ruach

Say it: ROO-akh (approximate)H7307In theological review

Wind, breath, or spirit, context decides.

Why this word is here. Runs from Genesis 1:2 to the prophets; one Hebrew word stands behind both 'wind' and 'Spirit', so English always has to choose.

What it means

STEP's brief lexicon, abridging BDB, gives: wind, breath, mind, spirit. The same word names the wind that blows from a quarter of the sky, the breath that animates a living being, a person's disposition or temper (a troubled spirit, a steadfast spirit), the prophetic spirit that comes on judges and prophets, and the Spirit of God who gives life, skill, courage and prophecy.

There is no capital letter in Hebrew to tell you when ruach means the Holy Spirit. Translators and readers decide from context, and honest entries should admit that some verses are debated.

Where you meet it

Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Genesis 1:2 (BSB)

Anchor verse 'The Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.' The first ruach in the Bible, at creation itself.

Then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7 (BSB)

God 'breathed into his nostrils the breath of life' (a related word, neshamah). Human life is God's breath given, and ruach is the word used for that breath elsewhere, as in Job and Ecclesiastes.

Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and tell the breath that this is what the Lord GOD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, so that they may live!”

Ezekiel 37:9 (BSB)

In the valley of dry bones Ezekiel is told to prophesy 'to the breath (ruach)': the word is played on as wind, breath and Spirit in the same passage.

And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28 (BSB)

'I will pour out My Spirit (ruach) on all people.' Peter quotes this at Pentecost in Acts 2.

Why it matters

Ruach explains why the Bible can speak of God's Spirit with wind and breath pictures without changing the subject, and why Pentecost sounds the way it does. It also guards a real doctrine: the Old Testament's Spirit is personal, active and God's own, long before the New Testament names him more fully.

Watch out

The over-claim is that ruach always means the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. It does not: Exodus uses it for wind, Ecclesiastes for breath and futility, and many texts use it for a human mood or disposition. Loading 'Holy Spirit' into every occurrence is illegitimate totality transfer. The opposite error, treating the Old Testament Spirit as a mere force, is just as careless: the texts show him speaking, choosing and grieving.

In this lesson

shalom (שָׁלוֹם): Wholeness, welfare and peace, not just calm.
hesed (חֶסֶד): Covenant kindness and loyalty that keeps its promises.
shema (the verb shama) (שְׁמַע): Hearing that takes in, understands and responds.
torah (תּוֹרָה): God's instruction and direction for his people.

Sources

Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon (BDB, 1906)
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible / STEP Hebrew data

Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend page passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This section is in that queue.

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