Proverbs 16:18 — Word Study
WLCלִפְנֵי־ שֶׁ֥בֶר גָּא֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן גֹּ֣בַהּ רֽוּחַ׃
BSAPridegâʼôwn [arrogance, haughty spirit] goes beforepânîym [in the presence of, preceding] destructionsheber [breaking, shattering] and a haughtygôbahh [elevated, lofty] spiritrûwach [breath of life, mind and emotions] beforepânîym [in the face of, prior to] a fallkishshâlôwn△ [stumbling, ruin]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| לִפְנֵי־ | [is] before | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| שֶׁ֥בֶר | breaking | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| גָּא֑וֹן | pride | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| וְלִפְנֵ֥י | and [is] before | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
| כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן | stumbling | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| גֹּ֣בַהּ | haughtiness of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| רֽוּחַ׃ | spirit | Noun common, feminine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. |
| KJV | Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. |
| ASV | Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. |
| YLT | Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.' |
| WEB | Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. |
| BBE | Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall. |
All translations on this page agree on the meanings conveyed in this verse.
The sentence is structured around a main clause with two subordinate phrases detailing the consequences of pride and haughtiness.
7 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectגָּאוֹן
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
1 of 7 occurs nowhere else in the Old Testament — a word chosen on purpose.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Proverbs 16:18
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Wisdom on Pride and Humilitygenerated
Proverbs 16:18 teaches that pride is a precursor to destruction, emphasizing the importance of humility. The surrounding verses (17 and 19) highlight the benefits of guarding one's way and being lowly in spirit, contrasting the fate of the proud with that of the humble.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proverbs 11:2 | When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom. |
| 2 | Proverbs 17:19 | He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction. |
| 3 | Proverbs 18:12 | Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. |
| 4 | Proverbs 29:23 | A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. |
| 5 | Esther 3:5 | When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or pay him homage, he was filled with rage. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 15 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — גָּאֹון, ga.'ongenerated
The word גָּאֹון (*ga'own*) is a noun that signifies pride or haughtiness. It conveys a sense of majesty or elevation, often with negative connotations of arrogance. The parsing indicates it is a masculine singular noun, suggesting a specific, identifiable quality of pride.
This term is built from a root that implies exaltation and can refer to both divine majesty and human arrogance. In this verse, it serves as the subject, indicating that pride is the initiating force that leads to destruction.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations on this page agree that pride leads to destruction and a haughty spirit leads to a fall.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main clause is governed by the finite verb גָּאֹון, pride, which is the subject of the sentence. Two prepositional phrases follow, each introducing a consequence: one for destruction and one for a fall.
The structure emphasizes the cause-and-effect relationship between pride and its resulting downfall, with the Hebrew word order placing the subject at the forefront.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates גָּאֹון as ὕβρις, meaning arrogance or insolence. This choice highlights a narrowing of the concept of pride to a more specific form of hubris, which is often associated with a disregard for divine authority.
This translation reflects an interpretive angle that focuses on the moral implications of pride, aligning with the overall message of the verse.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Proverbs 16:18 warns that pride leads to destruction, while being haughty leads to a fall. This verse teaches that humility is preferable to arrogance, as pride often results in negative consequences.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that having an inflated sense of self-importance can lead to one's downfall or ruin.
A haughty spirit reflects arrogance, which can blind a person to their weaknesses and lead to mistakes that result in failure.
Humility is valued because it fosters awareness of one's limitations and encourages better relationships with others.
Yes, Proverbs 11:2, 17:19, and 29:23 also address the themes of pride and humility, reinforcing their importance in wisdom literature.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what areas of my life do I struggle with pride, and how can I address this?
- How can I cultivate humility in my daily interactions with others?
- What are some examples of how pride has led to negative outcomes in my experiences or those of others?
- How can I encourage humility in my community or among my peers?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early Christian writers referenced this verse to discuss the dangers of pride and the importance of humility in the life of believers.
Do we commend hospitality? Do we admire brotherly love, wifely affection, virginity, feeding the poor, singing psalms, nightlong vigils,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 16 →
“Injury precedes destruction, and an evil thought precedes ruin.” In the same way a house never suddenly collapses except because of some old weakness in the foundation or because of extended disregard by its tenants.Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 16 →
“Loss goes before destruction, and an evil thought before a fall,” just as no house ever falls to the ground by a sudden collapse,Early Church Fathers on Proverbs 16 →
Commentators on this verse — 7 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Proverbs 16:18 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BiblePride [goeth] before destruction,.... As it did in the angels that sinned, who, through pride, fell into condemnation, not being able to bear the thought that the human nature, in the person of the
Read John Gill on Proverbs 16 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryPride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Pride goeth before destruction. In Proverbs 11:2 it is "When pride cometh, then cometh shame." And an haughty spirit before a fall.
Read Robert Jamieson on Proverbs 16 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BiblePride goeth before destruction; it is commonly a forerunner and cause of men’ s ruin, because it highly provokes both God and men.
Read Matthew Poole on Proverbs 16 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsProverbs 16:18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.Ver. 18. Pride goeth before destruction.] A bulging wall is near a downfall. Swelling is a dangerous symptom in the body; so is pride in the soul. Sequitur superbos ultor a tergo Deus. Surely, as the swelling of the spleen is dangerous for health, and of the sails for the overbearing of a little vessel, so is the swelling of the heart by pride. Instances hereof we have in history not a few. Pharaoh, Adonibezek, Agag, Haman, Herod, &c. Xerxes, having covered the seas with his ships, and with two millions of men, and passed over into Greece, was afterwards, by a just hand of God upon him for his prodigious…
Read John Trapp on Proverbs 16 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) Pride goeth before destruction.—In contrast to the blessing promised to humility in Proverbs 15:33.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Proverbs 16 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 18. Pride goeth before destruction] Here pride is personified: it walks along, and has destruction in its train. And a haughty spirit before a fall.] Another personification. A haughty spirit marches on, and ruin comes after. In this verse we find the following Masoretic note in most Hebrew Bibles. חצי הספר chatsi hassepher: "the middle of the book." This verse is the middle verse; and the first clause makes the middle of the words of the book of Proverbs.
Read AdamClarke on Proverbs 16 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible18. Pride… destruction — Better, Before breaking up, splendour! and before ruin, loftiness of spirit!
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Proverbs 16 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Tyndale line
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Pride goeth before destruction, and an high minde before the fall.
Strictly literal
Pride [goeth] before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Before destruction [is] pride, And before stumbling — a haughty spirit.'
Pride [is] before destruction, || And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a downfall.
From the Latin
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
Simplified
Pride leads to destruction; and an arrogant spirit leads to a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint largely agree in their wording, with six of the seven words matching. This consistency indicates a shared understanding of the text's message across these ancient witnesses.
לִפְנֵי־ שֶׁ֥בֶר גָּא֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן גֹּ֣בַהּ רֽוּחַ׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Proverbs 16:18
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
Prep | N-cp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHR/Ncmpc
be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).
שֶׁ֫בֶר (sheber) refers to breaking or fracturing, encompassing meanings like crash, ruin, and destruction. It can also denote the breaking of a dream and its interpretation. The term appears in various contexts, including physical damage and emotional distress.
שֶׁ֫בֶר, שֵׁ֫בֶר n.m. breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
base
H7667 שֶׁ֫בֶר, שֵׁ֫בֶר breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
7667 sheber sheh'-ber
or sheber {shay'-ber}; from 7665; a fracture, figuratively,
ruin; specifically, a solution (of a dream):--affliction,
breach, breaking, broken(-footed, -handed), bruise, crashing,
destruction, hurt, interpretation, vexation.
see HEBREW for 07665
שֶׁ֫בֶר (she.ver) — breaking.
1) breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash, ruin, shattering
1a) breaking, fracture, shattering, crushing
1b) crashing
1c) breaking (of a dream), interpretation
1d) quarries
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
גָּאוֹן (ga'own) refers to exaltation, majesty, and excellence, but can also imply pride in a negative sense. It is derived from the root associated with arrogance and includes connotations of both divine and national majesty, as well as references to the Jordan. The entries consistently highlight these meanings without significant disagreement.
גָּאוֹן n.m. exaltation
exaltation, majesty, excellence
pride (bad sense)
base
H1347 גָּאוֹן exaltation . exaltation, majesty, excellence
. pride (bad sense)
1347 ga'own gaw-ohn'
from 1342; the same as 1346:--arrogancy, excellency(-lent),
majesty, pomp, pride, proud, swelling.
see HEBREW for 01342
see HEBREW for 01346
גָּאוֹן (ga.on) — pride.
1) exaltation, majesty, pride
1a) majesty, exaltation, excellence
1a1) of nations
1a2) of God
1a3) of the Jordan
1b) pride, arrogance (bad sense)
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
→ General scriptures concerning Ex 18:10,11; Le 26:19; De 8:11-14,17-20; Jud 9:14,15; 1Sa 2:3-5; 1Ki 20:11; 2Ki 14:9,10; 2Ch 25:18,19; Job 11:12; 12:2,3; 13:2,5; 15:1-13; 18:3; 21:31,32; 32:9-13; 37:24; Ps 9:20; 10:2-6,11; 12:4; 18:27; 31:23; 49:11; 52:7; 73:6,8,9; 75:4-6; 101:5; 119:21,69,70,78; 138:6;
The Hebrew word פָּנֶה (*pāneh*) is a noun meaning 'face' or 'presence,' and it appears in various contexts, including the faces of seraphim and animals, as well as the surface of the ground. It can also function as an adverb meaning 'before' or 'in front of.' The word is built from a root that suggests turning or facing, and it encompasses a wide range of applications, both literal and figurative.
[פָּנֶה], pl. פָּנִים 2123 n.m. face, also faces
face, faces
presence, person
technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
face of seraphim
face of animals
face (= surface) of ground
as adv.loc. before
for other phrases
with prepositions
base
H6440 פָּנֶה, pl. פָּנִים face, also faces . . face, faces
. . presence, person
. technically, see one's face, i.e. appear before one, in one's presence
. face of seraphim
. face of animals
. face (= surface) of ground
. as adv. loc. before
. for other phrases
. with prepositions
6440 paniym paw-neem'
plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh
{paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns);
used in a great variety of applications (literally and
figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a
preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time),
against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of),
+ beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire,
face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er
time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), +
honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, +
meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on,
open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please,
presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right
forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street,
X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s)
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face: before.
: before/to/front
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from before the face of
פָּנֶה (pa.neh) — face.
: face
1) face
1a) face, faces
1b) presence, person
1c) face (of seraphim or cherubim)
1d) face (of animals)
1e) face, surface (of ground)
1f) as adv of loc/temp
1f1) before and behind, toward, in front of, forward, formerly, from beforetime, before
1g) with prep
1g1) in front of, before, to the front of, in the presence of, in the face of, at the face or front of, from the presence of, from before, from…
Conj | Prep | N-cp — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural constructHC/R/Ncmpc
be-for': The translation of a great variety of Hebrew and Greek words. "Haran died before (the English Revised Version "in the presence of," literally "before the face of") his father Terah" (Ge 11:28). To be "before" God is to enjoy His favor (Ps 31:22). "The Syrians before" (Isa 9:12 the Revised Version, margin "on the east," as "behind," owing to the position of Canaan, relative to Syria, implies the west).
כִּשָּׁלוֹן (kishshalown) refers to a stumbling or a fall, often used figuratively to denote calamity. It is derived from the root word for 'totter' or 'ruin.' The term appears in Proverbs 16:18, highlighting its association with misfortune.
כִּשָּׁלוֹן n.[m.] a stumbling; fig. = calamity Pr 16:18.
done
H3783 כִּשָּׁלוֹן
3783 kishshalown kish-shaw-lone'
from 3782; properly, a tottering, i.e. ruin:--fall.
see HEBREW for 03782
כִּשָּׁלוֹן (kish.sha.lon) — stumbling.
a stumbling, a fall, a calamity
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
גֹּ֫בַהּ (gobahh) refers to height or elevation, encompassing meanings like grandeur and haughtiness. It is derived from a root associated with elation and pride. The term can describe physical height, such as that of buildings or trees, as well as a more abstract sense of exaltation.
גֹּ֫בַהּ n.m. height
height, of buildings and trees
exaltation, grandeur
haughtiness
base
H1363 גֹּ֫בַהּ
1363 gobahh go'-bah
from 1361; elation, grandeur, arrogance:--excellency,
haughty, height, high, loftiness, pride.
see HEBREW for 01361
גֹּ֫בַהּ (go.vah) — height.
1) height, exaltation
1a) height
1b) exaltation, grandeur
1c) haughtiness
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
רוּחַ (ruach) means breath, wind, or spirit. It encompasses various meanings, including the breath of life, emotional disposition, and the spirit of God. The term can refer to both physical phenomena, like wind, and abstract concepts, such as moral character or mental acts. Notably, it is used frequently in the context of divine inspiration and the Holy Spirit.
רוּחַ 378 n.f. (less oft. m.) breath, wind, spirit
breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
wind (117 t.)
spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
spirit of the living, breathing being
spirit as seat of emotion
occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
rarely of the will
רוּחַ esp. of moral character
spirit of God (94 t.)
base
H7307 רוּחַ breath, wind, spirit . breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.)
. wind (117 t.)
. spirit, as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation = temper, disposition (76 t.)
. spirit of the living, breathing being
. spirit as seat of emotion
. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts
. rarely of the will
. רוּחַ esp. of moral character
. spirit of God (94 t.)
7307 ruwach roo'-akh
from 7306; 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 for 07306
רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit.
: spirit
1) wind, breath, mind, spirit
1a) breath
1b) wind
1b1) of heaven
1b2) quarter (of wind), side
1b3) breath of air
1b4) air, gas
1b5) vain, empty thing
1c) spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
1c1) spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
1c2) courage
1c3) temper, anger
1c4) impatience, patience
1c5) spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
1c6) disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
1c7) prophetic spirit
1d) spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
1d1) as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
1e) spirit (as seat of emotion)
1e1) desire
1e2) sorrow, trouble
1f) spirit
1f1) as seat or organ of mental acts
1f2) rarely of the will
1f3) as seat especially of moral character
N-cs — Noun common · feminine singular absoluteHNcfsa
spir'-it (ruach; pneuma; Latin, spiritus):
1. Primary and Figurative Senses
(1) As Wind, Breath
(2) As Anger or Fury
(3) As Mental and Moral Qualities in Man
2. Shades of Meaning
(1) As Life-Principle
(2) As Surviving Death
(3) Spiritual Manifestations
3. Human and Divine Spirit
(1) The Human as Related with the Divine
(2) Operations of the Divine Spirit as Third Person of the Trinity
4. Old Testament Applications
5. Various Interpretations
1. Primary and Figurative Senses:
Spirit
(Heb. ruah; Gr. pneuma), properly wind or breath. In 2 Thess. 2:8 it means “breath,” and in Eccl. 8:8 the vital principle in man. It also denotes the rational, immortal soul by which man is distinguished (Acts 7:59; 1 Cor. 5:5; 6:20; 7:34), and the soul in its separate state (Heb. 12:23), and hence also an apparition (Job 4:15; Luke 24:37, 39), an angel (Heb. 1:14), and a demon (Luke 4:36; 10:20). This…
A word employed in various senses in Scripture.
1. For THE HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who inspired the prophets, animates good men, pours his unction into our hearts, imparts to us life and comfort; and in whose name we are baptized and blessed, as well as in that of the Father and the Son. When the adjective Holy is applied to the term Spirit, we should always understand it as here explained; but there are many places whether it must be taken in this sense, although the term Holy is omitted. See HOLY, HOLINESS SPIRIT.
2. BREATH, respiration; or the principle of animal life, common to men and animal: this God has given, and this he recalls when he takes away life, Ec 3:21. See SOUL.