The Hebrew verb nasham means to breathe or pant. It is related to neshamah (H5397), the breath of life. The word appears rarely in the Old Testament, but its theological weight comes from its connection to the life-breath that God breathed into Adam at creation (Genesis 2:7), making living things animated by divine breath.
Though nasham itself is rare, its noun form neshamah carries enormous theological significance. God breathed neshamah into Adam's nostrils, and he became a living being. This divine breath distinguishes humanity from the rest of creation — we alone bear the breath of God in a special way. Isaiah uses the imagery of God's breath as a destroying wind of judgment (Isaiah 30:33), while Job speaks of God's breath as the spirit that gives him life and understanding (Job 32:8). The same breath that gives life can bring judgment — a reminder of God's absolute sovereignty over all living things.