pu.ach describes the issuing of speech in witness sayings and the movement of day or wind in poetic lines.

The clearest recurring use concerns speech issuing from a witness, especially the utterance of lies; poetic passages also use the verb for the day and wind in movement. Several other occurrences are less readily isolated from the translation, so they do not establish an additional distinct use.

1. Uttering testimony, especially lies · dominant

   In Proverbs 14:5 the Hiphil imperfect occurs of a deceptive witness in the clause the APB renders “breathes out lies”; Proverbs 6:19 likewise places it with a false witness and lies. Proverbs 12:17 contrasts one who “breathes faithfulness” with a deceitful witness, while Proverbs 14:25, Proverbs 19:5, and Proverbs 19:9 continue the witness-and-lies setting.

   Proverbs 14:5Proverbs 6:19Proverbs 12:17Proverbs 14:25Proverbs 19:5Proverbs 19:9
2. Movement or blowing in poetic imagery · occasional

   Song of Songs 2:17 and Song of Songs 4:6 use the Qal imperfect in the repeated clause that the APB renders “Until the day breathes and the shadows flee.” In Song of Songs 4:16, the Hiphil imperative addresses the north and south winds; the APB renders the surrounding command “blow upon my garden.”

   Song of Songs 2:17Song of Songs 4:6Song of Songs 4:16

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB renders the witness clauses with “breathes,” “breathes out,” or “utters” in Proverbs 12:17, Proverbs 14:5, Proverbs 14:25, Proverbs 19:5, Proverbs 19:9, and Proverbs 6:19; it renders the poetic clauses with “the day breathes” and “blow.” Its wording does not isolate the term in every occurrence.