Ruah
/ˈruː.ɑːχ/noun
A Hebrew term meaning wind, breath, or spirit, especially the animating divine spirit.
Did you know?In the Hebrew Bible, ruah can describe a physical wind, a person’s breath, an inner disposition, or God’s spirit—separate modern categories joined in one word.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*rūḥ-
“Wind, breath, or moving air”
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
רוּחַ (rūaḥ)
“Wind, breath, spirit, or animating force”
Biblical Aramaic
Aramaic
רוּחָא (rūḥā)
“Spirit, breath, or wind”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
رُوح (rūḥ)
“Spirit, soul, breath, or divine inspiration”
19th–20th Century
English
ruah / ruach
“Scholarly transliterations used in English discussions of Hebrew scripture and theology”
Modern English
English
Ruah
“A Hebrew theological term referring to spirit, breath, or wind”