h7307. רוּחַ rûaḥ; from 7306; wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): — air, anger, blast, breath, x cool, courage, mind, x quarter, x side, spirit((-ual)), tempest, x vain, ((whirl-))wind(-y).
In the Hebrew text we find the word rûaḥ which translates to spirit in the english text. This translation has caused much confusion and created a whole different gnostic doctrine but I'm not going to look at that here. You can find further study in Spirit of the Bible.
In short, the Hebrew text means air, breath, atmosphere. It also means mind and rational.
When we look at Genesis 1:2 we read the “spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters”. Notice as you read through creation and how all things were created in and around the earth, notice that God never crated an atmosphere.
Its this understanding that we come to when we read passages like
“as long as my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,” Job 27:3
Notice that we have two ruah’s here. We have MY (Jobs) ruah and then “spirit of God” is translated from ruah in Jobs nostrils.
“If he should set his heart to it and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, 15 all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.” Job 34:14-15
Remember the Hebrew language is a three-d language versus English. If ruah was used in both “spirit” and “breath” it could be confusing but fortunately they have many words to break things down more simple. Job was pulling from Genesis 1:2 in the ruah of God hovering over the earth and he wrote “If He should set His heart to it and gather to Himself His ruah (air, atmosphere) and his nešâmâ (puff of air, breath)” then everything would die.
Note: If you’re confused on the “spirit of God” translation please visit Spirit in the Bible
“and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit [ruah] returns to God who gave it. 8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 12:7-8
Here’s my pondering:
The word ruah means air, atmosphere, and breath and we have no record of God creating an atmosphere on the earth. If the breath of God is in us, and if He would remove HIS ruah from the earth, His breath, then it’s HIGHLY likely that the atmosphere of the earth is literally the breath of God.
Now, if the atmosphere is the breath of God this means every breath you take you are breathing in God’s breath. How profound is that thought.
At the same time, what are we doing with that breath in this world?