| Strong’s Concordance – ruach: breath, wind, spirit – 7307 |
| Original Word: ר֫וּחַ – Part of Speech: Noun Feminine |
| Transliteration: ruach – Phonetic Spelling: (roo’-akh) – Short Definition: spirit |
When I study any book in the Bible, I usually review relevant aspects including words. In Ecclesiastes, Ruach is essential to the text. In looking at the occurrences of Ruach – ר֫וּח – through the Tanak, Old Testament, I have made seven groups of meaning.
| Emptiness like Grasping Wind | Spitit of Human Life Breath | Human Heart/Emotion |
| Evil Spirit from the Lord | God’s Wind | Spirit of God |
| Spirit of Wisdom, Counsel, Understanding, Judgement | ||
Below are the occurences of ruach through the Bible. Here I start with Ecclesiastes. From Ecclisiastes I list occurences in similar books, then the prophets, Psalms, and ending with the remaming occurences.
In Eccliesiastes ruach usually takes the meaning of grasping at air, pursuing uselessness. The next most occuring meaning is natural wind followed by ruach as human breath and human emotions of the heart.
These are the lists I put together for my study. In color coding the occurences of ruach through the Bible, a visual representation of the occurences of ruach can be considered. This benefits the survey by identifying how various authors have used ruach as well as its frequancy.
Ruach in Ecclesiastes |
| Ecclesiastes 1:6 NAS: the north, The wind continues |
| Ecclesiastes 1:6 NAS: And on its circular courses the wind returns. |
| Ecclesiastes 1:14 NAS: is vanity and striving after wind. |
| Ecclesiastes 2:11 NAS: and striving after wind and there was no |
| Ecclesiastes 2:17 NAS: is futility and striving after wind. |
| Ecclesiastes 2:26 NAS: is vanity and striving after wind. |
| Ecclesiastes 3:19 HEB: מ֣וֹת זֶ֔ה וְר֥וּחַ אֶחָ֖ד לַכֹּ֑ל18 I said to myself concerning the sons of men, “God has surely tested them in order for them to see that they are but beasts.” 19 For the fate of the sons of men and the fate of beasts is the same. As one dies so dies the other; indeed, they all have the same breath and there is no advantage for man over beast, for all is vanity. 20 All go to the same place. All came from the dust and all return to the dust. 21 Who knows that the breath of man ascends upward and the breath of the beast descends downward to the earth? 22 I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him? |
| Ecclesiastes 4:6 NAS: of labor and striving after wind. |
| Ecclesiastes 4:16 NAS: is vanity and striving after wind. |
| Ecclesiastes 5:16 NAS: to him who toils for the wind? |
| Ecclesiastes 6:9 NAS: is futility and a striving after wind. |
| Ecclesiastes 4:4 NAS: is vanity and striving after wind. |
| Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 HEB: 7 For oppression makes a wise man mad, And a bribe corrupts the heart. 8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning; Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit. 9 Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools. |
| Ecclesiastes 8:8 NAS: to restrain the wind with the wind, |
| Ecclesiastes 8:8 NAS: the wind with the wind, or authority |
| Ecclesiastes 10:4 HEB: אִם־ ר֤וּחַ הַמּוֹשֵׁל֙ תַּעֲלֶ֣ה 1 Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man’s heart directs him toward the right, but the foolish man’s heart directs him toward the left. 3 Even when the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking and he demonstrates to everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the ruler’s temper rises against you, do not abandon your position, because composure allays great offenses. |
| Ecclesiastes 11:4 HEB: שֹׁמֵ֥ר ר֖וּחַ לֹ֣א יִזְרָ֑ע Ecclesiastes 11:5 HEB: מַה־ דֶּ֣רֶךְ הָר֔וּחַ כַּעֲצָמִ֖ים בְּבֶ֣טֶן 4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap. 5 Just as you do not know the path of the wind and how bones are formed in the womb of the pregnant woman, so you do not know the activity of God who makes all things. 6 Sow your seed in the morning and do not be idle in the evening, for you do not know whether morning or evening sowing will succeed, or whether both of them alike will be good |
| Ecclesiastes 12:7 NAS: to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God |
Ruach in Proverbs |
| Proverbs 1:23 Wisdom talking NAS: I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make |
| Proverbs 11:13 KJV: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth |
| Proverbs 11:29 NAS: will inherit wind, And the foolish |
| Proverbs 14:29 KJV: but [he that is] hasty of spirit exalteth |
| Proverbs 15:4 NAS: in it crushes the spirit. |
| Proverbs 15:13 NAS: is sad, the spirit is broken |
| Proverbs 16:2 NAS: But the LORD weighs the motives. |
| Proverbs 16:18 NAS: And a haughty spirit before |
| Proverbs 16:32 NAS: And he who rules his spirit, than |
| Proverbs 18:14 NAS: The spirit of a man can endure |
| Proverbs 18:14 NAS: But [as for] a broken spirit who |
| Proverbs 25:14 NAS: [Like] clouds and wind without rain |
| Proverbs 25:23 NAS: The north wind brings forth rain, |
| Proverbs 25:28 NAS: has no control over his spirit. |
| Proverbs 27:16 NAS: her restrains the wind, And grasps |
| Proverbs 29:11 NAS: always loses his temper, But a wise man |
| Proverbs 29:23 NAS: But a humble spirit will obtain |
| Proverbs 30:4 NAS: has gathered the wind in His fists? |
Ruach in Psalms |
| Psalm 1:4 NAS: which the wind drives away. |
| Psalm 11:6 NAS: and burning wind will be the portion |
| Psalm 18:10 NAS: upon the wings of the wind. |
| Psalm 18:15 NAS: At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils |
| Psalm 18:42 NAS: before the wind; I emptied |
| Psalm 31:5 NAS: I commit my spirit; You have ransomed |
| Psalm 32:2 NAS: iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no |
| Psalm 33:6 NAS: were made, And by the breath of His mouth |
| Psalm 34:18 NAS: those who are crushed in spirit. |
| Psalm 35:5 NAS: before the wind, With the angel |
| Psalm 48:7 NAS: With the east wind You break the ships |
| Psalm 51:10 NAS: a steadfast spirit within |
| Psalm 51:11 NAS: Your Holy Spirit from me. |
| Psalm 51:12 NAS: And sustain me with a willing spirit. |
| Psalm 51:17 NAS: are a broken spirit; A broken |
| Psalm 55:8 NAS: From the stormy wind [and] tempest. |
| Psalm 76:12 NAS: He will cut off the spirit of princes; |
| Psalm 77:3 NAS: [When] I sigh, then my spirit grows faint. |
| Psalm 77:6 NAS: with my heart, And my spirit ponders: |
| Psalm 78:8 NAS: its heart And whose spirit was not faithful |
| Psalm 78:39 NAS: that they were but flesh, A wind that passes |
| Psalm 83:13 NAS: Like chaff before the wind. |
| Psalm 103:16 NAS: When the wind has passed over |
| Psalm 104:3 NAS: He walks upon the wings of the wind; |
| Psalm 104:4 NAS: He makes the winds His messengers |
| Psalm 104:29 NAS: You take away their spirit, they expire |
| Psalm 104:30 NAS: You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; |
| Psalm 106:33 NAS: against His Spirit, He spoke rashly |
| Psalm 107:25 NAS: up a stormy wind, Which lifted |
| Psalm 135:7 NAS: Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries. |
| Psalm 135:17idols no LifeNAS: is there any breath at all |
| Psalm 139:7 NAS: can I go from Your Spirit? Or where |
| Psalm 142:3 NAS: When my spirit was overwhelmed within |
| Psalm 143:4 NAS: Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed |
| Psalm 143:7 NAS: O LORD, my spirit fails; |
| Psalm 143:10 NAS: Let Your good Spirit lead |
| Psalm 146:4 4His spirit departs, he returns to the earth; In that very day his thoughts perish. |
| Psalm 147:18 NAS: and melts them; He causes His wind to blow |
| Psalm 148:8 NAS: Stormy wind, fulfilling |
Ruah in Isaiah |
| Isaiah 4:4-5 4When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, |
| Isaiah 7:2 NAS: of the forest shake with the wind. |
| The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him, |
| The spirit of wisdom and understanding, |
| The spirit of counsel and strength, The spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. |
| Isaiah 11:4 NAS: of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips |
| Isaiah 11:15 NAS: With His scorching wind; And He will strike |
| Isaiah 17:13 NAS: before the wind, Or like whirling dust |
| Isaiah 19:3 NAS: Then the spirit of the Egyptians |
| Isaiah 19:14 NAS: within her a spirit of distortion; |
| Isaiah 25:4 NAS: from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless |
| Isaiah 26:9 NAS: for You, Indeed, my spirit within |
| Isaiah 26:18 NAS: [in labor], We gave birth, as it seems, [only] to wind. We could not accomplish |
| Isaiah 27:8 NAS: With His fierce wind He has expelled |
| Isaiah 28:6 NAS: A spirit of justice for him who sits |
| Isaiah 29:10 NAS: over you a spirit of deep sleep, |
| Isaiah 29:24 NAS: Those who err in mind will know |
| Isaiah 30:1 NAS: an alliance, but not of My Spirit, In order |
| Isaiah 30:28 NAS: His breath is like an overflowing |
| Isaiah 31:3 NAS: are flesh and not spirit; So the LORD |
| Isaiah 32:2 NAS: will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter |
| Isaiah 32:15 NAS: Until the Spirit is poured |
| Isaiah 33:11 NAS: to stubble; My breath will consume |
| Isaiah 34:16 NAS: has commanded, And His Spirit has gathered |
| Isaiah 37:7 NAS: I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear |
| Isaiah 38:16 NAS: these is the life of my spirit; O restore me to health |
| Isaiah 40:7 NAS: When the breath of the LORD |
| Isaiah 40:13 NAS: has directed the Spirit of the LORD, |
| Isaiah 41:16 NAS: You will winnow them, and the wind will carry |
| Isaiah 41:29 NAS: Their molten images are wind and emptiness. thless their works are wind and emptiness their molten |
| Isaiah 42:1 NAS: I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth |
| Isaiah 42:5 NAS: to the people on it And spirit to those who walk |
| Isaiah 44:3 NAS: I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring |
| Isaiah 48:16 NAS: GOD has sent Me, and His Spirit. |
| Isaiah 54:6 NAS: and grieved in spirit, Even like a wife |
| Isaiah 57:13 NAS: [of idols] deliver you. But the wind will carry |
| Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, I dwell a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite. |
| Isaiah 57:16 NAS: be angry; For the spirit would grow faint |
| Isaiah 59:19 NAS: stream Which the wind of the LORD |
| Isaiah 59:21 NAS: the LORD: My Spirit which |
| Isaiah 61:1 NAS: The Spirit of the Lord GOD |
| Isaiah 61:3 NAS: instead of a spirit of fainting. |
| Isaiah 63:10 NAS: His Holy Spirit; Therefore He turned |
| Isaiah 63:11 NAS: His Holy Spirit in the midst |
| Isaiah 63:14 NAS: into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD |
| Isaiah 64:6 NAS: And our iniquities, like the wind, take |
| Isaiah 65:14 NAS: with a broken spirit. |
| Isaiah 66:2 NAS: and contrite of spirit, and who trembles |
Ruach in Jeremiah |
| Jeremiah 2:24 NAS: That sniffs the wind in her passion. |
| Jeremiah 4:11 NAS: A scorching wind from the bare heights |
| Jeremiah 4:12 NAS: a wind too strong |
| Jeremiah 5:13 NAS: The prophets are [as] wind, And the word |
| Jeremiah 10:13 NAS: And brings out the wind from His storehouses. |
| Jeremiah 10:14 NAS: And there is no breath in them. |
| Jeremiah 13:24 NAS: straw To the desert wind. |
| Jeremiah 14:6 NAS: They pant for air like jackals, |
| Jeremiah 18:17 NAS: Like an east wind I will scatter |
| Jeremiah 22:22 NAS: The wind will sweep away |
| Jeremiah 49:32 NAS: to all the winds those who cut |
| Jeremiah 49:36 NAS: the four winds From the four |
| Jeremiah 49:36 NAS: these winds; And there |
| Jeremiah 51:1 NAS: of Leb-kamai The spirit of a destroyer. |
| Jeremiah 51:11 NAS: has aroused the spirit of the kings |
| Jeremiah 51:16 NAS: And brings forth the wind from His storehouses. |
| Jeremiah 52:23 NAS: There were ninety-six exposed pomegranates; |
Ruach in Lamentations |
| Lamentations 4:20 NAS: The breath of our nostrils, the LORD’S |
Ruach in Genesis |
| Genesis 1:2 NAS: of the deep, and the Spirit of God |
| Genesis 3:8 NAS: in the garden in the cool of the day, |
| Genesis 6:3 NAS: said, My Spirit shall not strive |
| Genesis 6:17 NAS: in which is the breath of life, |
| Genesis 7:15 NAS: flesh in which was the breath of life. |
| Genesis 7:22 NAS: was the breath of the spirit of life, |
| Genesis 8:1 NAS: and God caused a wind to pass |
| Genesis 26:35 KJV: Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac |
| Genesis 41:8 NAS: Now in the morning his spirit was troubled, |
| Genesis 41:38 NAS: in whom is a divine spirit? |
| Genesis 45:27 NAS: to carry him, the spirit of their father |
| Emptiness like Wind | Spitit of Human Life Breath | Human Heart/Emotion |
| Evil Spirit from the Lord | Natural Wind from God | Spirit of God |
| Spirit of Wisdom, Counsel, Understanding, Judgement | ||
Joshua & Judges |
||
| Joshua 2:11 | Joshua 5:1 | Judges 3:10 |
| Judges 6:34 | Judges 8:3 | Judges 9:23 |
| Judges 11:29 | Judges 13:25 | Judges 14:6 |
| Judges 14:19 | Judges 15:14 | Judges 15:19 |
Ruach in Ezra & Nehemiah |
||
| Ezra 1:1 | Ezra 1:5 | Nehemiah 9:20 |