Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Social Sciences
  4. / Religions
  5. / Religions A - Z

by anonymous on February 17th, 2007

anonymous

Question

Help answer this question below.

How is the Hebrew word "Ruakh" translated in the English Bible?

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by anonymous on February 17th, 2007

    anonymous

    There are in fact many different ways this is commonly translated into English. For example the King James Version, a widely used and well respected translation, uses at least 12 different meanings for this word.
    Some of these include spirit, breath or wind; but, it is also translated in this version as air, gas, vain or empty thing, animation, vivacity and vigour.
    It is clear from these multiple meanings, within a single version of good repute, that the word is adaptable and can be translated any number of ways depending on the context. It is solely at the discretion of the interpreter to decide what the intended meaning was and apply his or her understanding of it when making translation decisions.
    There are many more versions of the Bible, and each of them has translated this slightly differently in more than just a few places, so there are likely dozens of uses which are not listed, each acceptable as far as translation practices go.
    The use of a particular method of translation regarding this word does not, can not, give evidence as to the character or competence of the translators.

    The sources for this discourse and more of the common uses follow:
    http://www.bible.org/netbible/ezr1_notes.htm
    Heb “spirit.” The Hebrew noun רוּחַ ruakh, “spirit”)has a broad range of meanings (see BDB 924-26 s.v.). Here, it probably refers to (1) “mind” as the seat of mental acts (e.g., Exod 28:3; Deut 34:9; Isa 29:24; 40:13; Ezek 11:5; 20:32; 1 Chr 28:12; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 6) or (2) “will” as the seat of volitional decisions (e.g., Exod 35:5, 22; Pss 51:12, 14; 57:8; 2 Chr 29:31; cf. BDB 925 s.v. 7). So also in v. 5.


    http://www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/Hebrew/heb.cgi?number=07308&version=kjv
    Definition
    spirit, wind
    wind
    spirit
    of man
    seat of the mind
    King James Word Usage - Total: 11
    spirit 8, wind 2, mind 1



    http://www.biblestudytools.net/Lexicons/Hebrew/heb.cgi?number=07307&version=kjv
    Definition
    wind, breath, mind, spirit
    breath
    wind
    of heaven
    quarter (of wind), side
    breath of air
    air, gas
    vain, empty thing
    spirit (as that which breathes quickly in animation or agitation)
    spirit, animation, vivacity, vigour
    courage
    temper, anger
    impatience, patience
    spirit, disposition (as troubled, bitter, discontented)
    disposition (of various kinds), unaccountable or uncontrollable impulse
    prophetic spirit
    spirit (of the living, breathing being in man and animals)
    as gift, preserved by God, God's spirit, departing at death, disembodied being
    spirit (as seat of emotion)
    desire
    sorrow, trouble
    spirit
    as seat or organ of mental acts
    rarely of the will
    as seat especially of moral character
    Spirit of God, the third person of the triune God, the Holy Spirit, coequal, coeternal with the Father and the Son
    as inspiring ecstatic state of prophecy
    as impelling prophet to utter instruction or warning
    imparting warlike energy and executive and administrative power
    as endowing men with various gifts
    as energy of life
    as manifest in the Shekinah glory
    never referred to as a depersonalised force
    King James Word Usage - Total: 378
    Spirit or spirit 232, wind 92, breath 27, side 6, mind 5, blast 4, vain 2, air 1, anger 1, cool 1, courage 1, miscellaneous 6

    Comments

    • Thank you for taking the time to look up that information.

      Texasescimo

      by Texasescimo on January 15th, 2010

    • Like
    • Report

    1 comment | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading How is the Hebrew word "Ruakh" translated in the English Bible?

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company