How would you like a big breath from a windbag?

What would it sound like?

How might you describe it?

The KJV (King James Version) word for "sound" is the modern Greek word "ήχος" (EE-khos) ≈ "sound, echo, voice" and is the source of English words such as "echo", "acoustic", etc.

In the few times that the word appears in the LXX (Septuagint) and GNT (Greek New Testament), it often means an intelligible sound as opposed to just "noise" as there are other Greek words used for "noise" that is unintelligible or that is meaningless. Those words are left as a future topic.

The modern Greek changes the GNT "sound" (intelligible) to "fame", perhaps influenced by the translations of the Middle Ages.This is a word topic for another time.

At the end of the verse, the modern Greek changes the LXX "light" to "wind", perhaps a better translation of the Hebrew.

Keep the connection of "sound" and "voice" (as intelligible sound) in mind as we move to "wind" and "breath".

The modern Greek word "πνοή" (pno-EE) ≈ "breath" both in ancient and modern times.

The word is onomatopoeic in that it sounds like what it means. Try saying "pno-ee" without making a breathy sound.

Note that "wind" is the last definition, not in ancient Greek dictionaries, but a required definition in order to translated Acts 2:2 using "wind".

An English word from this Greek word is "apnea" as in "not breathing".

A common sleeping problem is "sleep apnea" - when one stops breathing (for a moment or so) while sleeping.

A English word from this Greek word is "pneumonia" (lung disease).

The modern Greek word "πνεύμονος" (PNEV-mo-nos) ≈ "lung" appears in the LXX.

The KJV is not very clear here.

The Luther German word "panzer" ≈ "shield, armor" would become known 400 years later as the name for German tanks in World War II.

The Latin word "pulmonem" ≈ "lung" is the origin of the English word "pulmonary".

Back to Acts 2:2 and the great "breath" or "wind". The modern Greek version uses the modern Greek word "άνεμος" (A-neh-mos) ≈ "wind" which has not changed since ancient times.

Why might the modern Greek follow the translations from the Middle Ages?

In English, in terms of exercise, one talks of "wind" as "breath" and, when tired, one might say that they are "winded".

Note: In exercise terms, the primary problem (given normal air) is in getting carbon dioxide out rather than getting oxygen in (in the breathing process).

The Latin word "spiritus" ≈ "breath, spirit" from the Latin word "spiro" ≈ "I breathe, blow, exhale" as in the famous plane the "Spirit of St. Louis".

The French word "esprit de corps" ≈ "moral of a group". The same change happened in Slavic languages.

The Old Church Slavonic word used here is "дыханию" ≈ "breath, breathing".

The modern Russian word used here is "ветра" (ve-ter) ≈ "wind" and is related to the English word "weather". Why the change? Why might the concept of "breath" be changed to "wind" in the Middle Ages?

What other verses might use this word? Let us investigate.

Before a translation should be made to a different word than used, one should check to see if that author knew about the other word that was available.

In this case, Luke wrote Luke and Acts. Luke had the Greek word for "wind" (as used in the modern Greek version) but did not use that word in Acts 2:2.

That Greek word for "wind" appears in the following as written by Luke, in the context of Paul's ship journey that ended in a shipwreck (probably loud winds).

• Acts 27:4
• Acts 27:7
• Acts 27:14

Luke used this Greek word for "wind" four times in Luke (omitted).

The Hebrew word "נשמת" (nish-mat) ≈ "breath" The Hebrew word "חיים" (chay-yim) ≈ "life"

Note that the Russian and Middle English did not change the same word to wind here, just in Acts 2:2.

And the modern Greek did not change the original Greek of the LXX.

The breath of God gave life to the first man. Did the breath of God give something special to those in the room in Acts 2:2?

Many perished in the flood of Noah. Only eight souls were saved.

The Hebrew word used here is "רוח" (ru-ach) ≈ "spirit, breath of life".

In the LXX in Job, the word «πνοή» is used for an utterance.

The Latin word "halitus" ≈ "breath, exaltation" which is the beginning of the English word "halitosis" (Joseph Howe, 1874) with the ending from the modern Greek word "νόσος" (NO-sos) ≈ "disease".

There are many more uses of this word for "breath" in Job. (omitted)

How would you like a big breath from a wind bag?

It appears that describing the breath of God, in the beginning or at Pentecost, as from a wind bag, or as a big wind, might not be appropriate.

Discussion question: Why might Acts 2:2 not have been translated as a great breath and instead as a great wind?