The Difference Between ruach and nephesh
ruach (H7307) means "air" and nephesh (H5315) means "any" — both Hebrew words in the Bible, but they carry distinct meanings. Knowing which word the original author chose, and where each appears, reveals the precise shade of meaning that can get lost in translation.
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רוּחַ vs נֶפֶשׁ
ruach and nephesh
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See how ruach (רוּחַ) and nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) compare → https://lemmalink.com/compare/H7307/H5315
רוּחַ
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)
H7307
Exegetical Meaning
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) | Etymology: from H7306 (רוּחַ); | KJV: air, anger, blast, breath, [idiom] cool, courage, mind, [idiom] quarter, [idiom] side, spirit(-ual), tempest, [idiom] vain, (whirl-) wind(-y).
Origin
Root form
English Glosses
Canon Usage
No data
Context Themes
- Spirit Over the Waters
- Spirit Restoring the Dead
- Spirit Empowering God's Servants
נֶפֶשׁ
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
H5315
Exegetical Meaning
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental) | Etymology: from H5314 (נָפַשׁ); | KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
Origin
Root form
English Glosses
Canon Usage
No data
Context Themes
- The Whole Living Creature
- The Soul That Thirsts