ruach

Ruach is a Hebrew word transliterated as ruach or ru’ach, derived from a root meaning wind or breath. In Hebrew it is a feminine noun and carries senses of wind, breath, spirit, and the non-material life force that animates living beings. The term functions across natural, personal, and theological contexts.

In Biblical Hebrew, ruach frequently denotes wind or breath, the invisible force behind movement and life. It also appears as ruach Elohim, the Spirit of God, used to describe divine influence in creation, prophecy, and empowerment. Beyond God's activity, ruach can refer to the human spirit or to emotional and moral life within a person.

Rabbinic and medieval Jewish thought treats ruach as a component of the soul, often discussed alongside nefesh (life force) and neshama (higher intellect). The ruach is associated with emotion, will, and spiritual inspiration, acting as a bridge between instinctual life and higher insight. In mystical literature, ruach is one of several levels of the soul and is connected to character and moral transformation.

In Christian theology, the term is used to translate the Spirit of God in Hebrew Bible passages and is central to the concept of the Holy Spirit (ruach ha-kodesh). In Christian contexts, the Holy Spirit is often portrayed as a distinct person within the Trinity in many traditions, and as an active divine presence in the world and in believers.

Modern Hebrew usage extends ruach to everyday meanings: wind or breeze, but also mood or atmosphere, as in expressions for a favorable or tense atmosphere. The word thus covers both natural phenomena and diverse spiritual and emotional dimensions.