רוּחַ
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)
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What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
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Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does רוּחַ (rûaḥ) mean in the Bible?
רוּחַ (rûaḥ) is a Hebrew word meaning "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)". wind; by resemblance breath, i. Trustworthiness flows from inner moral character. This term runs through the canonical themes of Canonical Anchor, Messiah, Spirit.
Meaning
Invisible animating force: from physical wind/breath to spiritual presence, divine agency, and human consciousness.
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) BDB: breath Usage: air, anger, blast, breath, × cool, courage, mind, × quarter, × side, spirit(-ual), tempest, × vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
Why This Word Matters
Trustworthiness flows from inner moral character. Hosea 12:1-6
The Messiah’s authority and character flow from the Spirit’s abiding presence. Hosea 4:11-19
Giving birth to wind underscores futility without divine action. Hosea 4:11-19
Marks the divine source of renewal and transformation. Isaiah 11:1-10
The spirit of judgment and burning underscores that purification is accomplished by God’s active power. Isaiah 26:12-18
Symbolizes the insubstantial nature of false gods. Isaiah 32:9-20
Signals divine empowerment and renewal. Isaiah 4:2-6
Highlights divine empowerment in redemptive sending. Isaiah 41:21-29
Symbol of emptiness and futility.
Describes controlling impulse of idolatry.
Wind imagery signals impending dispersal judgment.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
Old Testament Witnesses
Showing 8 of 378 occurrences in the biblical text.
Cross-Language Connections
Greek words that correspond to or develop the meaning of this Hebrew word in the New Testament.
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.