Nose, Nostrils
Nose, Nostrils
NOSE, NOSTRILS (aph is the usual word; nchrm only in Job 41:20; nachar in Job 39:20, AV [Note: Authorized Version.] nostrils, RV [Note: Revised Version.] , correctly, snorting).To have a flat, or more probably slit nose (Lev 21:16), disqualified a man for the making of offerings. The nose is the organ of the breath by which men live (Gen 2:7 etc.). The breath is easily stopped or expelled, hence the fact signifies the transiency of human life (Isa 2:22). Excited breathing, with distention of the nostrils when moved by indignation, led to the nose being used fig. for anger (Gen 27:45, and very often), Eze 8:17 refers to the custom of putting a twig to the nose, apparently in idolatrous worship, the significance of which is now obscure. For nose-ring, see Ornaments, 2.
W. Ewing.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Nose, Nostrils
noz, nostrilz (, ‘aph, nose, , nehrayim, dual of , nehr, 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 (Gen 2:7; compare Gen 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? (Isa 2:22; compare The Wisdom of Solomon 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 (Exo 15:8; 2Sa 22:9; Psa 18:8, Psa 18:15).
The phrase, a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day (Isa 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 in Eze 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 (2Ki 19:28; Isa 37:29; compare Eze 29:4; Eze 38:4). But men, and especially women, had their noses pierced for the wearing of jewelry (Gen 24:47; Isa 3:21; Eze 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 (Lev 21:18), where English Versions of the Bible translates flat (margin slit) nose. The Hebrew word is , harum, which is a hapax legomenon. It corresponds, however, to the Arabic root haram, harman (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 (Eze 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 (barecma) 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 in Isa 57:8. In that case the , ‘appam, their nose of the Massoretic Text would have to be considered as tikkun sopherm (a correction of the scribes) for , ‘app, my face. Or read They cause their stench (zemoratham) to come up to my face (Kraetzschmar, at the place). See BRANCH.