Lexical Definition

‎רוּחַ‎ rûwach (roo'-akh) spirit ^H:N-F
from ‎רוּחַ‎

air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).

• 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)

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

See Greek: αἷμα · ἄνεμος · ἀνήρ · ἡμέρα · θυμός · μέρος · νοῦς · πνεῦμα · πνοή · φρόνησις · ψυχή

Extended Information

• : spirit

Brown-Driver-Briggs

Aramaic form: רֵיחַ
Also see: נֶפֶשׁ | לֵבָב | בָּשָׂר | לֵב

‎רוּחַ‎₃₇₈ noun feminine^{Gen 41:8} (less often masculine^{Exod 10:13} +) breath, wind, spirit; — absolute ‎׳‎‎ר‎ Gen 8:1 +, ‎ר֑וּחָה‎ Jer 52:23 construct ‎רוּחַ‎ Gen 6:17 +; suffix ‎רוּחִי‎ vGen 6:3 +, ‎רוּחֲךָ‎ Ps 104:30 +, etc.; plural ‎רוּחוֺת‎ vPs 104:4 +, ‎רֻחוֺת‎ Jer 49:36, ‎רוּחֹת‎ Num 16:22; Num 26:16 (see Br^{‎רוח‎ in O.T., JBL xix (1900), 132 ff.}, full statement of all passages); —

1. breath of mouth or nostrils (33 t.):
a. ‎רוּחַ פִּיו‎ Job 15:30 breath of his mouth, compare Job 19:17 ‎רוּחַ אַפֵּינוּ‎ Lam 4:20 (figurative of king), of idols ‎לֹא רוּחַ בָּם‎ Jer 10:14 = Jer 51:17, Hab 2:19; Ps 135:17 compare Job 9:18.
b. as mere breath: compare 2 e. ‎דִּבְרֵירֿוּחַ‎ Job 16:3 i.e. windy words; ‎נוֺאָשׁ לְרוּחַ אִמְרֵי‎ Job 6:26, ‎הַנְּבִיאִים יִהְיוּ לְרוּחַ‎ Jer 5:13.
c. as word of command: (1) of God: ‎(נעשׂו) בְּרוּחַ פִּיו כָּלֿ‎ ‎צְבָאָם‎Ps 33:6, compare Isa 34:16 (|| ‎פֶּה‎); (2) of Messianic king: ‎בְּרוּחַ שְׂפָתָיו יָמִית רָשָׁע‎ Isa 11:4.
d. as hard breathing through the nostrils in anger: (1) of God: ‎מֵרוּח אַפּוֺ יִכְלוּ‎ Job 4:9; Exod 15:8 (poem), 2Sam 22:16 = Ps 18:16*; Isa 30:28; Isa 59:19 (2) of man: ‎רוּחַ עָרִיצִים‎ Isa 25:4.
e. as sign and symbol of life: ‎רוּחַ חַיִּים‎ breath of life Gen 6:17; Gen 7:15 (P); ‎נִשְׁמַת רוּחַ חַיִּים בְּאַפָּיו‎ Gen 7:22 (P); Ezek 37:5, compare vEzek 37:6 vEzek 37:8 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:9 vEzek 37:10 vEzek 37:14 (breath or spirit), Eccl 3:19.

2. wind (117 t.):
a. wind of heaven: Gen 8:1 (P) Exod 15:10 (E) Num 11:31 (J) 1Kgs 18:45 +, Jer 10:13, thence Jer 51:16; Ps 135:7 ‎׳‎‎רוּחַ י‎ Hos 13:15; Isa 40:7, compare Job 26:13 (Di Bu); ‎רוּחַ (ה)קָדִים‎ east wind Exod 10:13 (twice in verse); Exod 14:21 (J) Ps 48:8*; Jer 18:17; Ezek 17:10; Ezek 19:12; Ezek 27:26; Jonah 4:8 ‎צָפוֺן‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ north wind Prov 25:23 ‎יָם‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ sea wind (west wind) Exod 10:19 (J); . ‎הַיּוֺם‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ day wind, evening wind Gen 3:8 (J; compare Song 2:17; Song 4:6); ‎אַרְבַּע‎ ‎רוּחוֺת‎ four winds Jer 49:36; Ezek 37:9 (quarters?) Dan 8:8; Dan 11:4 (figurative quarters; compare b), Zech 2:10*; Zech 6:5 ‎רוּחַ סְעְרָה‎ storm wind Ps 107:25; Ps 148:8; Ezek 1:4 (‎סְעָרוֺת‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎), Ezek 13:11; Ezek 13:13 ‎רוּחַ סֹעָה‎ rushing wind Ps 55:9* (read possibly ‎סערה‎ Hup); ‎בַּעְיָם רוּחוֺ‎ Isa 11:15 (read ‎׳‎‎בְּעֹצֶם ר‎, see ‎עֲיָם‎, ‎עֹצֶם‎), etc; wind personified: ‎כַּנְפֵי רוּחַ‎ 2Sam 22:11 = Ps 18:11*; Ps 104:3, compare Hos 4:19; Ps 104:4.
b. quarter (of wind), side: ‎רוּחַ הַקָּדִים‎ Ezek 42:16 east side; ‎רוּחַ‎ ‎הַצָּפוֺן‎ vEzek 42:17 north side; ‎רוּחַ הַדָּרוֺם‎ vEzek 42:18 south side; ‎רוּחַ הַיָּם‎ vEzek 42:19 west side; ‎אַרְבַּע רוּחוֺת‎ vEzek 42:20; 1Chr 9:24 four sides; ‎ר֑וּחָה‎ Jer 52:23 on the sides.
c. breath of air: ‎שָׁאֲפוּ רוּחַ כַּתַּנִּים‎ Jer 14:6 ‎רוּחַ לֹא יָבֹא בֵּינֵיהֶם‎ Job 41:8*.
d. air, gas, from womb (dubious): ‎כְּמוֺ‎ ‎יָלַדְנוּ רוּחַ‎ Isa 26:18 (Di, e); ‎רוּחֲכֶם אֵשׁ תֹּאכַלְכֶם‎ (RV breath) Isa 33:11 (Du, 3 c).
e. vain, empty thing: ‎רוּחַיָּי֑‎ Job 7:7 my life is wind; ‎דַּעַת רוּחַ‎ Job 15:2 ‎רוּחַ וָתֹהוּ נִסְכֵּיהֶם‎ Isa 41:29 ‎רְעוּת רוּחַ‎ striving for wind Eccl 1:14; Eccl 2:11; Eccl 2:17; Eccl 2:26; Eccl 4:4; Eccl 4:6; Eccl 6:9 compare Eccl 1:17; Eccl 4:16; Eccl 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: ‎לֹא הָיָה בָהּ עוֺד רוּחַ‎ 1Kgs 10:5 = 2Chr 9:4 ‎מַהזֶּֿה רוּחֲךָ‎ ‎סָרָה‎ 1Kgs 21:5 ‎וַתְּחִי רוּחַ‎ Gen 45:27 (E); ‎וַתָּשָׁב רוּחוֺ‎ Judg 15:19; 1Sam 30:12.
b. courage: ‎׳‎‎לֹא הָיָה בָם עוֺד ר‎ Josh 5:1 ‎נְגִידִים‎ ‎׳‎‎יִבְצֹר ר‎ Ps 76:13* ‎מִצְרַיִם‎ ‎׳‎‎וְנָָֽבְקָה ר‎ Isa 19:3 ‎תתעטּף רוּחִי‎ Ps 77:4*; Ps 142:4*; Ps 143:4 ‎לֹא קָמָה‎ ‎׳‎‎עוֺד ר‎ Josh 2:11 ‎אִישׁ יְכַלְכֵּל מַחֲלֵהוּ‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ Prov 18:14.
c. temper, especially anger: ‎׳‎‎רוּחַ רָעָה בֵּין וגו‎ Judg 9:23 ‎אָז‎ ‎רָֽפְתָה רוּחָם‎ Judg 8:3 ‎משֵׁל בְּרוּחוֺ‎ Prov 16:32, compare Prov 25:28; Prov 29:11; Job 15:13 ‎הֵנִיחוּ אֶתרֿוּחִי‎ Zech 6:8; Eccl 7:9; Eccl 10:4.
d. impatience or patience: ‎קֹצֶר רוּחַ‎ Exod 6:9 (P) impatience, hastiness of temper, compare (of ‎׳‎‎י‎) Mic 2:7 ‎קְצַררֿוּחַ‎ Prov 14:29 (|| ‎אֶרֶךְ אַפַיִם‎); ‎הֱצִיקַתְנִי רוּחַ בִּטְנִי‎ Job 32:18 (Du breath; Di Bu divine spirit, compare vJob 32:8); ‎אִם‎ ‎מַדּוּעַ לֹאתִֿקְצַר רוּחִי‎ Job 21:4 ‎׳‎‎הֲקָצַר רוּחַ י‎ Mic 2:7 ‎׳‎‎אֶרֶךְ ר‎ Eccl 7:8.
e. spirit, disposition, as troubled, bitter, or discontented; ‎וַתִּפָּעֶם רוּח(וׅ‎ (his) spirit was troubled Gen 41:8 (E) Dan 2:3, compare vDan 2:1 ‎מֹרַת רוּחַ‎ Gen 26:35 (P) bitterness of spirit; ‎׳‎‎עֲצוּבַת ר‎ Isa 54:6, compare Ezek 3:14; Job 6:4. feminine as crushed: ‎וְכִהֲתָה‎ ‎כָלרֿוּחַ‎ Ezek 21:12*, compare Isa 61:3; Prov 15:4; Prov 15:13; Prov 17:22; Prov 18:14; Ps 143:7.
g. disposition of various kinds, often unaccountable and uncontrollable impulse: ‎הֵעִיר אֶתרֿוּחַ‎ 1Chr 5:26 (twice in verse); 2Chr 21:16; 2Chr 36:22; Ezra 1:1; Ezra 1:5; Jer 51:11; Hag 1:14 (3 t. in verse); ‎הִנְנִי‎ ‎נ(וֺ)תֵן בּוֺ רוּח‎2Kgs 19:7 = Isa 37:7; Num 14:24 (J; see ‎עִם‎ 4 b), Mal 2:15 (twice in verse); Mal 2:16; Deut 2:30 ‎רוּחַ קִנְאָה‎ jealous disposition Num 5:14 (twice in verse); Num 5:30 (P); ‎רוּחַ וְנוּנִים‎ Hos 4:12; Hos 5:4 ‎רוּחַ‎ ‎עִוְעִים‎Isa 19:14 ‎רוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט‎ Isa 28:6 ‎אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ אֱלהִֹרם‎ ‎בּוֺ‎ (administrative) Gen 41:38 (E); ‎קַר רוּחַ אִישׁ הְּבוּנָה‎ Prov 17:27.
h. prophetic spirit: ‎יְהוֺשֻׁעַ אִישׁ אֲשֶׁרֿ‎ ‎רוּחַ בּזֹ‎Num 27:18 (P; or g, as Gen 41:38); ‎רוּחַ אֵלִיָּהוּ‎ ‎עַלאֱֿלִישָׁע‎2Kgs 2:15, compare v2Kgs 2:9 ‎רוּחַ תַּרְדֵמָה‎ spirit of deep sleep (ecstatic, compare Gen 2:21; Gen 15:12, but Di and others g, as Isa 19:14) Isa 29:10; Mic 2:11 ‎רוּחַ הַטֻמְאָה‎ Zech 13:2 (of lying prophets), compare Ezek 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: ‎יֹצֵר רוּחַ אָדָם בְּקִרְבּוֺ‎ Zech 12:1 ‎רוּחַ אֱלוֺהַּ בְּאַפִּי‎ Job 27:3, compare Isa 42:5.
b. God preserves it: ‎פְּקֻדָּֽתְךָ שָֽׁמְרָה רוּחִי‎ Job 10:12, compare Job 12:10 ‎אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂ֑ר‎ Num 16:22; Num 27:16 (P); ‎תֹּכֵן רוּחוֺת‎ Prov 16:2.
c. it is therefore God's spirit: Gen 6:3 (J; see ‎דִּין‎ near the end).
d. it departs at death: Ps 78:39 (Dr a wind that passeth away 2 e); ‎חַיֵּי רוּחִי‎ Isa 38:16 (Di principle of life), Ps 146:4 especially Ps 104:29; Ps 104:30; Job 17:1; Job 34:14 (compare vJob 34:15), Isa 57:16; Eccl 8:8 (twice in verse) (wind Wild); ‎אֵינְךָ יוֺדֵעַ מַהדֶּֿרֶךְ הָרוּחַ‎ Eccl 11:5, compare Eccl 3:21 over ag. ‎הָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶלהָֿאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ‎ Eccl 12:7 ‎בְּיָָֽדְךָ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי‎ Ps 31:6*.
e. disembodied being (dubious, Di Du breath of wind): ‎וְרוּחַ עַלפָּֿנַי‎ ‎יַחֲלֹף‎ Job 4:15.

5. spirit as seat of emotion = ‎נֶפֶשׁ‎:
a. desire (possibly 3 g), Isa 26:9 (|| ‎נֶפֶשׁ‎).
b. sorrow, trouble (probably 3 e), Job 7:11 (|| ‎נֶפֶשׁ‎). — 1Sam 1:15 see ‎קָשֶׁה‎.

6. occasionally, (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts, || ‎לֵב‎, or synonym with it: ‎רוּחַ חָכְמָה‎ Exod 28:3; Deut 34:9 (both P; probably 3 g); ‎תּעֵי רוּחַ‎ Isa 29:24, compare Job 20:3 (Hi Bu Du wind of Job's words), Ps 77:7* (ᵐ5 Symm ᵑ6 Jerome troubled disposition); ‎רוּחַ יהוה‎ Isa 40:13 come into mind (compare ‎לֵב‎ Isa 65:17; Jer 3:16 +); 1Chr 28:12.

7. rarely of the will; also = ‎רוּחַ נָכוֺן לֵב‎ Ps 51:12* (= ‎לֵב נָכוֺן‎ Ps 57:8* (twice in verse) +); ‎רוּחַ נְדִיבָה‎ vPs 51:14* ‎נָָֽדְבָה רוּחוֺ‎ Exod 35:21 (P; compare ‎נְדִיב לֵב‎ Exod 35:5; Exod 35:22 (P) 2Chr 29:31).

8. ‎רוּחַ‎ especially of moral character; also = ‎׃לֵב‎ ‎רוּחַ חֲדָשָׁה‎Ezek 11:19; Ezek 18:31; Ezek 36:26 ‎רוּחִי‎ vEzek 36:27; Isa 59:21 (‎רוּחִי‎, || ‎דְּבָרַי‎; but probably prophetic spirit 9 b); ‎לֵב חָדָשׁ‎ Ezek 18:31; Ezek 36:26 ‎נְכֵה רוּחַ‎ Isa 66:2 ‎דַּכְּאֵי רוּחַ‎ Ps 34:19* (compare ‎לֵב נִדְכָּאִים‎ Isa 57:15); ‎מִשֵּׁבֶר רוּחַ‎ Isa 65:14 (compare 3 f); ‎רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרֶה‎ Ps 51:19* (|| ‎לֵב נִשְׁבָּר‎, compare ‎נִשְׁבְּרֵי לֵב‎ Ps 34:19*; Isa 61:1); Ps 32:2; Prov 11:13; Prov 16:18; Ps 78:8; Eccl 7:8 (compare ‎גְּבַהּלֵב‎ Prov 16:5); ‎שְׁפַל רוּחַ‎ Prov 16:19; Prov 29:23; Isa 57:15 ‎רוּחַ שְׁפָלִים‎ vIsa 57:15 (compare 3 f).

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 ‎נביא‎, ‎נבא‎):
a. as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy, Num 11:17; Num 11:25 (twice in verse); Num 11:26; Num 11:29 (J), 1Sam 10:6; 1Sam 10:10 (compare v1Sam 10:5), 1Sam 19:20; 1Sam 19:23 as inciting to deeds of frenzy, in the ecstatic state; hence conceived as ‎אֱלֹהִים רָעָה‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ 1Sam 16:15 (twice in verse); 1Sam 16:16, = ‎׳‎‎רָעָה מֵאֵת י‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ v1Sam 16:14 = ‎רָעָה‎ ‎׳‎‎א‎ ‎׳‎‎צלח ר‎ 1Sam 18:10 (other narrative) = ‎רָעָה‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ 1Sam 19:9 ‎׳‎‎א‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ 1Sam 16:23 = ‎רוּחַ הָרָעָה‎ v1Sam 16:23, compare ‎הָרוּחַ‎ 1Kgs 22:21 = ‎שֶׁקֶר‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ v1Kgs 22:22 v1Kgs 22:23 = 2Chr 18:20; 2Chr 18:21; 2Chr 18:22 = ‎׳‎‎רוּחַ י‎ 1Kgs 22:24 = 2Chr 18:23 compare also (in earlier prophets) ‎אִישׁ הָרוּחַ‎, i.e. one possessed by the spirit in the ecstatic state, || ‎הַנָּבִּיא‎ Hos 9:7 ‎׳‎‎רוּחַ י‎ Mic 3:8 (|| ‎בֹּחַ‎) is probably gloss (We Now); ‎וְלֹא רוּחִי‎ Isa 30:1 ‎רוּחַ‎ dealing with Ezek.: Ezek 2:2; Ezek 3:12; Ezek 3:14; Ezek 3:24; Ezek 8:3; Ezek 11:1; Ezek 11:5; Ezek 11:24 (Co gloss), Ezek 37:1; Ezek 43:5 (all implying ecstatic state of vision), compare Elijah 1Kgs 18:12; 2Kgs 2:16.
b. spirit as impelling prophets to utter instruction or warning (higher and later conception): transition probably Num 24:2; 2Sam 23:2; 1Chr 12:18* elsewhere in Chronicles: 2Chr 15:1; 2Chr 20:14; 2Chr 24:20 distinctly in Isa², Isa 48:16, compare Isa 61:1 so of ancient prophets, Zech 7:12; Neh 9:30 compare, of future prophetic gift, Joel 3:1*; Joel 3:2*.
c. imparting warlike energy, and executive and administrative power: (1) to ‎שֹׁפְטִים‎, ‎מוֺשִׁיעִים‎, ‎מְלָכִים‎, of ancient Israel: ‎וַתְּהִי רוּחַ‎ ‎על‎ ‎׳‎‎י‎ Judg 3:10; Judg 11:29, compare Judg 6:34; Judg 13:25; Judg 14:6; Judg 14:19; Judg 15:14; 1Sam 11:6; 1Sam 16:13; 1Sam 16:14 so also ‎עַד יֵעָרֶה עָלֵינוּ רוּחַ מִמָּרוֺם‎ Isa 32:15 (2) resting upon Messianic king: Isa 11:2 (3 t. in verse); upon servant of ‎׳‎‎י‎, Isa 42:1.
d. late, as endowing men with various gifts: technical skill Exod 31:3; Exod 35:31 (P); understanding Job 32:8 (|| ‎נִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי‎); poured out by divine wisdom Prov 1:23.
e. as energy of life: ‎רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַלפְּֿנֵי הַמָּ֑יִם‎ Gen 1:2 (P); ‎רוּחַ אֵל עָשָׂ֑תְנִי‎ Job 33:4 (|| ‎נִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי‎); as vital power, opposed to ‎בָשָׂר‎: Isa 31:3 in cherubic chariot: Ezek 1:12, compare vEzek 1:20 vEzek 1:21; Ezek 10:17 reviving Israel Ezek 39:29; Zech 12:10; Isa 44:3. feminine = ancient angel of the presence and later Shekina: ‎קָדְשׁוֺ‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ Isa 63:10; Isa 63:11 = ‎׳‎‎י‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ vIsa 63:14 (= ‎מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו‎ vIsa 63:9), compare Ps 106:33 so also ‎קָדְשְׁךָ‎ ‎׳‎‎ר‎ Ps 51:13* (in national prayer), compare Neh 9:20; Ps 143:10 prophets of restoration conceive of the divine spirit as standing in their midst and about to fulfil all divine promises: ‎רוּחִי‎ ‎עֹמֶדֶת בְּתוֺכֲכֶם‎ Hag 2:5; Zech 4:6 this conception culminates in ‎רוּחַ‎ = divine Presence, and as such omnipresent, Ps 139:7 (|| ‎פָּנֶיךָ‎; compare vPs 139:8).

Brown-Driver-Briggs References