Quick Definition
spirit
Strong's Definition
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)
Derivation: from H7306 (רוּחַ);
KJV Usage: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
TWOT Reference: 2131a
Outline of Biblical Usage
Septuagint (LXX) Greek Equivalents
This Hebrew word is translated by the following Greek words in the Septuagint:
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Hebrew Lexicon
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 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit: breath. : breath/wind 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 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit: side. : side 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 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
רוּחַ (ru.ach) — spirit: temper. : temper 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 1g) Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son 1g1) as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy 1g2) as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning 1g3) imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power 1g4) as endowing men with various gifts 1g5) as energy of life 1g6) as manifest in the Shekinah glory 1g7) never referred to as a depersonalised force
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew
noun f
Deities | ≠ בַָּשָׂר
Spirit = an invisible being that is in a direct relation to and under control of God and one of his manifestation, often described as a substance that can be poured out, ► through whom the universe is created and animated; it can manifest itself as an invisible force equipping humans with wisdom, skill, and strength for specific tasks; it can also manifest itself as a movement of air through the bodies of animate creatures (breath) or through nature (wind)
GEN 1:2 · GEN 6:3 · GEN 41:38 · EXO 28:3 · EXO 31:3 · EXO 35:31 · NUM 11:17 · NUM 11:25 · NUM 11:25 · NUM 11:26 · NUM 11:29 · NUM 24:2 · NUM 27:18 · JDG 3:10 · JDG 6:34 · JDG 11:29 · JDG 13:25 · JDG 14:6 · JDG 14:19 · JDG 15:14 · 1SA 10:6 · 1SA 10:10 · 1SA 11:6 · 1SA 16:13 · 1SA 16:14 · 1SA 19:20 · 1SA 19:23 · 2SA 23:2 · 1KI 18:12 · 2KI 2:9 · 2KI 2:15 · 2KI 2:16 · 1CH 12:19 · 2CH 15:1 · 2CH 20:14 · 2CH 24:20 · NEH 9:20 · NEH 9:30 · JOB 32:8 · JOB 33:4 · PSA 51:13 · PSA 104:30 · PSA 139:7 · PSA 143:10 · ISA 11:2 · ISA 11:2 · ISA 11:2 · ISA 11:2 · ISA 30:1 · ISA 32:15 · ISA 34:16 · ISA 40:13 · ISA 42:1 · ISA 44:3 · ISA 48:16 · ISA 59:21 · ISA 61:1 · ISA 63:10 · ISA 63:11 · ISA 63:14 · EZK 2:2 · EZK 3:12 · EZK 3:24 · EZK 8:3 · EZK 11:1 · EZK 11:5 · EZK 11:24 · EZK 11:24 · EZK 36:27 · EZK 37:1 · EZK 37:14 · EZK 39:29 · EZK 43:5 · DAN 4:5 · DAN 4:6 · DAN 4:15 · DAN 5:11 · DAN 5:14 · HOS 9:7 · JOL 3:1 · JOL 3:2 · MIC 3:8 · HAG 2:5 · ZEC 4:6 · ZEC 6:8 · ZEC 7:12 · MAL 2:15
spirit = an invisible being associated with God and carrying out his commands, often by taking possession of people and influencing their actions
1SA 16:14 · 1SA 16:15 · 1SA 16:16 · 1SA 16:23 · 1SA 16:23 · 1SA 18:10 · 1SA 19:9 · 1KI 22:21 · 1KI 22:22 · 1KI 22:23 · 1KI 22:24 · 2CH 18:20 · 2CH 18:21 · 2CH 18:22 · 2CH 18:23 · JOB 4:15
People
(human) spirit, mind = inner person of a human or celestial being, associated with emotions, such as joy, grief, worry, courage, anger, willingness, jealousy, etc., but also with inner qualities such as wisdom
GEN 26:35 · GEN 41:8 · GEN 45:27 · EXO 6:9 · EXO 35:21 · NUM 5:14 · NUM 5:14 · NUM 5:30 · NUM 14:24 · DEU 2:30 · DEU 34:9 · JOS 2:11 · JOS 5:1 · JDG 8:3 · JDG 9:23 · JDG 15:19 · 1SA 1:15 · 1SA 30:12 · 1KI 10:5 · 1KI 21:5 · 2KI 19:7 · 1CH 5:26 · 1CH 5:26 · 1CH 28:12 · 2CH 9:4 · 2CH 21:16 · 2CH 36:22 · EZR 1:1 · EZR 1:5 · JOB 6:4 · JOB 7:11 · JOB 15:13 · JOB 17:1 · JOB 20:3 · JOB 21:4 · JOB 32:18 · PSA 32:2 · PSA 34:19 · PSA 51:12 · PSA 51:14 · PSA 51:19 · PSA 76:13 · PSA 77:4 · PSA 77:7 · PSA 78:8 · PSA 106:33 · PSA 142:4 · PSA 143:4 · PSA 143:7 · PSA 146:4 · PRO 1:23 · PRO 11:13 · PRO 14:29 · PRO 15:4 · PRO 15:13 · PRO 16:2 · PRO 16:18 · PRO 16:19 · PRO 16:32 · PRO 17:22 · PRO 17:27 · PRO 18:14 · PRO 18:14 · PRO 25:28 · PRO 29:11 · PRO 29:23 · ECC 7:8 · ECC 7:8 · ECC 7:9 · ECC 10:4 · ISA 4:4 · ISA 4:4 · ISA 19:3 · ISA 19:14 · ISA 25:4 · ISA 26:9 · ISA 28:6 · ISA 29:10 · ISA 29:24 · ISA 31:3 · ISA 37:7 · ISA 38:16 · ISA 54:6 · ISA 57:15 · ISA 57:15 · ISA 61:3 · ISA 65:14 · ISA 66:2 · JER 51:1 · JER 51:11 · EZK 1:12 · EZK 1:20 · EZK 1:20 · EZK 1:20 · EZK 1:21 · EZK 3:14 · EZK 3:14 · EZK 10:17 · EZK 11:5 · EZK 11:19 · EZK 13:3 · EZK 18:31 · EZK 20:32 · EZK 21:12 · EZK 36:26 · DAN 2:1 · DAN 2:3 · DAN 5:12 · DAN 5:20 · DAN 6:4 · DAN 7:15 · HOS 4:12 · HOS 5:4 · MIC 2:7 · HAG 1:14 · HAG 1:14 · HAG 1:14 · ZEC 12:10 · ZEC 13:2 · MAL 2:15 · MAL 2:16
Air
breeze, wind = a natural movement of air, blowing in a particular direction, ranging in intensity from a light breeze (JOB 41:8) to a heavy blast (JOB 1:19); ≈ often regarded as the breath of God, but also associated with things that are without substance and cannot be grasped
GEN 1:2 · GEN 3:8 · GEN 8:1 · EXO 10:13 · EXO 10:13 · EXO 10:19 · EXO 14:21 · EXO 15:8 · EXO 15:10 · NUM 11:31 · 2SA 22:11 · 2SA 22:16 · 1KI 18:45 · 1KI 19:11 · 1KI 19:11 · 1KI 19:11 · 2KI 3:17 · JOB 1:19 · JOB 21:18 · JOB 26:13 · JOB 28:25 · JOB 30:15 · JOB 30:22 · JOB 37:21 · JOB 41:8 · PSA 1:4 · PSA 11:6 · PSA 18:11 · PSA 18:16 · PSA 18:43 · PSA 35:5 · PSA 48:8 · PSA 55:9 · PSA 78:39 · PSA 83:14 · PSA 103:16 · PSA 104:3 · PSA 104:4 · PSA 107:25 · PSA 135:7 · PSA 147:18 · PSA 148:8 · PRO 11:29 · PRO 25:14 · PRO 25:23 · PRO 27:16 · PRO 30:4 · ECC 1:6 · ECC 1:6 · ECC 1:14 · ECC 1:17 · ECC 2:11 · ECC 2:17 · ECC 2:26 · ECC 4:4 · ECC 4:6 · ECC 4:16 · ECC 5:15 · ECC 6:9 · ECC 11:4 · ISA 7:2 · ISA 17:13 · ISA 26:18 · ISA 27:8 · ISA 32:2 · ISA 40:7 · ISA 41:16 · ISA 41:29 · ISA 57:13 · ISA 59:19 · ISA 64:5 · JER 2:24 · JER 4:11 · JER 4:12 · JER 5:13 · JER 10:13 · JER 13:24 · JER 14:6 · JER 18:17 · JER 22:22 · JER 51:16 · EZK 1:4 · EZK 5:2 · EZK 5:10 · EZK 5:12 · EZK 13:11 · EZK 13:13 · EZK 17:10 · EZK 19:12 · EZK 27:26 · DAN 2:35 · HOS 4:19 · HOS 8:7 · HOS 12:2 · HOS 13:15 · AMO 4:13 · JON 1:4 · JON 4:8 · HAB 1:11 · ZEC 5:9 · ZEC 6:5
Chastise
breath > punishment literally: (God's) breath; hence: = process by which humans are punished by God, ◄ described as a flaming breath coming from his mouth
Non-Endure
breath > fleeting literally: breath or wind; hence: = state in which an event does not last, but is over before one knows it
Fail
empty words literally: breath or wind; hence: = action by which humans speak words with no substance or value
Spatial Referents
direction literally: wind; = one of the four quarters of heaven, ◄ associated with the wind ► used for orientation purposes
1CH 9:24 · JER 49:32 · JER 49:36 · JER 49:36 · JER 52:23 · EZK 12:14 · EZK 17:21 · EZK 37:9 · EZK 42:16 · EZK 42:17 · EZK 42:18 · EZK 42:19 · EZK 42:20 · DAN 7:2 · DAN 8:8 · DAN 11:4 · ZEC 2:10
Speak
Collocation: רוּחַ פֶּה
breath of mouth > words literally: the breath of (one's) mouth; hence: = action by which humans utter words ◄ which are articulated with the help of the breath which leaves the body through the mouth
Blow | ≈ נְשָׁמָה
breath = the air that is taken in and expelled through the lungs by humans and animals, which makes them live, and which distinguishes them from inanimate objects like idols; ≈ regarded as coming from God; sometimes God is depicted as a breathing being as well
GEN 6:17 · GEN 7:15 · GEN 7:22 · NUM 16:22 · NUM 27:16 · JOB 9:18 · JOB 10:12 · JOB 12:10 · JOB 19:17 · JOB 27:3 · JOB 34:14 · PSA 31:6 · PSA 104:29 · PSA 135:17 · ECC 3:19 · ECC 3:21 · ECC 3:21 · ECC 8:8 · ECC 8:8 · ECC 11:5 · ECC 12:7 · ISA 33:11 · ISA 42:5 · ISA 57:16 · JER 10:14 · JER 51:17 · LAM 4:20 · EZK 37:5 · EZK 37:6 · EZK 37:8 · EZK 37:9 · EZK 37:9 · EZK 37:9 · EZK 37:10 · HAB 2:19 · ZEC 12:1 · MAL 2:15
1 GEN 1:2 RSV NIV GNT CEV ESV "Spirit" REB "spirit" | NJPS NJB NRSV "wind" 2 ZEC 6:8 RSV NIV CEV ESV "Spirit" NJB NRSV REB "spirit" | NJPS "pleasure" | GNT "anger" 3 MAL 2:15 ESV "Spirit" [1a] = | RSV NIV REB GNT "spirit" CEV "one person" = [1c] | NJPS "life-breath" NJB "breath of life" = [1d]
UBS Dictionary of Biblical Hebrew © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
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