Holy Spirit
/ˌhoʊ.li ˈspɪr.ɪt/noun
In Christian theology, the third person of the Trinity, understood as God’s presence and activity in the world.
Did you know?The biblical concept combines Hebrew *ruaḥ*, meaning “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit,” with Greek *pneuma* and Latin *spiritus*, all linking invisible spiritual power with breath or moving air.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kailo-
“Whole, uninjured, or auspicious; the distant root associated with the Germanic ancestry of “holy”.”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
רוּחַ (ruaḥ)
“Wind, breath, or spirit—the animating force associated with God’s presence.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἅγιον πνεῦμα (hagion pneuma)
“Holy Spirit; literally, sacred or set-apart breath, wind, or spirit.”
Late Latin
Latin
Spiritus Sanctus
“Holy Spirit; *spiritus* means breath, wind, or spirit, while *sanctus* means consecrated or sacred.”
Old English
Old English
hālig gāst
“Holy ghost or sacred spirit; *gāst* could mean spirit, soul, or supernatural being.”
Modern English
English
Holy Spirit
“The standard English Christian name for the third person of the Trinity, increasingly preferred over “Holy Ghost” in many modern translations.”