רוּחַ
𐤓𐤅𐤇
rûwach
H7307 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
רוּחַ (rûaḥ) most fundamentally refers to air in motion, that is, wind or breath, with extended meanings encompassing both natural and anthropomorphic senses. It denotes (1) wind—atmospheric movement; (2) breath—the vital force animating living beings; (3) by extension, spirit—as an invisible, animating quality, particularly of humans or supernatural beings; (4) disposition or state of mind—ranging from courage and will to anger or mood. Less commonly, it can refer to the direction from which the wind blows (a 'quarter' or region). The term is used both concretely (physical wind, breath) and abstractly (vital, mental, or spiritual faculties). The semantic range further covers idiomatic senses such as vanity or unsubstantiality, where something is likened to insubstantial wind.
Semantic Range
wind, breath, spirit, emotional state, courage, anger, attitude, animating force of life, direction (quarter), vanity, unsubstantiality, divine or supernatural presence
Root / Etymology
From the root ריח (ר-ו-ח), meaning 'to blow, breathe, smell.' רוּחַ is the nominal form referring to the result or product of blowing or breathing: wind, breath, or an animating element. Although the same spelling is used for the root and the noun, the root concept is the physical or vital act of blowing or movement of air.
Historical & Contextual Notes
רוּחַ occurs throughout the Hebrew Bible, where its usage often depends on context to distinguish 'wind,' 'breath,' or 'spirit.' In early Israelite texts, it predominantly refers to literal wind or breath. Over time, especially in poetic and prophetic literature, רוּחַ acquires metaphorical connotations, representing inner qualities or divine activity (e.g., 'spirit of Yhwh'). The term may denote emotional states (e.g., troubled spirit, afflicted spirit), attitudes (e.g., 'spirit of wisdom'), or personal resolve. Later biblical and Second Temple texts increasingly use רוּחַ for supernatural beings or powers. English translations often use 'spirit,' but the Hebrew word does not carry the strict philosophical or religious sense of a distinct, immaterial soul as in some later traditions. Other Hebrew terms for soul or life, such as נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh), overlap but do not fully equate with רוּחַ; נֶפֶשׁ generally refers more to the 'self' or physical life, while רוּחַ highlights movement, force, or invisible energy. In later periods, especially in post-biblical and rabbinic literature, רוּחַ develops further to embrace ideas of personal or divine presence. The translation 'Jew' or 'Jewish spirit' for רוּחַ appears only in much later contexts and is anachronistic for biblical usage.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from 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); air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
Bantu Hebrew
| Language | Bantu Word | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swahili | Roho | Roho | spirit, soul |
Root Family
רוח (r-w-ḥ) — blowing, breathing, moving air
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H7304 | רָוַח | those given relief |
| H7305 | רֶוַח | open relief-space |
| H7306 | רוּחַ | I cause to smell |
| H7308 | רוּחַ | breath-wind of |
| H7309 | רְוָחָה | breathing space |
Word Forms
33 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7307-16 |
ר֣וּחַ | rucha | HNcbsc |
spirit | breath of | 206 |
H7307-30 |
וְ/ר֣וּחַ | verucha | HC/Ncbsc |
and wind | and wind-of | 38 |
H7307-22 |
רוּחִ֤/י | ruchi | HNcbsc/Sp1cs |
my spirit | my breath-spirit | 29 |
H7307-07 |
הָ/ר֛וּחַ | harucha | HTd/Ncbsa |
the spirit | the wind-breath | 19 |
H7307-23 |
רוּח֔/וֹ | rucho | HNcbsc/Sp3ms |
his spirit | his animating breath | 15 |
H7307-24 |
רוּח֗וֹת | ruchot | HNcbpa |
winds | winds | 10 |
H7307-02 |
בְּ/ר֨וּחַ | berucha | HR/Ncbsc |
with wind | in wind | 6 |
H7307-06 |
בְּ/רוּח֥/וֹ | berucho | HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms |
with his wind | in his breath-spirit | 5 |
H7307-27 |
וּ/בְ/ר֤וּחַ | uverucha | HC/R/Ncbsc |
and at the blast | and in wind-breath | 4 |
H7307-12 |
לְ/ר֣וּחַ | lerucha | HR/Ncbsc |
[as]-wind | to wind | 4 |
Occurrences in Scripture
378 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H7307-30 |
Genesis 1:2 | וְ/ר֣וּחַ | verucha | HC/Ncbsc |
and the Spirit | and wind-of |
H7307-12 |
Genesis 3:8 | לְ/ר֣וּחַ | lerucha | HR/Ncbsc |
in the cool | to wind |
H7307-22 |
Genesis 6:3 | רוּחִ֤/י | ruchi | HNcbsc/Sp1cs |
my Spirit | my breath-spirit |
H7307-16 |
Genesis 6:17 | ר֣וּחַ | rucha | HNcbsc |
breath | breath of |
H7307-16 |
Genesis 7:15 | ר֥וּחַ | rucha | HNcbsc |
breath | breath of |
H7307-16 |
Genesis 7:22 | ר֨וּחַ | rucha | HNcbsa |
of the spirit | breath of |
H7307-16 |
Genesis 8:1 | ר֨וּחַ֙ | rucha | HNcbsa |
a wind | breath of |
H7307-16 |
Genesis 26:35 | ר֑וּחַ | rucha | HNcbsa |
of spirit | breath of |
H7307-23 |
Genesis 41:8 | רוּח֔/וֹ | rucho | HNcbsc/Sp3ms |
his spirit | his animating breath |
H7307-16 |
Genesis 41:38 | ר֥וּחַ | rucha | HNcbsc |
the Spirit | breath of |