נָ֑פֶשׁ

Alphabet Analysis

The word

1. word🔊 נָ֑פֶשׁ

   NA-fesh

   fatally {life}
2. phraseyour reading level🔊 וְהִכָּ֣הוּ נָ֑פֶשׁ

   ve-hi-ka-HU NA-fesh

   and strikes him fatally {life}
3. clause🔊 פֶּן־יִרְדֹּף֩ גֹּאֵ֨ל הַדָּ֜ם אַחֲרֵ֣י הָרֹצֵ֗חַ כִּי־יֵחַם֮ לְבָבוֹ֒ וְהִשִּׂיג֛וֹ כִּֽי־יִרְבֶּ֥ה הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ וְהִכָּ֣הוּ נָ֑פֶשׁ

   pen-YIR-dof go-EL ha-DAM a-kha-REI ha-ro-TSE-akh ki-ye-KHAM le-va-VO ve-his-SI-go ki-yir-BEH ha-DE-rekh ve-hi-ka-HU NA-fesh

   lest he pursue the avenger of blood after the manslayer because becomes hot his heart and he overtakes him because is long the way and strikes him fatally {life}
4. sentence🔊 פֶּן־יִרְדֹּף֩ גֹּאֵ֨ל הַדָּ֜ם אַחֲרֵ֣י הָרֹצֵ֗חַ כִּי־יֵחַם֮ לְבָבוֹ֒ וְהִשִּׂיג֛וֹ כִּֽי־יִרְבֶּ֥ה הַדֶּ֖רֶךְ וְהִכָּ֣הוּ נָ֑פֶשׁ וְלוֹ֙ אֵ֣ין מִשְׁפַּט־מָ֔וֶת כִּ֠י לֹ֣א שֹׂנֵ֥א ה֛וּא ל֖וֹ מִתְּמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֽׁוֹם׃

   pen-YIR-dof go-EL ha-DAM a-kha-REI ha-ro-TSE-akh ki-ye-KHAM le-va-VO ve-his-SI-go ki-yir-BEH ha-DE-rekh ve-hi-ka-HU NA-fesh ve-LO EIN mish-PAT-MA-vet KI LO so-NE HU LO mit-moL shil-SHOM

   lest he pursue the avenger of blood after the manslayer because becomes hot his heart and he overtakes him because is long the way and strikes him fatally {life} though to him there is not judgment of death for not did he hate he him from yesterday the day before

Exegesis

Vehikahu nefesh {וְהִכָּהוּ נָפֶשׁ | wə-ḥiḵ-ḵā-hû nā-pheś} indicates deadly retribution, while ve-lo ʾên mishpat-mavet {וְלוֹ אֵין מִשְׁפַּט־מָוֶת | wə-lō ʾên miš-pāṭ-mā-wet} asserts exemption from capital judgment.

Root and etymology

Root🔊 נ־פ־שׁnun–pe–shin

“soul, life essence”

• 🔊 נָפַשׁnā-pāshto breathe, recoverExodus 23:12
• 🔊 נֶפֶשׁnĕ-pheśpersonGenesis 2:7