What is the difference between “breathe” and “blow”?
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What is the difference between breathe and blow?
The King James Version
Jn.3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh
Wycliffe's Bible
Jn.3:8
meaning
edited May 27 at 22:24
Ricky
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What is the difference between breathe and blow?
The King James Version
Jn.3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh
Wycliffe's Bible
Jn.3:8
meaning
edited May 27 at 22:24
Ricky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
1
hermeneutics.stackexchange.com
– Hot Licks
May 27 at 22:08
2
Ordinarily only animals breathe. Blow is more general, and humans and wind can both blow, but blow refers to a volitional action if it has a human subject.
– John Lawler
May 27 at 22:22
It is unclear where breath comes in. Is this a matter of judging the translation of Greek into Middle English? It would really help if you have the text in both languages for any question (instead of a picture of the script; unfortunately I find it very difficult to read).
– Mitch
May 27 at 23:37
@Mitch We do, though, say "a breath of wind", particularly in its negative sense "not a breath of wind" to speak about very gentle breezes.
– BoldBen
May 27 at 23:50
@BoldBen Sure, the two words have something to do with each other, but there's nothing in the KJV or quote that refers to breath at all, so I'm wondering what the motivation is for asking about it. Is it in other translations? (as aan AmE speaker I actually haven't heard that idiom)
– Mitch
May 28 at 0:51
|
show 2 more comments
What is the difference between breathe and blow?
The King James Version
Jn.3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh
Wycliffe's Bible
Jn.3:8
meaning
edited May 27 at 22:24
Ricky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
What is the difference between breathe and blow?
The King James Version
Jn.3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh
Wycliffe's Bible
Jn.3:8
meaning
meaning
edited May 27 at 22:24
Ricky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
edited May 27 at 22:24
Ricky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
edited May 27 at 22:24
Ricky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
edited May 27 at 22:24
Ricky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
edited May 27 at 22:24
Ricky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
asked May 27 at 21:43
user349787
1
hermeneutics.stackexchange.com
– Hot Licks
May 27 at 22:08
2
Ordinarily only animals breathe. Blow is more general, and humans and wind can both blow, but blow refers to a volitional action if it has a human subject.
– John Lawler
May 27 at 22:22
It is unclear where breath comes in. Is this a matter of judging the translation of Greek into Middle English? It would really help if you have the text in both languages for any question (instead of a picture of the script; unfortunately I find it very difficult to read).
– Mitch
May 27 at 23:37
@Mitch We do, though, say "a breath of wind", particularly in its negative sense "not a breath of wind" to speak about very gentle breezes.
– BoldBen
May 27 at 23:50
@BoldBen Sure, the two words have something to do with each other, but there's nothing in the KJV or quote that refers to breath at all, so I'm wondering what the motivation is for asking about it. Is it in other translations? (as aan AmE speaker I actually haven't heard that idiom)
– Mitch
May 28 at 0:51
|
show 2 more comments
1
hermeneutics.stackexchange.com
– Hot Licks
May 27 at 22:08
2
Ordinarily only animals breathe. Blow is more general, and humans and wind can both blow, but blow refers to a volitional action if it has a human subject.
– John Lawler
May 27 at 22:22
It is unclear where breath comes in. Is this a matter of judging the translation of Greek into Middle English? It would really help if you have the text in both languages for any question (instead of a picture of the script; unfortunately I find it very difficult to read).
– Mitch
May 27 at 23:37
@Mitch We do, though, say "a breath of wind", particularly in its negative sense "not a breath of wind" to speak about very gentle breezes.
– BoldBen
May 27 at 23:50
@BoldBen Sure, the two words have something to do with each other, but there's nothing in the KJV or quote that refers to breath at all, so I'm wondering what the motivation is for asking about it. Is it in other translations? (as aan AmE speaker I actually haven't heard that idiom)
– Mitch
May 28 at 0:51
1
1
hermeneutics.stackexchange.com
– Hot Licks
May 27 at 22:08
hermeneutics.stackexchange.com
– Hot Licks
May 27 at 22:08
2
2
Ordinarily only animals breathe. Blow is more general, and humans and wind can both blow, but blow refers to a volitional action if it has a human subject.
– John Lawler
May 27 at 22:22
Ordinarily only animals breathe. Blow is more general, and humans and wind can both blow, but blow refers to a volitional action if it has a human subject.
– John Lawler
May 27 at 22:22
It is unclear where breath comes in. Is this a matter of judging the translation of Greek into Middle English? It would really help if you have the text in both languages for any question (instead of a picture of the script; unfortunately I find it very difficult to read).
– Mitch
May 27 at 23:37
It is unclear where breath comes in. Is this a matter of judging the translation of Greek into Middle English? It would really help if you have the text in both languages for any question (instead of a picture of the script; unfortunately I find it very difficult to read).
– Mitch
May 27 at 23:37
@Mitch We do, though, say "a breath of wind", particularly in its negative sense "not a breath of wind" to speak about very gentle breezes.
– BoldBen
May 27 at 23:50
@Mitch We do, though, say "a breath of wind", particularly in its negative sense "not a breath of wind" to speak about very gentle breezes.
– BoldBen
May 27 at 23:50
@BoldBen Sure, the two words have something to do with each other, but there's nothing in the KJV or quote that refers to breath at all, so I'm wondering what the motivation is for asking about it. Is it in other translations? (as aan AmE speaker I actually haven't heard that idiom)
– Mitch
May 28 at 0:51
@BoldBen Sure, the two words have something to do with each other, but there's nothing in the KJV or quote that refers to breath at all, so I'm wondering what the motivation is for asking about it. Is it in other translations? (as aan AmE speaker I actually haven't heard that idiom)
– Mitch
May 28 at 0:51
|
show 2 more comments
1 Answer
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Both the Greek word πνευμα (pnevma, from which the English word "pneumatic" is derived, meaning "operated by pressured air") and the Hebrew word "רוח" can mean "wind" and "spirit."
The Greek original goes like this:
τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις ἀλλ' οὐκ οἶδας
πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει· οὕτως ἐστὶν πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ
πνεύματος
Note that the words "πνεῦμα" (pnev-ma, wind) and "πνεῖ" (pney, to blow) have the same root. "The wind wyndeth."
There is no verb form of "wind" (as a natural phenomenon) in the English language. It is therefore up to the translator to substitute any word that fits the meaning. Both "breathe" and "blow" are good, although technically "blow" is better, because "breathe" may be needlessly poetic.
answered May 27 at 22:47
RickyRicky
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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Both the Greek word πνευμα (pnevma, from which the English word "pneumatic" is derived, meaning "operated by pressured air") and the Hebrew word "רוח" can mean "wind" and "spirit."
The Greek original goes like this:
τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις ἀλλ' οὐκ οἶδας
πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει· οὕτως ἐστὶν πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ
πνεύματος
Note that the words "πνεῦμα" (pnev-ma, wind) and "πνεῖ" (pney, to blow) have the same root. "The wind wyndeth."
There is no verb form of "wind" (as a natural phenomenon) in the English language. It is therefore up to the translator to substitute any word that fits the meaning. Both "breathe" and "blow" are good, although technically "blow" is better, because "breathe" may be needlessly poetic.
answered May 27 at 22:47
RickyRicky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
add a comment
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Both the Greek word πνευμα (pnevma, from which the English word "pneumatic" is derived, meaning "operated by pressured air") and the Hebrew word "רוח" can mean "wind" and "spirit."
The Greek original goes like this:
τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις ἀλλ' οὐκ οἶδας
πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει· οὕτως ἐστὶν πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ
πνεύματος
Note that the words "πνεῦμα" (pnev-ma, wind) and "πνεῖ" (pney, to blow) have the same root. "The wind wyndeth."
There is no verb form of "wind" (as a natural phenomenon) in the English language. It is therefore up to the translator to substitute any word that fits the meaning. Both "breathe" and "blow" are good, although technically "blow" is better, because "breathe" may be needlessly poetic.
answered May 27 at 22:47
RickyRicky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
add a comment
|
Both the Greek word πνευμα (pnevma, from which the English word "pneumatic" is derived, meaning "operated by pressured air") and the Hebrew word "רוח" can mean "wind" and "spirit."
The Greek original goes like this:
τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις ἀλλ' οὐκ οἶδας
πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει· οὕτως ἐστὶν πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ
πνεύματος
Note that the words "πνεῦμα" (pnev-ma, wind) and "πνεῖ" (pney, to blow) have the same root. "The wind wyndeth."
There is no verb form of "wind" (as a natural phenomenon) in the English language. It is therefore up to the translator to substitute any word that fits the meaning. Both "breathe" and "blow" are good, although technically "blow" is better, because "breathe" may be needlessly poetic.
answered May 27 at 22:47
RickyRicky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
Both the Greek word πνευμα (pnevma, from which the English word "pneumatic" is derived, meaning "operated by pressured air") and the Hebrew word "רוח" can mean "wind" and "spirit."
The Greek original goes like this:
τὸ πνεῦμα ὅπου θέλει πνεῖ καὶ τὴν φωνὴν αὐτοῦ ἀκούεις ἀλλ' οὐκ οἶδας
πόθεν ἔρχεται καὶ ποῦ ὑπάγει· οὕτως ἐστὶν πᾶς ὁ γεγεννημένος ἐκ τοῦ
πνεύματος
Note that the words "πνεῦμα" (pnev-ma, wind) and "πνεῖ" (pney, to blow) have the same root. "The wind wyndeth."
There is no verb form of "wind" (as a natural phenomenon) in the English language. It is therefore up to the translator to substitute any word that fits the meaning. Both "breathe" and "blow" are good, although technically "blow" is better, because "breathe" may be needlessly poetic.
answered May 27 at 22:47
RickyRicky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
answered May 27 at 22:47
RickyRicky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
answered May 27 at 22:47
RickyRicky
14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
answered May 27 at 22:47
RickyRicky
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14.7k5 gold badges37 silver badges83 bronze badges
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1
hermeneutics.stackexchange.com
– Hot Licks
May 27 at 22:08
2
Ordinarily only animals breathe. Blow is more general, and humans and wind can both blow, but blow refers to a volitional action if it has a human subject.
– John Lawler
May 27 at 22:22
It is unclear where breath comes in. Is this a matter of judging the translation of Greek into Middle English? It would really help if you have the text in both languages for any question (instead of a picture of the script; unfortunately I find it very difficult to read).
– Mitch
May 27 at 23:37
@Mitch We do, though, say "a breath of wind", particularly in its negative sense "not a breath of wind" to speak about very gentle breezes.
– BoldBen
May 27 at 23:50
@BoldBen Sure, the two words have something to do with each other, but there's nothing in the KJV or quote that refers to breath at all, so I'm wondering what the motivation is for asking about it. Is it in other translations? (as aan AmE speaker I actually haven't heard that idiom)
– Mitch
May 28 at 0:51