רוּחַ (H7307) — Hebrew Lexicon

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.

Translation Consistency

primary "spirit" 36 occurrences

'Spirit' is the most frequent and natural single-word rendering across the full semantic range of רוּחַ (wind, breath, animating force, disposition, divine presence). It covers both the abstract (spirit, disposition, courage, anger, divine Spirit) and the vital/breath sense more naturally than 'wind' or 'breath' and thus best preserves typical biblical usage while keeping consistency across all forms.

Alternatives (14 occurrences):

"wind" (7x) "breath of" (3x) "spirit-of" (2x) "breath-spirit" (1x) "wind-breath" (1x)

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

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

רוּחַ (rûwach) — to breathe, to blow, to smell, to perceive by scent

Root רוּחַ to blow, to breathe, to smell

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
H7306	רוּחַ	I cause to smell
H7308	רוּחַ	breath-wind of

Word Forms

33 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`H7307-16`	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	spirit	breath of	spirit of	206
`H7307-30`	וְ/ר֣וּחַ	verucha	`HC/Ncbsa`	and wind	and wind-of	and spirit-of	38
`H7307-22`	רוּחִ֔/י	ruchi	`HNcbsc/Sp1cs`	my spirit	my breath-spirit	my breath-spirit	29
`H7307-07`	הָ/ר֨וּחַ	harucha	`HTd/Ncbsa`	the spirit	the wind-breath	the spirit	19
`H7307-23`	רוּח֖/וֹ	rucho	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	his spirit	his animating breath	his spirit	15
`H7307-24`	רוּח֔וֹת	ruchot	`HNcbpa`	winds	winds	winds	10
`H7307-02`	בְּ/ר֨וּחַ	berucha	`HR/Ncbsc`	with wind	in wind	in spirit	6
`H7307-06`	בְּ/רוּח֥/וֹ	berucho	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms`	with his wind	in his breath-spirit	in his spirit	5
`H7307-12`	לְ/ר֣וּחַ	lerucha	`HR/Ncbsc`	[as]-wind	to wind	a spirit	4
`H7307-27`	וּ/בְ/ר֤וּחַ	uverucha	`HC/R/Ncbsc`	and at the blast	and in wind-breath	and at the wind-breath	4
`H7307-03`	בְּ/רוּחֲ/ךָ֖	beruchakha	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp2ms`	of your spirit	in your breath-wind	in your spirit	3
`H7307-08`	הָ/רֻח֣וֹת	haruchot	`HTd/Ncbpa`	of the spirits	the winds	the spirits	3
`H7307-11`	לָ/רֽוּחַ	larucha	`HRd/Ncbsa`	for the wind	to wind-breath	for wind-breath	3
`H7307-18`	רוּחֲ/ךָ֣	ruchakha	`HNcbsc/Sp2ms`	your spirit	your breath-wind	your spirit	3
`H7307-19`	רֽוּחֲ/כֶ֖ם	ruchakhem	`HNcbsc/Sp2mp`	of-your-spirit	your breath-spirit	your spirit	3
`H7307-20`	רוּחָ֖/ם	rucham	`HNcbsc/Sp3mp`	their spirit	their breath-wind	their spirit	3
`H7307-33`	וְ/רוּח֞/וֹ	verucho	`HC/Ncbsc/Sp3ms`	and his Spirit	and his breath-spirit	and his spirit	3
`H7307-04`	בְּ/ר֣וּחֲ/כֶ֔ם	beruchakhem	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp2mp`	in-your-spirit	in your breath-wind	in your spirit	2
`H7307-09`	כָּ/ר֥וּחַ	karucha	`HRd/Ncbsa`	as the wind	like wind-breath	like spirit	2
`H7307-25`	וּ/לְ/ר֖וּחַ	ulerucha	`HC/R/Ncbsc`	and-for-a-spirit	and to wind-breath	and to spirit	2
`H7307-28`	בָ/ר֨וּחַ֙	varucha	`HRd/Ncbsa`	in-the-spirit	in wind-breath	in spirit	2
`H7307-31`	בְ/רוּחֲ/ךָ֖	veruchakha	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp2ms`	and-your-good-Spirit	and your breath-spirit	and your spirit	2
`H7307-01`	בָּ/ר֨וּחַ֙	barucha	`HRd/Ncbsa`		wind-breath	in wind-breath	1
`H7307-05`	בְּ/רוּחִ֔/י	beruchi	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp1cs`	by my Spirit	by my breath-wind	by my spirit	1
`H7307-10`	כְּ/רֽוּחַ	kerucha	`HR/Ncbsc`	like a wind	like wind-breath	like east-wind	1
`H7307-13`	לְ/רוּחֽ/וֹ	lerucho	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp3ms`	over his spirit	to his breath	over his spirit	1
`H7307-14`	מֵ/ר֖וּחַ	merucha	`HR/Ncbsa`	from wind	from wind-breath	from wind-breath	1
`H7307-15`	מֵ/רוּחֶ֑/ךָ	meruchekha	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp2ms`	from your Spirit	from your breath-wind	from your Spirit	1
`H7307-17`	ר֑וּחָ/ה	ruchah	`HNcbsa/Sd`	on the side	wind-breath	side	1
`H7307-21`	רוּחֶ֑/ךָ	ruchekha	`HNcbsc/Sp2ms`	your spirit	your breath-spirit	your spirit	1
`H7307-26`	וּ/מֵ/ר֖וּחַ	umerucha	`HC/R/Ncbsc`	and by the breath	and from wind of	and from wind of	1
`H7307-29`	וְ/הָ/ר֣וּחַ	veharucha	`HC/Td/Ncbsa`	and the spirit	and the wind-breath	and the wind-breath	1
`H7307-32`	וְ/רוּחִ֖/י	veruchi	`HC/Ncbsc/Sp1cs`	and my Spirit	and my spirit-breath	and my spirit-breath	1

Occurrences in Scripture

378 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`H7307-30`	Genesis 1:2	וְ/ר֣וּחַ	verucha	`HC/Ncbsc`	and the Spirit	and wind-of	and Spirit of
`H7307-12`	Genesis 3:8	לְ/ר֣וּחַ	lerucha	`HR/Ncbsc`	in the cool	to wind	at the wind
`H7307-22`	Genesis 6:3	רוּחִ֤/י	ruchi	`HNcbsc/Sp1cs`	my Spirit	my breath-spirit	my breath-spirit
`H7307-16`	Genesis 6:17	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	breath	breath of	breath of
`H7307-16`	Genesis 7:15	ר֥וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	breath	breath of	breath of
`H7307-16`	Genesis 7:22	ר֨וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsa`	of the spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Genesis 8:1	ר֨וּחַ֙	rucha	`HNcbsa`	a wind	breath of	a wind
`H7307-16`	Genesis 26:35	ר֑וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsa`	of spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-23`	Genesis 41:8	רוּח֔/וֹ	rucho	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	his spirit	his animating breath	his spirit
`H7307-16`	Genesis 41:38	ר֥וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	the Spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Genesis 45:27	ר֖וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	spirit	breath of	breath of
`H7307-16`	Exodus 6:9	ר֔וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsa`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Exodus 10:13	ר֥וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	wind	breath of	wind
`H7307-30`	Exodus 10:13	וְ/ר֨וּחַ֙	verucha	`HC/Ncbsc`	and the wind	and wind-of	and wind
`H7307-16`	Exodus 10:19	רֽוּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	wind	breath of	wind
`H7307-02`	Exodus 14:21	בְּ/ר֨וּחַ	berucha	`HR/Ncbsc`	with wind	in wind	with wind
`H7307-27`	Exodus 15:8	וּ/בְ/ר֤וּחַ	uverucha	`HC/R/Ncbsc`	and at the blast	and in wind-breath	and at the wind-breath
`H7307-31`	Exodus 15:10	בְ/רוּחֲ/ךָ֖	veruchakha	`HR/Ncbsc/Sp2ms`	with Your wind	and your breath-spirit	by your wind
`H7307-16`	Exodus 28:3	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Exodus 31:3	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	with spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-23`	Exodus 35:21	רוּח֜/וֹ	rucho	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	his spirit	his animating breath	his spirit
`H7307-16`	Exodus 35:31	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Numbers 5:14	רֽוּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Numbers 5:14	רֽוּחַ	rucha-2	`HNcbsc`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Numbers 5:30	ר֥וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-07`	Numbers 11:17	הָ/ר֛וּחַ	harucha	`HTd/Ncbsa`	the-Spirit	the wind-breath	the spirit
`H7307-07`	Numbers 11:25	הָ/ר֨וּחַ֙	harucha	`HTd/Ncbsa`	the Spirit	the wind-breath	the spirit
`H7307-07`	Numbers 11:25	הָ/ר֔וּחַ	harucha-2	`HTd/Ncbsa`	the Spirit	the wind-breath	the spirit
`H7307-07`	Numbers 11:26	הָ/ר֗וּחַ	harucha	`HTd/Ncbsa`	the Spirit	the wind-breath	the spirit
`H7307-23`	Numbers 11:29	רוּח֖/וֹ	rucho	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	his Spirit	his animating breath	his spirit
`H7307-30`	Numbers 11:31	וְ/ר֜וּחַ	verucha	`HC/Ncbsa`	and a wind	and wind-of	and spirit-of
`H7307-16`	Numbers 14:24	ר֤וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsa`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-08`	Numbers 16:22	הָ/רוּחֹ֖ת	haruchot	`HTd/Ncbpa`	of the spirits	the winds	the spirits
`H7307-16`	Numbers 24:2	ר֥וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	Spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-08`	Numbers 27:16	הָ/רוּחֹ֖ת	haruchot	`HTd/Ncbpa`	of the spirits	the winds	the spirits
`H7307-16`	Numbers 27:18	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsa`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-23`	Deuteronomy 2:30	רוּח֗/וֹ	rucho	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	his spirit	his animating breath	his spirit
`H7307-16`	Deuteronomy 34:9	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	with the spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Joshua 2:11	ר֛וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsa`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Joshua 5:1	ר֔וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsa`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Judges 3:10	רֽוּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	Spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-30`	Judges 6:34	וְ/ר֣וּחַ	verucha	`HC/Ncbsc`	and-the-Spirit	and wind-of	and spirit-of
`H7307-20`	Judges 8:3	רוּחָ/ם֙	rucham	`HNcbsc/Sp3mp`	their anger	their breath-wind	their spirit
`H7307-16`	Judges 9:23	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsa`	spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Judges 11:29	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	the Spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Judges 13:25	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	Spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Judges 14:6	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	Spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Judges 14:19	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	Spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-16`	Judges 15:14	ר֣וּחַ	rucha	`HNcbsc`	Spirit	breath of	spirit of
`H7307-23`	Judges 15:19	רוּח֖/וֹ	rucho	`HNcbsc/Sp3ms`	his spirit	his animating breath	his spirit

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