Definition and Significance:
The term "life-breath" refers to the breath of life that God imparts to living beings, signifying the divine spark that animates and sustains life. In the biblical context, life-breath is closely associated with the spirit or the breath of God, which is essential for life itself. It is a concept that underscores the dependence of all living creatures on God's sustaining power.

Biblical References:

1. Creation of Man:
The concept of life-breath is introduced in the creation narrative. In Genesis 2:7 , it is written, "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." This passage highlights the intimate act of God breathing life into Adam, transforming him from mere dust into a living soul. The life-breath is thus depicted as a divine gift that distinguishes living beings from inanimate matter.

2. The Breath of God:
The life-breath is often equated with the breath of God, which is seen as a life-giving force. In Job 33:4 , Elihu declares, "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." This verse emphasizes the role of God's breath in the creation and sustenance of life, attributing human existence to the direct action of the divine.

3. Dependence on God:
The life-breath signifies humanity's dependence on God for life and sustenance. In Acts 17:25 , Paul speaks of God, saying, "Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." This passage reinforces the idea that life-breath is a continuous gift from God, upon which all creation relies.

4. The Transience of Life:
The fleeting nature of life is often illustrated through the metaphor of breath. In Psalm 144:4 , it is stated, "Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." This imagery serves as a reminder of the brevity and fragility of human life, urging individuals to recognize their mortality and the transient nature of earthly existence.

5. Resurrection and New Life:
The concept of life-breath is also linked to the hope of resurrection and new life. In Ezekiel 37:5-6 , God promises to revive the dry bones of Israel: "This is what the Lord GOD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh grow upon you and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD." This prophetic vision symbolizes the restoration and renewal that God offers, breathing new life into what was once dead.

Theological Implications:

The life-breath is a profound theological concept that underscores the intimate relationship between God and His creation. It highlights the belief that life is a sacred gift from God, who is both the Creator and Sustainer. The life-breath serves as a reminder of human dependence on divine grace and the hope of eternal life through God's redemptive power. The biblical portrayal of life-breath invites believers to live in gratitude and reverence, acknowledging the divine source of their existence.5396. nishmah -- breath
... 5395, 5396. nishmah. 5397 . breath. Transliteration: nishmah Phonetic
Spelling: (nish-maw') Short Definition: life-breath. Word ...
/hebrew/5396.htm - 6k

God Giving Himself.
... And He did it, even as father and mother of our human kind and of every other kind
do:"He gave some of Himself. He breathed into man His own life-breath. ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks with world winners/god giving himself.htm

Death to Self is the Way Out into a Life of Sacrifice.
... is a holding back now. "Love is the fulfilling of the law," and sacrifice
is the very life-breath of love. May God shew us every ...
//christianbookshelf.org/trotter/parables of the cross/death to self is the.htm

The Sucker from the Felled Oak
... respectful consideration, it means, 'He shall draw His breath in the fear of Jehovah';
that is, that that fear has become, as it were, His very life-breath. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the sucker from the felled.htm

Psalm 104 the Glory of God in Creation and Providence.
... And, dying, to their dust return; Both man and beast their souls resign; Life, breath,
and spirit, all is thine. Yet thou canst breathe on dust again,. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 104 the glory of.htm

Psalm 104. The Glory of God in Creation and Providence.
... 23 But when thy face is hid, they mourn, And dying to their dust return; Both man
and beast their souls resign, Life, breath, and spirit, all is thine. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/psalm 104 the glory of.htm

Grace Triumphant
... Like other indulged passions, it grew with exercise, and had come to be as his very
life-breath, and now planned, not only imprisonment, but death, for the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/grace triumphant.htm

What God Will do for Us
... privilege of access to God. If a man's heart is set upon God, his very
life-breath will be a cry to His Father. He will experience a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/what god will do for.htm

God's Inheritance and Ours
... For to give is the life-breath of all true love, and there is nothing which the
loving heart more desires than to be able to pour itself out"much rather than ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/gods inheritance and ours.htm

The Day of Atonement
... Thus the prophetic element is the very life-breath of this supreme institution of
the old covenant, which therein acknowledges its own defects, and feeds the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/the day of atonement.htm

Christ's Musts
... as the sunflower follows the sun, so certainly will a man animated by the mind that
was in Jesus Christ, like Him find his very life's breath in doing the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/christs musts.htm

Life-breath (1 Occurrence)
Life-breath. Lifeboat, Life-breath. Life-giver . Multi-Version
Concordance Life-breath (1 Occurrence). Daniel 5:23 and ...
/l/life-breath.htm - 7k

Life-giver (2 Occurrences)
Life-giver. Life-breath, Life-giver. Life-giving . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(BBE). Life-breath, Life-giver. Life-giving . Reference Bible.
/l/life-giver.htm - 7k

Lifeboat (3 Occurrences)

/l/lifeboat.htm - 7k

Soul (554 Occurrences)
... (2) As the life-breath, it departs at death (Genesis 35:18 Jeremiah 15:2). Hence,
the desire among Old Testament saints to be delivered from Sheol (Psalm 16:10 ...
/s/soul.htm - 47k

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