- a nostril... 5155, 5156. nachir. 5157 . a nostril. Transliteration: nachir Phonetic Spelling:
(nekh-eer') Short Definition:
nostrils.
... dual
nostrils.
...5170. nachar -- a snorting
... 5169, 5170. nachar. 5170a . a snorting. Transliteration: nachar Phonetic Spelling:
(nakh'-ar) Short Definition:nostrils.nostrils, snorting...
649. Appayim -- an Israelite
... NASB Word Usage Appaim (2). Appaim. Dual of 'aph; twonostrils; Appajim, an Israelite --
Appaim. see HEBREW 'aph. 648, 649. Appayim. 650 . Strong's Numbers
639. aph -- a nostril, nose, face, anger
... before (2), breath (1), countenance (1), double (1), face (15), faces (4), forbearance*
(1), ground (1), nose (10), noses (1), nostril (1),nostrils (13), quick...
Library
Of the Intestines in Man, and their Use.
... must be two tubes [1891] through the neck for food, and for breath, the upper of
which leads from the mouth to the belly, the lower from thenostrils to the...
That Before his Birth in Time Christ was Always Called God by the...
... And so the prophet Isaiah says, "Cease ye from the man whose breath is in hisnostrils,
for it is He in whom he is reputed to be;" or as it is more exactly and...
The Holy Spirit is no Less the Author of Spiritual Creation or...
... As the Lord liveth, Who thus judgeth me, and the Almighty, Who hath brought my soul
to bitterness (for the Spirit of God which is in mynostrils)." [1091] He...
On the Interior Man
... [Matt.13:16]. Thenostrils are the breath of faith and of the strength of
the good; in Job: and the Holy Spirit is in mynostrils....
A Further vindication of the Scripture Narrative of the Creation...
... It says that "God made man of the dust of the ground and breathed into hisnostrils
the breath of life, and man became a living soul." [6452] Now, although it...
And He Said they Often Appeared as the Lord Revealed the Devil to...
... From his mouth proceed burning lamps and hearths of fire are cast forth. The smoke
of a furnace blazing with the fire of coals proceeds from hisnostrils....
I am Told, to Take Another Point, that one of his Followers...
... Why should he knit his brow and draw in and wrinkle up hisnostrils, and weigh out
his hollow words, and simulate among the common crowd a sanctity which his...
But Perhaps Some one is Alarmed at Hearing us Discourse of the...
... mystery, for he says in the person of the Lord speaking to him, "Wilt thou draw
forth the dragon with a hook, and wilt thou put thy bit in hisnostrils?" Phil....
Psalm CXXXV.
... have eyes, and will not see" (ver.16); "they have ears, and will not hear; neither
is there any breath in their mouth" (ver.17); "they havenostrils, and will...
David's Song of victory
... he was wroth. There went up a smoke out of hisnostrils, And fire out
of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. He bowed...
Thesaurus
Nostrils (22 Occurrences)... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia NOSE;
NOSTRILS. noz, nos'-trilz ('aph,
"nose," nechirayim, dual of nechir, "
nostrils"): The former
...Nose (23 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The prominent part of the face or anterior extremity of the head containing
thenostrils and olfactory cavities; the olfactory organ.... NOSE;NOSTRILS....
Blast (28 Occurrences)
... "With the blast of thynostrils the waters were piled up" (Exodus 15:8), referring
to the east wind (Exodus 14:21; compare 2 Samuel 22:16 and Psalm 18:15)....
Breath (95 Occurrences)
... (YLT RSV NIV). Genesis 2:7 Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and
breathed into hisnostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul....
Glowing (14 Occurrences)
... (DBY). 2 Samuel 22:9 Smoke went up out of hisnostrils. Fire out of his mouth
devoured.... (See RSV). Psalms 18:8 Smoke went out of hisnostrils....
Flamed (4 Occurrences)
... Flamed (4 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 22:9 There went up a smoke out of hisnostrils,
And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. (See JPS RSV)....
Exorcism
... A ring to which was attached a kind of root mentioned by Solomon was placed at the
nostrils of the demoniac and the demon was drawn out through thenostrils....
Devouring (20 Occurrences)
... (See JPS). 2 Samuel 22:9 Smoke arose up in Hisnostrils, and fire out of His
mouth did devour; coals flamed forth from Him. (See RSV)....
Blazed (9 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 2 Samuel 22:9 Smoke went up out of hisnostrils. Fire out of his mouth
devoured.... (See NIV). Psalms 18:8 Smoke went out of hisnostrils....
Coals (28 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 22:9 Smoke went up out of hisnostrils. Fire out of his mouth devoured....
(WEB JPS RSV NIV). Psalms 18:8 Smoke went out of hisnostrils....
Resources
What is the breath of life? | GotQuestions.orgDoes God love me? | GotQuestions.orgDoes God have a soul? | GotQuestions.orgNostrils: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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Bible Encyclopedia •
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