The imagery of breath is often used to convey spiritual essence and power, unseen except in its effects, including aspects of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The main Hebrew and Greek words translated as “breath” in the NIV are also translated as “spirit” and “wind”.
The breath of life
Life imparted by God
Genesis 2:7; Acts 17:25 See also Genesis 1:30, Genesis 6:17, Genesis 7:15, Genesis 7:22; Job 27:3, Job 33:4; Psalm 104:30; Isaiah 42:5, Isaiah 57:16; Jeremiah 38:16; Revelation 11:11
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.
Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
Life recalled by his sovereign will
Ecclesiastes 12:7 See also 1 Kings 17:17; Job 34:14–15; Psalm 104:29; Isaiah 40:7
before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
The breath of God
An emblem of the Holy Spirit
John 20:21–22 See also Ezekiel 37:5, Ezekiel 37:14
Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” When He had said this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
God's creative breath
Psalm 33:6 See also Genesis 1:2; Job 26:13, Job 33:4
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.
God's enlightening breath
Job 32:8 See also John 14:26, John 16:13–15; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:20–21
But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
God's regenerating breath
Ezekiel 37:4–14 See also John 3:5–8; 1 Thessalonians 1:4–5; Titus 3:5
God's empowering breath
Acts 2:1–4 See also Isaiah 11:2, Isaiah 61:1; Joel 2:28–29; John 20:21–22; Acts 1:8
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw tongues like flames of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
God's destroying breath
2 Thessalonians 2:8 See also Exodus 15:10; 2 Samuel 22:16 parallel Psalm 18:15; Job 4:9, Job 15:30; Isaiah 11:4, Isaiah 30:28, Isaiah 30:33, Isaiah 40:24, Isaiah 59:19; Ezekiel 21:31
And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and annihilate by the majesty of His arrival.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.