Greek · G4151 · unreviewed
πνεῦμα
Spirit/breath: spirit
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πνεῦμα G4151
Pronunciation pneûma
What does πνεῦμα (pneûma) mean in the Bible?
πνεῦμα (pneûma) is a Greek word meaning "spirit/breath: spirit". πνεῦμα, -τος, τό, [in LXX chiefly and very frequently for רוּחַ ;] __1. The Spirit performs the inward circumcision that marks authentic covenant membership. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Faith, Holiness.
Meaning
spirit/breath: spirit
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Spirit as the immaterial dimension of human existence, or God's transformative power, distinct from soul and body.
1of air in motion;
2Of the vital principle, the spirit (Arist., Polyb., al.): Luk.8:55, Jhn.19:30, Act.7:59, al.; opposite to σάρξ, Mat.26:41, Mrk.14:38, 1Co.5:5, al.; to σῶμα, Rom.8:10, 1Co.6:17 7:34, 1Pe.4:6; to ψυχή, Php.1:27, Heb.4:12; τὸ π. καὶ ἡ ψ. καὶ τ. σῶμα, 1Th.5:23 (M, Th., in l.); dative, τῷ π., in spirit, Mrk.2:8 8:12, Jhn.11:33 13:21, Act.18:25, Rom.12:11, 1Co.7:34, 1Pe.3:18, al.; of the human spirit of Christ, Rom.1:4, 1Ti.3:16.
3spirit, i.e. frame of mind, disposition, influence: Luk.1:17, Rom.8:15, 1Co.4:21, Gal 6:1, Eph.2:2, 2Ti.1:7, 1Jn.4:6, al.
4An incorporeal being, a spirit: Luk.24:37, 39 Act.23:8; π. ὁ θεός, God is spirit, Jhn.4:24; πατὴρ τῶν π., Heb.12:9; of disembodied human beings, Heb.12:23, 1Pe.3:19 (ICC, in l.; DB, iii, 795); of angels. Heb.1:14; of demons or evil spirits, Mat.8:16, Mrk.9:20, Luk.9:39, al.; π. πύθυωνα, Act.16:16; πνεύματα δαιμονίων, Rev.16:14; π. δαιμονίου ἀκαθάρτου, Luk.4:33; π. ἀσθενείας (Bl., §35, 5), Luk.13:11; π. ἀκάθαρτον, Mat.10:1, Mrk.1:23, Luk.4:36, Act.5:16; π. ἄλαλον (καὶ κωφόν), Mrk.9:17, 25; πονηρόν, Luk.7:21, Act.19:12, al.
5Of the Holy Spirit, π. ἅγιον, τὸ ἅ. π., τὸ π. τὸ ἅ. τὸ π., π. (the article as a rule being used when the Spirit is regarded as a Person or a Divine Power, and omitted when the reference is to an operation, influence or gift of the Spirit; see WM, 151:5; Bl., §46, 7): anarth., Mat.1:18 3:11, 16 4:1, Mrk.1:8 (Swete, in l.), ib.10, Luk.1:15, Jhn.7:39, Act.19:2, Rom.5:5, 1Co.2:4, al.; with art., Mat.4:1 12:31, 32 Mrk.1:10 3:29, Luk.2:26, Jhn.7:36 14:26, Act.4:31 5:3, Rom.8:16, al.; (τὸ) π. (τοῦ) θεοῦ, Mat.3:16, Rom.8:9, Eph.3:16, 1Jn.4:2, al.; τὸ π. τ. πατρός, Mat.10:20; π. θεοῦ ζῶντος, 2Co.3:3; (τὸ) π. τοῦ κυρίου, Luk.4:18, Act.5:9 8:39; τὸ π. Ἰησοῦ, Act.16:7; Χριστοῦ, Rom.8:9; Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, Php.1:19; τὸ π. τ. ἀληθείας, Jhn.15:26 16:13, 1Jn.4:6; λείγει (μαρτυρεῖ) τὸ π. (τὸ ἅγιον), Act.21:11 28:25, 1Ti.4:1, Heb.3:7 10:15, Rev.14:13; before τ. ἐκκλησίαις, Rev.2:7, 11 17, 29, 3:6, 12, 22; ἐν τ. π., Luk.2:27; κατὰ πνεῦμα, Rom.8:4, 5; ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ π., Jhn.3:5, διὰ πνεύματος αἰωνίου, Heb.9:14; ἐν ἁγιασμῷ πνεύματος, 2Th.2:13, 1Pe.1:2; ἓν π., 1Co.12:13, Eph.2:18 4:4; ὁ δὲ κύριος τὸ π. ἐστιν, 2Co.3:17; of that which is effected or governed by the Spirit, opposite to γράμμα, Rom.2:29 7:6, 2Co.3:6.
Synonymsνοῦς, which in NT is contrasted with π. as "the action of the understanding in man with that of the spiritual or ecstatic impulse" (DB, iv, 612); ψυχή — the usual term in cl. psychology—in NT, "expresses man as apart from God, a separate individual, π. expresses man as drawing his life from God" (DB, 1-vol., 872).
Why This Word Matters
The Spirit performs the inward circumcision that marks authentic covenant membership. 1 John 3:19-24
The Spirit is the agent of freedom, life, and future resurrection. 1 John 4:1-6
Indicates new covenant regeneration and empowerment. 1 John 4:13-16
Illustrates sovereign, invisible work of regeneration. 1 John 5:6-12
Indicates nature of true worship and regeneration. 2 Timothy 4:19-22
Source of life and regeneration. Acts 19:1-7
Refers to promised indwelling Spirit after glorification.
Identifies the promised living water.
Illustrates that works are evidence of life within faith.
Marks the fullness of new covenant participation.
Paul's blessing asks that the Lord's presence strengthen Timothy inwardly at the deepest level of His being.
The Spirit confirms mutual abiding between God and the believer.
The Spirit confirms the truth of Christ’s mission and identity.
The Spirit’s indwelling presence confirms relationship and enables obedience.
Teaching is not neutral; it reflects a spiritual source.
The Spirit’s indwelling presence confirms genuine relationship with God.
Divine testimony confirms the identity and work of Christ.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Nominative · Singular · Neuter Matt 10:20 · Matt 12:43 · Matt 26:41 · Mark 1:12 · Mark 1:26 · Mark 5:8 · Mark 9:20 · Mark 9:25 · Mark 13:11 · Mark 14:38 · Luke 1:35 · Luke 1:47 · Luke 2:25 · Luke 4:18 · Luke 8:55 · Luke 9:39 93×
Nominative · Plural · Neuter Mark 3:11 · Mark 5:13 · Luke 10:20 · 1 Cor 14:32 · Heb 1:14 · Rev 4:5 · Rev 5:6 · Rev 16:14 8×
Genitive · Singular · Neuter Matt 1:18 · Matt 1:20 · Matt 4:1 · Matt 12:31 · Matt 12:32 · Matt 28:19 · Luke 1:15 · Luke 1:41 · Luke 1:67 · Luke 2:26 · Luke 4:1 · Luke 4:14 · John 3:5 · John 3:6 · John 3:8 · John 7:39 95×
Genitive · Plural · Neuter Matt 10:1 · Mark 6:7 · Luke 6:18 · Luke 7:21 · Luke 8:2 · Acts 5:16 · 1 Cor 12:10 · 1 Cor 14:12 · Heb 12:9 · Rev 1:4 · Rev 22:6 11×
Dative · Singular · Neuter Matt 3:11 · Matt 5:3 · Matt 12:28 · Matt 22:43 · Mark 1:8 · Mark 1:23 · Mark 2:8 · Mark 5:2 · Mark 8:12 · Mark 9:25 · Mark 12:36 · Luke 1:17 · Luke 1:80 · Luke 2:27 · Luke 3:16 · Luke 4:1 91×
Dative · Plural · Neuter Mark 1:27 · Luke 4:36 · 1 Tim 4:1 · Heb 12:23 · 1 Pet 3:19 5×
Accusative · Singular · Neuter Matt 3:16 · Matt 12:18 · Matt 27:50 · Mark 1:10 · Mark 3:29 · Mark 3:30 · Mark 7:25 · Mark 9:17 · Luke 3:22 · Luke 4:33 · Luke 11:13 · Luke 12:10 · Luke 13:11 · Luke 23:46 · Luke 24:37 · John 1:32 66×
Accusative · Plural · Neuter Matt 8:16 · Matt 12:45 · Luke 11:26 · Acts 8:7 · Acts 19:12 · Acts 19:13 · Heb 1:7 · 1 John 4:1 · Rev 3:1 · Rev 16:13 10×
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
1 John 3:19-24 Spirit pneûma
The Holy Spirit given to believers.
1 John 4:1-6 spirit pneûma Accusative · Plural · Neuter
Spiritual influence or empowering force behind teaching.
1 John 4:13-16 Spirit pneûma
The Holy Spirit given by God to believers.
1 John 5:6-12 Spirit pneûma
The Holy Spirit who bears truthful witness.
2 Timothy 4:19-22 Spirit pneûma
inner spirit, the immaterial aspect of a person
Acts 19:1-7 Holy Spirit pneûma
The Spirit belonging to God, holy and set apart.
Additional Occurrences
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
1 Corinthians 2 — The Spirit Reveals What the Cross Conceals from the Natural Mind Acts 1 — The Risen Christ Commissions His Waiting Witnesses Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Acts 16 — The Gospel Enters Macedonia: Opened Hearts, Broken Chains, and Household Faith Acts 17 — The Gospel Reasoned from Scripture and Proclaimed to the Nations Acts 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus Acts 2 — The Spirit Comes and Christ Is Proclaimed Acts 20 — Paul’s Farewell Charge to Shepherd the Church of God Acts 21 — Paul Goes to Jerusalem and Is Seized in the Temple Acts 23 — The Lord Stands Near Paul and Preserves His Witness Acts 28 — Paul in Rome: The Kingdom Proclaimed Without Hindrance Acts 4 — Christ Alone Saves and His Witnesses Speak Boldly Acts 5 — Holy Fear, Bold Witness, and Joyful Suffering Acts 6 — Word Ministry, Servant Leadership, and Stephen’s Faithful Witness Acts 8 — The Scattered Church Carries Christ Beyond Jerusalem Acts 9 — The Risen Christ Converts His Fiercest Persecutor Galatians 3 — Faith, Promise, and the Curse-Bearing Christ Galatians 4 — No Longer Slaves: Sonship, Pastoral Anguish, and Children of Promise Galatians 5 — Stand Firm in Freedom: Faith Working Through Love and Life by the Spirit Galatians 6 — Boasting Only in the Cross: Spirit-Shaped Community and New Creation John 1 — The Word Made Flesh, Witnessed, and Followed John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 3 — New Birth, Lifted-Up Son, and the Love of God for the World John 4 — Living Water, True Worship, and the Savior of the World John 6 — The Bread of Life, the Words of Eternal Life, and the Crisis of True Discipleship John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus Luke 1 — The Promised Savior Announced in the Fullness of Time Luke 10 — The Kingdom Mission Expanded, Mercy Defined, and the Better Portion Chosen Luke 11 — Prayer, Kingdom Conflict, True Hearing, and the Exposure of Hypocrisy Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Luke 3 — The Way Prepared, the Son Revealed, and the Lineage Traced Luke 4 — The Spirit-Anointed Son Tested, Rejected, and Proclaiming the Kingdom Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Mark 1 — The Beginning of the Gospel: The Servant-King Appears with Authority Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 14 — The Son of Man Handed Over: Anointing, Supper, Gethsemane, Betrayal, Trial, and Denial Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Mark 9 — Glory, Unbelief, Suffering, Humility, and Radical Discipleship Matthew 1 — The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus the Messiah Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 27 — Jesus Condemned, Crucified, Dead, Buried, and Guarded Matthew 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King Matthew 3 — The Forerunner, the Kingdom, and the Beloved Son Matthew 4 — The Tested Son, the Kingdom Proclaimed, and the First Disciples Called Matthew 5 — Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Philippians 3 — Counting All Things Loss and Pressing On Toward Christ Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 2 — God’s Righteous Judgment and the Exposure of Religious Presumption Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 7 — Released from the Law, Exposed by the Law, and Crying Out for Deliverance Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain