STRONGS NUMBER H7307


Word Summary
ruach: breath, wind, spirit
Original Word: רוּחַ
Transliteration: ruach
Phonetic Spelling: (roo'-akh)
Part of Speech: Noun Feminine
Short Definition: breath, wind, spirit
Meaning: wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit
Strong's Concordance
air, anger, blast, breath, cool, courage, mind, quarter,

From ruwach; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. A sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions) -- air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit((-ual)), tempest, X vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).

see HEBREW ruwach

Brown-Driver-Briggs

H7307. ruach

רוּחַ378 noun feminineGenesis 41:8 (less often masculineExodus 10:13 +) breath, wind, spirit; — absolute ׳רGenesis 8:1 +, ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23; construct רוּחַGenesis 6:17 +; suffix רוּחִי6:3 +, רוּחֲךָPsalm 104:30 +, etc.; plural רוּחוֺת104:4 +, רֻחוֺתJeremiah 49:36, רוּחֹתNumbers 16:22; 26:16 (see Brרוח‎ in O.T., JBL xix (1900), 132 ff., full statement of all passages); —

1 breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.):

a. מִּיו רוּחַJob 15:30 breath of his mouth, compare 19:17; אַמֵּינוּ רוּחַLamentations 4:20 (figurative of king), of idols בָּם רוּחַ לֹאJeremiah 10:14 = 51:17, Habakkuk 2:19; Psalm 135:17; compare Job 9:18.

b. as mere breath: compare 2e. דִּבְרֵירֿוּחַJob 16:3 i.e. windy words; אִמְרֵי לְרוּחַ נוֺאָשׁ6:26, לְרוּחַ יִהְיוּ הַנְּבִיאִיםJeremiah 5:13.

c. as word of command: (1) of God: צְבָאָם כָּלֿ מִּיו בְּרוּחַ (נעשׂו)Psalm 33:6, compare Isaiah 34:16 ("" מֶּה‎); (2) of Messianic king: רָשָׁע יָמִית שְׂפָתָיו בְּרוּחַ11:4.

d. as hard breathing through the nostrils in anger: (1) of God: יִכְלוּ אַמּוֺ מֵרוּחJob 4:9; Exodus 15:8 (poem), 2 Samuel 22:16 = Psalm 18:16; Isaiah 30:28; 59:19; (2) of man: עָרִיצִים רוּחַ25:4.

e. as sign and symbol of life: חַיִּים רוּחַbreath of life Genesis 6:17; 7:15 (P); בְּאַמָּיו חַיִּים רוּחַ נִשְׁמַת7:22 (P); Ezekiel 37:5, compare 37:6; 37:8; 37:9; 37:9; 37:9; 37:10; 37:14 (breath or spirit), Ecclesiastes 3:19.

2 wind (117 t.):

a. wind of heaven: Genesis 8:1 (P) Exodus 15:10 (E) Numbers 11:31 (J) 1 Kings 18:45 +, Jeremiah 10:13, thence 51:16; Psalm 135:7; י ׳רוּחַHosea 13:15; Isaiah 40:7, compare Job 26:13 (Di Bu); (ה)קָדִים רוּחַeast wind Exodus 10:13 (twice in verse); 14:21 (J) Psalm 48:8; Jeremiah 18:17; Ezekiel 17:10; 19:12; 27:26; Jonah 4:8; ׳ר צָפוֺןnorth wind Proverbs 25:23; ׳ר יָםsea wind (west wind) Exodus 10:19 (J); . ׳ר הַיּוֺםday wind, evening wind Genesis 3:8 (J; compare Song of Solomon 2:17; 4:6); רוּחוֺת אַרְבַּעfour winds Jeremiah 49:36; Ezekiel 37:9 (quarters?) Daniel 8:8; 11:4 (figurative quarters; compare

b), Zechariah 2:10; 6:5; סְעְרָה רוּחַstorm wind Psalm 107:25; 148:8; Ezekiel 1:4 (׳ר סְעָרוֺת‎), 13:11, 13; סֹעָה רוּחַrushing wind Psalm 55:9 (read possibly סערה‎ Hup); רוּחוֺ בַּעְיָםIsaiah 11:15 (read ר ׳בְּעֹצֶם‎, see עֹצֶם עֲיָם,‎), etc; wind personified: רוּחַ כַּנְפֵי2 Samuel 22:11 = Psalm 18:11; 104:3, compare Hosea 4:19; Psalm 104:4.

b. quarter (of wind), side: הַקָּדִים רוּחַEzekiel 42:16 east side; הַצָּפוֺן רוּחַ42:17 north side; הַדָּרוֺם רוּחַ42:18 south side; הַיָּם רוּחַ42:19 west side; רוּחוֺת אַרְבַּע42:20; 1 Chronicles 9:24 four sides; ר֑וּחָהJeremiah 52:23 on the sides.

c. breath of air: כַּתַּנִּים רוּחַ שָׁאֲפוּJeremiah 14:6; בֵּינֵיהֶם יָבֹא לֹא רוּחַJob 41:8.

d. air, gas, from womb (dubious): רוּחַ יָלַדְנוּ כְּמוֺIsaiah 26:18 (Di, e); תֹּאכַלְכֶם אֵשׁ רוּחֲכֶם‎ (RV breath) 33:11 (Du, 3c).

e. vain, empty thing: רוּחַיָּי֑Job 7:7 my life is wind; רוּחַ דַּעַת15:2; נִסְכֵּיהֶם וָתֹהוּ רוּחַIsaiah 41:29; רוּחַ רְעוּתstriving for wind Ecclesiastes 1:14; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6; 6:9; compare 1:17; 4:16; 5:15.

3 spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.; so, distinctively, as compared with נֶפֶשׁ‎ and לֵבָב‎):

a. spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour: רוּחַ עוֺד בָהּ הָיָה לֹא1 Kings 10:5 2 Chronicles 9:4; סָרָה רוּחֲךָ מַהזֶּֿה1 Kings 21:5; רוּחַ וַתְּחִיGenesis 45:27 (E); רוּחוֺ וַתָּשָׁבJudges 15:19; 1 Samuel 30:12.

b. courage: ר עוֺד בָם הָיָה ׳לֹאJoshua 5:1; ר ׳יִבְצֹר נְגִידִים‎ Psalm 76:13; ר ׳וְנָָֽבְקָה מִצְרַיִםIsaiah 19:3; רוּחִי תתעטּףPsalm 77:4; 142:4; 143:4; ר ׳עוֺד קָמָה לֹאJoshua 2:11; ׳ר מַחֲלֵהוּ יְכַלְכֵּל אִישׁProverbs 18:14.

c. temper, especially anger: וגו בֵּין רָעָה ׳רוּחַJudges 9:23; רוּחָם רָֽפְתָה אָז8:3; בְּרוּחוֺ משֵׁלProverbs 16:32, compare 25:28; 29:11; Job 15:13; אֶתרֿוּחִי הֵנִיחוּZechariah 6:8; Ecclesiastes 7:9; 10:4.

d. impatience or patience: רוּחַ קֹצֶרExodus 6:9 (P) impatience, hastiness of temper, compare (of ׳י‎) Micah 2:7; קְצַררֿוּחַProverbs 14:29 ("" אַפַיִם אֶרֶךְ‎); בִּטְנִי רוּחַ הֱצִיקַתְנִיJob 32:18 (Du breath; Di Bu divine spirit, compare 32:8); רוּחִי לֹאתִֿקְצַר מַדּוּעַ אִם21:4; י רוּחַ ׳הֲקָצַרMicah 2:7; ר ׳אֶרֶךְEcclesiastes 7:8.

e. spirit, disposition, as troubled, bitter, or discontented; רוּח(וׅ וַתִּמָּעֶם‎ (his) spirit was troubled Genesis 41:8 (E) Daniel 2:3, compare 2:1; רוּחַ מֹרַתGenesis 26:35 (P) bitterness of spirit; ר ׳עֲצוּבַתIsaiah 54:6, compare Ezekiel 3:14; Job 6:4.

f. as crushed: כָלרֿוּחַ וְכִהֲתָהEzekiel 21:12, compare Isaiah 61:3; Proverbs 15:4, 13; 17:22; 18:14; Psalm 143:7.

g. disposition of various kinds, often unaccountable and uncontrollable impulse: אֶתרֿוּחַ הֵעִיר1 Chronicles 5:26 (twice in verse); 2 Chronicles 21:16; 36:22; Ezra 1:1, 5; Jeremiah 51:11; Haggai 1:14 (3 t. in verse); רוּח בּוֺ נ(וֺ)תֵן הִנְנִי2 Kings 19:7 = Isaiah 37:7; Numbers 14:24 (J; see עִם4b), Malachi 2:15 (twice in verse); 2:16; Deuteronomy 2:30; קִנְאָה רוּחַjealous disposition Numbers 5:14 (twice in verse); 5:30 (P); וְנוּנִים רוּחַHosea 4:12; 5:4; עִוְעִים רוּחַIsaiah 19:14; מִשְׁמָּט רוּחַ28:6; בּוֺ אֱלהִֹרם רוּחַ אֲשֶׁר אִישׁ‎ (administrative) Genesis 41:38 (E); הְּבוּנָה אִישׁ רוּחַ קַרProverbs 17:27.

h. prophetic spirit: בּזֹ רוּחַ אֲשֶׁרֿ אִישׁ יְהוֺשֻׁעַNumbers 27:18 (P; or

g, as Genesis 41:38); עַלאֱֿלִישָׁע אֵלִיָּהוּ רוּחַ2 Kings 2:15, compare 2:9; תַּרְדֵמָה רוּחַspirit of deep sleep (ecstatic, compare Genesis 2:21; 15:12, but Di and others

g, as Isaiah 19:14) 29:10; Micah 2:11; הַטֻמְאָה רוּחַZechariah 13:2 (of lying prophets), compare Ezekiel 13:3.

4 spirit of the living, breathing being, dwelling in the בָּשָׂר‎ of men and animals, "" נֶפֶשׁ‎ (25 t.):

a. gift and creation of God: בְּקִרְבּוֺ אָדָם רוּחַ יֹצֵרZechariah 12:1; בְּאַמִּי אֱלוֺהַּ רוּחַJob 27:3, compare Isaiah 42:5.

b. God preserves it: רוּחִי שָֽׁמְרָה מְּקֻדָּֽתְךָJob 10:12, compare 12:10; בָּשָׂ֑ר לְכָל הָרוּחֹת אֱלֹהֵיNumbers 16:22; 27:16 (P); רוּחוֺת תֹּכֵןProverbs 16:2.

c. it is therefore God's spirit: Genesis 6:3 (J; see דִּין‎ near the end).

d. it departs at death: Psalm 78:39 (Dr a wind that passeth away 2e); רוּחִי חַיֵּיIsaiah 38:16 (Di principle of life), Psalm 146:4; especially 104:29; 104:30; Job 17:1; 34:14 (compare 34:15), Isaiah 57:16; Ecclesiastes 8:8 (twice in verse) (wind Wild); הָרוּחַ מַהדֶּֿרֶךְ יוֺדֵעַ אֵינְךָ11:5, compare 3:21; over ag. נְתָנָהּ אֲשֶׁר אֶלהָֿאֱלֹהִים תָּשׁוּב הָרוּחַ12:7; רוּחִי אַפְקִיד בְּיָָֽדְךָPsalm 31:6.

e. disembodied being (dubious, Di Du breath of wind): יַחֲלֹף עַלמָּֿנַי וְרוּחַJob 4:15.

5 spirit as seat of emotion = נֶפֶשׁ‎:

a. desire (possibly 3g), Isaiah 26:9 ("" נֶפֶשׁ‎).

b. sorrow, trouble (probably 3e), Job 7:11 ("" נֶפֶשׁ‎). — 1 Samuel 1:15 see קָשֶׁה‎.

6 occasionally, (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts, "" לֵב‎, or synonym with it: חָכְמָה רוּחַExodus 28:3; Deuteronomy 34:9 (both P; probably 3g); רוּחַ תּעֵיIsaiah 29:24, compare Job 20:3 (Hi Bu Du wind of Job's words), Psalm 77:7 (ᵐ5‎ Symm ᵑ6‎ Jerome troubled disposition); יהוה רוּחַIsaiah 40:13; come into mind Ezekiel 11:5, 20:32 (compare לֵבIsaiah 65:17; Jeremiah 3:16 +); 1 Chronicles 28:12.

7 rarely of the will; also = לֵב נָכוֺן רוּחַPsalm 51:12 (= נָכוֺן לֵב57:8 (twice in verse) +); נְדִיבָה רוּחַ51:14; רוּחוֺ נָָֽדְבָהExodus 35:21 (P; compare לֵב נְדִיב35:5, 22 (P) 2 Chronicles 29:31).

8 רוּחַ‎ especially of moral character; also = חֲדָשָׁה רוּחַ ׃לֵבEzekiel 11:19; 18:31; 36:26; רוּחִי36:27; Isaiah 59:21 (רוּחִי‎, "" דְּבָרַי‎; but probably prophetic spirit

9b); חָדָשׁ לֵבEzekiel 18:31; 36:26; רוּחַ נְכֵהIsaiah 66:2; רוּחַ דַּכְּאֵיPsalm 34:19 (compare נִדְכָּאִים לֵבIsaiah 57:15); רוּחַ מִשֵּׁבֶר65:14 (compare 3f); נִשְׁבָּרֶה רוּחַPsalm 51:19 ("" נִשְׁבָּר לֵב‎, compare לֵב נִשְׁבְּרֵי34:19; Isaiah 61:1); Psalm 32:2; Proverbs 11:13; 16:18; Psalm 78:8; Ecclesiastes 7:8 (compare גְּבַהּלֵבProverbs 16:5); רוּחַ שְׁפַל16:19; 29:23; Isaiah 57:15; שְׁפָלִים רוּחַ57:15 (compare 3f).

9 spirit of God (94 t.; not D or Jeremiah or any Deuteronomic writer; conception of its activity in inspiring prophecy probably discredited from abuse by false prophets, see נבא נביא,‎):

a. as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy, Numbers 11:17, 25 (twice in verse); 11:26, 29 (J), 1 Samuel 10:6, 10 (compare 10:5), 19:20, 23; as inciting to deeds of frenzy, in the ecstatic state; hence conceived as ׳ר רָעָה אֱלֹהִים16:15 (twice in verse); 16:16, = ׳ר י מֵאֵת ׳רָעָה16:14 = ר ׳צלח ׳א רָעָה18:10 (other narrative) = ׳ר ׳י רָעָה19:9; ׳ר ׳א16:23 = הָרָעָה רוּחַ16:23, compare הָרוּחַ1 Kings 22:21 = ׳ר שֶׁקֶר22:22; 22:23 2 Chronicles 18:20-21, 22 = י ׳רוּחַ1 Kings 22:24 2 Chronicles 18:23; compare also (in earlier prophets) הָרוּחַ אִישׁ‎, i.e. one possessed by the spirit in the ecstatic state, "" הַנָּבִּיאHosea 9:7; י ׳רוּחַMicah 3:8 ("" בֹּחַ‎) is probably gloss (We Now); רוּחִי וְלֹאIsaiah 30:1; רוּחַ‎ dealing with Ezek.: Ezekiel 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 8:3; 11:1, 5, 24 (Co gloss), 37:1; 43:5 (all implying ecstatic state of vision), compare Elijah 1 Kings 18:12; 2 Kings 2:16.

b. spirit as impelling prophets to utter instruction or warning (higher and later conception): transition probably Numbers 24:2; 2 Samuel 23:2; 1 Chronicles 12:18; elsewhere in Chronicles: 2 Chronicles 15:1; 20:14; 24:20; distinctly in Isa2, Isaiah 48:16, compare 61:1; so of ancient prophets, Zechariah 7:12; Nehemiah 9:30; compare, of future prophetic gift, Joel 3:1; 3:2.

c. imparting warlike energy, and executive and administrative power: (1) to מְלָכִים מוֺשִׁיעִים, שֹׁפְטִים,‎, of ancient Israel: ׳י על רוּחַ וַתְּהִיJudges 3:10; 11:29, compare 6:34; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 Samuel 11:6; 16:13-14, so also מִמָּרוֺם רוּחַ עָלֵינוּ יֵעָרֶה עַדIsaiah 32:15; (2) resting upon Messianic king: 11:2 (3 t. in verse); upon servant of ׳י‎, 42:1.

d. late, as endowing men with various gifts: technical skill Exodus 31:3; 35:31 (P); understanding Job 32:8 ("" שַׁדַּי נִשְׁמַת‎); poured out by divine wisdom Proverbs 1:23.

e. as energy of life: הַמָּ֑יִם עַלמְּֿנֵי מְרַחֶפֶת אֱלֹהִים רוּחַGenesis 1:2 (P); עָשָׂ֑תְנִי אֵל רוּחַJob 33:4 ("" שַׁדַּי נִשְׁמַת‎); as vital power, opposed to בָשָׂר‎: Isaiah 31:3; in cherubic chariot: Ezekiel 1:12, compare 1:20; 1:21; 10:17; reviving Israel 39:29; Zechariah 12:10; Isaiah 44:3.

f. = ancient angel of the presence and later Shekina: ׳ר קָדְשׁוֺIsaiah 63:10-11, = ׳ר ׳י63:14 (= מָּנָיו מַלְאַךְ63:9), compare Psalm 106:33; so also ׳ר קָדְשְׁךָ51:13 (in national prayer), compare Nehemiah 9:20; Psalm 143:10; prophets of restoration conceive of the divine spirit as standing in their midst and about to fulfil all divine promises: בְּתוֺכֲכֶם עֹמֶדֶת רוּחִיHaggai 2:5; Zechariah 4:6; this conception culminates in רוּחַ‎ = divine Presence, and as such omnipresent, Psalm 139:7 ("" מָּנֶיךָ‎; compare 139:8).

רוח‎ (√ of following; see Biblical Hebrew id., רֵיחַ רוּח,‎).