--- title: רוּחַ — breath · The Tanakh dictionary description: רוּחַ (7307), a word of Biblical Hebrew, used 378 times: breath. BDB 1906: n.f. With 2 verses in Hebrew, word for word and JPS 1917. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/7307.html) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [Tanakh](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/) / [ר](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1512.md)‎ / רוּחַ‎ # רוּחַ «רוּחַ» in the Tanakh dictionary: **breath** — how often it is used, MACULA's glosses, its meanings in the printed dictionaries and why they were chosen, and 2 verses in layers. **Used:** 378 times · **Key:** 7307 · **BDB:** רוּחַ ### Glosses spirit (80); the.spirit (62); a.spirit (48) ### Meaning (OSHB) breath [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1512/7307/#m1) ### Meaning (BDB 1906) n.f. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1512/7307/#m2) **The whole BDB entry:** n.f. Gn 41:8 (less often m. Nu 11:31) breath, wind, spirit;—abs. ר׳ Gn 8:1 +, ר֑וּחָה Je 52:23; cstr. רוּחַ Gn 6:17 +; sf. רוּחִי v 3 +, רוּחֲךָ ψ 104:30 +, etc.; pl. רוּחוֹת v 4 +, רֻחוֹת Je 49:36, רוּחֹת Nu 16:22; 26:16 (v. Brרוה in OT, JBL xix (1900), 132 ff., full statement of all passages);— breath of mouth or nostrils (33 times): רוּחַ פִּיו Jb 15:30 breath of his mouth, cf. 19:17; רוּחַ אַפֵּינוּ La 4:20 (fig. of king), of idols לֹא רוּחַ בָּם Je 10:14 = 51:17, Hb 2:19 ψ 135:17; cf. Jb. 9:18 as mere breath: cf. 2 e. דִּבְרֵי־רוּחַ Jb 16:3 i.e. windy words; לְרוּחַ אִמְרֵי נוֹאָשׁ Jb 6:26, הַנְּבִיאִים יִהְיוּ לְרוּחַ Je 5:13. as word of command: (1) of God: בְּרוּחַ פִּיו כָּל־ (נעשׂו) צְבָאָם ψ 33:6, cf. Is 34:16 (‖ פֶּה); (2) of Messianic king: בְּרוּחַ שְׂפָתָיו יָמִית רָשָׁע Is 11:4. as hard breathing through the nostrils in anger: (1) of God: מֵרוּחַ אַפּוֹ יִכְלוּ Jb 4:9 Ex 15:8 (poem), 2 S 22:16 = ψ 18:16, Is 30:28; 59:19; (2) of man: רוּחַ עָרִיצִים Is 25:4. as sign and symbol of life: רוּחַ חַוִּים breath of life Gn 6:17; 7:15 (P); נִשְׁמַת רוּחַ חַיִּים בְּאַפָּיו Gn 7:22 (P); Ez 37:5, cf. v 6, 8, 9(×3), 10, 14 (breath or spirit), Ec 3:19. wind (117 times): wind of heaven: Gn 8:1 (P) Ex 15:10 (E) Nu 11:31 (J) 1 K 18:45 +, Je 10:13, thence 51:16 ψ 135:7; רוּחַ י׳ Ho 13:15 Is 40:7, cf. Jb 26:13 (Di Bu); †רוּחַ (ה)קָדִים east wind Ex 10:13(×2); 14:21 (J) ψ 48:8 Je 18:17 Ez 17:10; 19:12; 27:26 Jon 4:8; †ר׳ צָפוֹן north wind Pr 25:23; †ר׳ יָם sea wind (west wind) Ex 10:19 (J); †ר׳ הַיּוֹם day wind, evening wind Gn 3:8 (J; cf. Ct 2:17; 4:6); †אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת four winds Je 49:36 Ez 37:9 (quarters?) Dn 8:8; 11:4 (fig. quarters; cf. b), Zc 2:10; 6:5; רוּחַ סְעָרָה storm wind ψ 107:25; 148:8 Ez 1:4 (ר׳ סְעָרוֹת), 13:11, 13; רוּחַ סֹעָה rushing wind ψ 55:9 (read poss. סערה Hup); בַּעְיָם רוּחוֹ Is 11:15 (read בְּעֹצֶם ר׳, v. עֲיָם, עֹצֶם), etc.; wind personif.: כַּנְפֵי רוּחַ 2 S 22:11 = ψ 18:11, 104:3, cf. Ho 4:19 ψ 104:4. quarter (of wind), side: רוּחַ הַקָּדִים Ez 42:16 east side; רוּחַ הַצָּפוֹן v 17 north side; רוּחַ הַדָּרוֹם v 18 south side; רוּחַ הַיָּם v 19 west side; אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת v 20 1 Ch 9:24 four sides; ר֑וּחָה Je 52:23 on the sides. breath of air: שָׁאֲפוּ רוּחַ כַּתַּנִּים Je 14:6; רוּחַ לֹא יָבֹא בֵינֵיהֶם Jb 41:8. air, gas, from womb (dub.); כְּמוֹ יָלַדְנוּ רוּחַ Is 26:18 (Di, e); רוּחֲכֶם אֵשׁ תֹּאכַלְכֶם (RV breath) Is 33:11 (Du, 3 c). vain, empty thing: רוּחַ חַיְּי֑ Jb 7:7 my life is wind; דַּעַת רוּחַ 15:2; רוּחַ וָתֹהוּ נִסְכֵּיהֶם Is 41:29; רְעוּת רוּחַ striving for wind Ec 1:14; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6; 6:9; cf. 1:17; 4:16; 5:15 Ho 12:2 ψ 78:39. spirit, as breathing quickly in animation, agitation = temper, disposition (76 times; so, distinctively, as compared with נֶפֶשׁ and לֵבָב): spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour: לֹא הָיָה בָהּ עוֹד רוּחַ 1 K 10:5 = 2 Ch 9:4; מַה־זֶּה רוּחֲךָ סָרָה 1 K 21:5; וַתְּחִי רוּחַ Gn 45:27 (E); וַתָּשָׁב רוּחוֹ Ju 15:19; 1 S 30:12. courage: לֹא הָיָה בָם עוֹד ר׳ Jos 5:1; יִבְצֹר ר׳ נְגִידִים ψ 76:13; וְנָֽבְקָה ר׳ מִצְרַיִם Is 19:3; תתעטּף רוּחִי ψ 77:4; 142:4; 143:4; עוֹד ר׳ לֹא קָמָה Jos 2:11; ר׳ אִישׁ יְכַלְכֵּל מַחֲלֵהוּ Pr 18:14. temper, especially anger: רוּחָ רָעָה בֵּין וגו׳ Ju 9:23; אָז רָֽפְתָה רוּחָם 8:3; משֵׁל בְּרוּחוֹ Pr 16:32, cf. 25:28; 29:11; Jb 15:13; הֵנִיחוּ אֶת־רוּחִי Zc 6:8; Ec 7:9; 10:4. impatience or patience: קֹצֶר רוּחַ Ex 6:9 (P) impatience, hastiness of temper, cf. (of י׳) Mi 2:7; קְצַר־רוּחַ Pr 14:29 (‖ אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם); הֱצִיקַתְנִי רוּחַ בִּטְנִי Jb 32:18 (Du breath; Di Bu divine spirit, cf. v 8); אִם מַדּוּעַ לֹא־תִקְצַר רוּחִי Jb 21:4; הֲקָצַר רוּחַ י׳ Mi 2:7; אֶרֶךְ ר׳ Ec 7:8. spirit, disposition, as troubled, bitter, or discontented; וַתִּפָּעֶם רוּח(י) (his) spirit was troubled Gn 41:8 (E) Dn 2:3, cf. v 1; מֹרַת רוּחַ Gn 26:35 (P) bitterness of spirit; עֲצוּבַת ר׳ Is 54:6, cf. Ez 3:14; Jb 6:4. as crushed: וְכִהֲתָה כָל־רוּחַ Ez 21:12, cf. Is 61:3; Pr 15:4, 13; 17:22; 18:14 ψ 143:7. disposition of various kinds, often unaccountable and uncontrollable impulse: הֵעִיר אֶת־רוּחַ 1 Ch 5:26(×2;) 2 Ch 21:16; 36:22; Ezr 1:1, 5; Je 51:11; Hg 1:14(×3); הִנְנִי ן(וֹ)תֵן בּוֹ רוּחַ 2 K 19:7 = Is 37:7; Nu 14:24 (J; v. עִם 4 b), Mal 2:15(×2), 16; Dt 2:30; רוּחַ קִנְאָה jealous disposition Nu 5:14(×2), 30 (P); רוּחַ זְנוּנִים Ho 4:12; 5:4; רוּחַ עִוְעִים Is 19:14; רוּחַ מִשְׁפָּט 28:6; אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בּוֹ (administrative) Gn 41:38 (E); קַר רוּחַ אִישׁ תְּבוּנָה Pr 17:27. prophetic spirit: יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־ רוּחַ בּוֹ Nu 27:18 (P; or g, as Gn 41:38); רוּחַ אֵלִיָּהוּ עַל־אֱלִישָׁע 2 K 2:15, cf. v 9; רוּחַ תַּרְדֵּמָה spirit of deep sleep (ecstatic, cf. Gn 2:21; 15:12, but Di al. g, as Is 19:14) Is 29:10; Mi 2:11; רוּחַ הַטֻּמְאָה Zc 13:2 (of lying proph.), cf. Ez 13:3. spirit of the living, breathing being, dwelling in the בָּשָׂר of men and animals, ‖ נֶפֶשׁ (25 times): gift and creation of God: יֹצֵר רוּחַ אָדָם בְּקִרְבּוֹ Zc 12:1; רוּחַ אֱלוֹהַּ בְּאַפִּי Jb 27:3, cf. Is 42:5. God preserves it: פְּקֻדָּֽתְךָ שָֽׁמְרָה רוּחִי Jb 10:12, cf. 12:10; אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂ֑ר Nu 16:22; 27:16 (P); תֹּכֵן רוּחוֹת Pr 16:2. it is therefore God’s spirit: Gn 6:3 (J; v. דִּין ad fin.). it departs at death: ψ 78:39 (Dr a wind that passeth away 2 e); חַיֵּי רוּחִי Is 38:16 (Di principle of life), ψ 146:4; especially 104:29, 30; Jb 17:1; 34:14 (cf. v 15), Is 57:16; Ec 8:8(×2) (wind Wild); אֵינְךָ יוֹדֵעַ מַה־דֶּרֶךְ הָרוּחַ Ec 11:5, cf. 3:21; over ag. הָרוּחַ תָּשׁוּב אֶל־הָאֱלֹהִים אֲשֶׁר נְתָנָהּ 12:7; בְּיָֽדְךָ אַפְקִיד רוּחִי ψ 31:6. disembodied being (dub., Di Du breath of wind): וְרוּחַ עַל־פָּנַי יַחֲלֹף Jb 4:15. spirit as seat of emotion = נֶפֶשׁ: desire (poss. 3 g), Is 26:9 (‖ נֶפֶשׁ). sorrow, trouble (prob. 3 e), Jb 7:11 (‖ נֶפֶשׁ).—1 S 1:15 v. קָשֶׁה. occasionally (and late) = seat or organ of mental acts, ‖ לֵב, or synon. with it: רוּחַ חָכְמָה Ex 28:3; Dt 34:9 (both P; prob. 3 g); תֹּעֵי רוּחַ Is 29:24, cf. Jb 20:3 (Hi Bu Du wind of Job’s words), ψ 77:7 (𝔊 Sym 𝔖 Jer troubled disposition); רוּחַ יהוה Is 40:13; come into mind Ez 11:5, 20:32 (cf. לֵב Is 65:17; Je 3:16 +); 1 Ch 28:12. rarely of the will; also = לֵב: רוּחַ נָכוֹן ψ 51:12 (= לֵב נָכוֹן 57:8(×2) +); רוּחַ נְדִיבָה v 14; נָֽדְבָה רוּחוֹ Ex 35:21 (P; cf. נְדִיב לֵב Ex 35:5, 22 (P) 2 Ch 29:31). רוּחַ especially of moral character; also = לֵב: רוחֵ חֲדָשָׁה Ez 11:19; 18:31; 36:26; רוּחִו v 27 Is 59:21 (רוּחִי, ‖ דְּבָרַי; but prob. prophetic spirit 9 b); לֵב חָדָשׁ Ez 18:31; 36:26; נְכֵה רוּחַ Is 66:2; דַּכְּאֵי רוּחַ ψ 34:19 (cf. לֵב נִדְכָּאִים Is 57:15); מִשֵּׁבֶר רוּחַ Is 65:14 (cf. 3 f); רוּחַ נִשְׁבָּרָה ψ 51:19; (‖ לֵב נִשְׁבָּר, cf. נִשְׁבְּרֵי לֵב 34:19 Is 61:1); ψ 32:2; Pr 11:13; 16:18 ψ 78:8 Ec 7:8 (cf. גְּבַהּ לֵב Pr 16:5); שְׁפַל רוּחַ Pr 16:19; 29:23; Is 57:15; רוּחַ שְׁפָלִים v 15 (cf. 3 f). spirit of God (94 times; not D or Je or any Deut. writer; conception of its activity in inspiring prophecy prob. discredited from abuse by false prophets, v. נביא, נבא): as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy, Nu 11:17, 25(×2), 26, 29 (J), 1 S 10:6, 10 (cf. v 5), 19:20, 23; as inciting to deeds of frenzy, in the ecstatic state; hence conceived as ר׳ אֱלֹהִים רָעָה 1 S 16:15(×2), 16, = ר׳ רָעָה מֵאֵת י׳ v 14 = צלח ר׳ א׳ רָעָה 18:10 (other narrative) = ר׳ י׳ רָעָה 19:9; ר׳ א׳ 16:23 = רוּחַ הָרָעָה v 23, cf. הָרוּחַ 1 K 22:21 = ר׳ שֶׁקֶר v 22, 23 = 2 Ch 18:20, 21, 22 = רוּחַ י׳ 1 K 22:24 = 2 Ch 18:23; cf. also (in earlier prophets) אִישׁ הָרוּחַ, i.e. one possessed by the spirit in the ecstatic state, ‖ הַנָּבִיא Ho 9:7; רוּחַ י׳ Mi 3:8 (‖ כֹּחַ) is prob. gloss. (We Now); וְלֹא רוּחִי Is 30:1; רוּחַ dealing with Ezek.: Ez 2:2; 3:12, 14, 24; 8:3; 11:1, 5, 24 (Co gloss.), 37:1; 43:5 (all implying ecstatic state of vision), cf. Elijah 1 K 18:12; 2 K 2:16. spirit as impelling proph. to utter instruction or warning (higher and later conception): transition prob. Nu 24:2; 2 S 23:2; 1 Ch 12:18; elsewhere in Ch.: 2 Ch 15:1; 20:14; 24:20; distinctly in Is 11:2, 48:16, cf. 61:1; so of ancient prophets, Zc 7:12 Ne 9:30, cf., of future prophetic gift, Jo 3:1, 2. imparting warlike energy, and executive and administrative power: (1) to שֹׁפְטִים, מושִׁיעִים, מְלָכִים, of ancient Isr.: וַתְּהִי רוּחַ י׳ על Ju 3:10; 11:29, cf. 6:34; 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14; 1 S 11:6; 16:13, 14; so also עַד יֵעָרֶה עָלֵינוּ רוּחַ מִמָּרוֹם Is 32:15; (2) resting upon Messianic king: Is 11:2(×3); upon servant of י׳, 42:1. late, as endowing men with various gifts: technical skill Ex 31:3; 35:31 (P); understanding Jb 32:8 (‖ נִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי); poured out by divine wisdom Pr 1:23. as energy of life: רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל־פְּנֵי הַמָּ֑יִם Gn 1:2 (P); רוּחַ אֵל עָשָׂ֑תְנִי Jb 33:4 (‖ נִשְׁמַת שַׁדַּי); as vital power, opp. בָּשָׂר: Is 31:3; in cherubic chariot: Ez 1:12, cf. v 20, 21; 10:17; reviving Israel Ez 39:29; Zc 12:10; Is 44:3. = ancient angel of the presence and later Shekina: ר׳ קָדְשׁוֹ Is 63:10, 11 = ר׳ י׳ v 14 (= מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו v 9), cf. ψ 106:33; so also ר׳ קָדְשְׁךָ ψ 51:13 (in national prayer), cf. Ne 9:20 ψ 143:10; proph. of restoration conceive of the divine spirit as standing in their midst and about to fulfil all divine promises: רוּחִי עֹמֶדֶת בְּתוֹכֲכֶם Hg 2:5; Zc 4:6; this conception culminates in רוּחַ = divine Presence, and as such omnipresent, ψ 139:7 (‖ פָּנֶיךָ; cf. v 8). Why these entries: BDB: headword, part of speech agrees, 300 of its verses cited, 0 words shared with the glosses, lists its Strong's number (14 candidates); OSHB: headword, part of speech agrees, 1 words shared with the BDB entry, 1 with the glosses (10 candidates) ### Trees and pragmatics [Every English meaning of «רוּחַ» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/tanakh/1512/7307/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames. ### In the verses [Psalms 48:8](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.48.8/) בְּר֥וּחַ קָדִ֑ים תְּ֝שַׁבֵּ֗ר אֳנִיּ֥וֹת תַּרְשִֽׁישׁ׃ *Word for word:* with a.wind of.\[the\].east you.shatter (the).ships of.Tarshish *JPS 1917:* With the east wind Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish. [Psalms 76:13](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/ketuvim/PSA.76.13/) יִ֭בְצֹר ר֣וּחַ נְגִידִ֑ים נ֝וֹרָ֗א לְמַלְכֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃ *Word for word:* he.humbles \[the\].spirit of.rulers \[he.is\].to.be.feared by.\[the\] kings of.\[the\].earth *JPS 1917:* He minisheth the spirit of princes; He is terrible to the kings of the earth. - ← previous: [רֶוַח](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/7305.md) - next →: [רוח](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/w/lemma_3a_5e8_5d5_5d7.md) - ↑ back to [ר](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/tanakh/1512.md)