2 Samuel 22:16

22:16 The depths ¹  of the sea were exposed;

the inner regions ²  of the world were uncovered

by the Lord’s battle cry, ³ 

by the powerful breath from his nose. ⁴ 

2 Samuel 22:2

22:2 He said:

“The Lord is my high ridge, ⁵  my stronghold, ⁶  my deliverer.

2 Samuel 19:7

19:7 So get up now and go out and give some encouragement to ⁷  your servants. For I swear by the Lord that if you don’t go out there, not a single man will stay here with you tonight! This disaster will be worse for you than any disaster that has overtaken you from your youth right to the present time!”

Isaiah 40:7

40:7 The grass dries up,

the flowers wither,

when the wind sent by the Lord ⁸  blows on them.

Surely humanity ⁹  is like grass.

Malachi 2:2

2:2 If you do not listen and take seriously ¹⁰  the need to honor my name,” says the Lord who rules over all, “I will send judgment ¹¹  on you and turn your blessings into curses – indeed, I have already done so because you are not taking it to heart.

¹ tn Or “channels.”

² tn Or “foundations.”

³ tn The noun is derived from the verb גָעַר (nag’ar) which is often understood to mean “rebuke.” In some cases it is apparent that scolding or threatening is in view (see Gen 37:10; Ruth 2:16; Zech 3:2). However, in militaristic contexts this translation is inadequate, for the verb refers in this setting to the warrior’s battle cry, which terrifies and paralyzes the enemy. See A. Caquot, TDOT 3:53, and note the use of the verb in Pss 68:30; 106:9; and Nah 1:4, as well as the related noun in Job 26:11; Pss 9:5; 76:6; 104:7; Isa 50:2; 51:20; 66:15.

⁴ tn Heb “blast of the breath” (literally, “breath of breath”) employs an appositional genitive. Synonyms are joined in a construct relationship to emphasize the single idea. For a detailed discussion of the grammatical point with numerous examples, see Y. Avishur, “Pairs of Synonymous Words in the Construct State (and in Appositional Hendiadys) in Biblical Hebrew,” Semitics 2 (1971): 17-81.

⁵ tn Traditionally “is my rock”; CEV “mighty rock”; TEV “is my protector.” This metaphor pictures God as a rocky, relatively inaccessible summit, where one would be able to find protection from enemies. See 1 Sam 23:25, 28.

⁶ tn Traditionally “my fortress”; TEV “my strong fortress”; NCV “my protection.”

⁷ tn Heb “and speak to the heart of.”

⁸ tn The Hebrew text has רוּחַ יְהוָה (ruakh yehvah), which in this context probably does not refer to the Lord’s personal Spirit. The phrase is better translated “the breath of the Lord,” or “the wind of [i.e., sent by] the Lord.” The Lord’s sovereign control over nature, including the hot desert winds that dry up vegetation, is in view here (cf. Ps 147:18; Isa 59:19).

⁹ tn Heb “the people” (so KJV, ASV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV).

¹⁰ tn Heb “and if you do not place upon [the] heart”; KJV, NAB, NRSV “lay it to heart.”

¹¹ tn Heb “the curse” (so NASB, NRSV); NLT “a terrible curse.”