רוח
Ruach means ‘wind, breeze, or breath.’ Ruach HaKodesh is the Hebrew for the Holy Spirit or ‘holy breath’ of God. ‘Wind’ is found 207 times, ‘breath’ 71 times, ‘breathe’ 16 times, and Ruach haKodesh 90 times in the Complete Jewish Bible.
The ‘wind’ or ‘breath’ of God hovered over the surface of the water at Creation. The ‘breath’ of God made Adam a living human being and different from the rest of creation. The ‘wind’ of God separated the waters of the Red Sea allowing the Israelites to flee from the Egyptians. Job knew that the ‘breath’ of El Shaddai that gave him life. The ‘breath’ of God was given to the prophets, workers in the Tabernacle, and kings. King Saul had the ‘breath’ of God removed from him when he disobeyed a direct command and was tormented by an evil spirit. David saw this horror and when he sinned, he pleaded with God not to take His ‘holy breath’ from him.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was unformed and void, darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit [breath] of God hovered over the surface of the water” (Genesis 1:1-2).
“Then Adonai, God, formed a person from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living being” (Genesis 2:7).
“Pharaoh said to his officials, “Can we find anyone else like him? The Spirit [breath] of God lives in him!” (Genesis 41:38).
“The channels of water appeared, the foundations of the world were exposed at your rebuke, Adonai, at the blast of breath from your nostrils” (Psalm 18:16).
“It is the Spirit of God that made me, the breath of Shaddai that gives me life” (Job 33:4).
Hebrew Word Pictures
ר Resh – A Head means ‘highest authority.’
ו Vav – A Nail means ‘binding.’
ח Chet – A Fence means ‘protect.’
The Hebrew Word Picture for ruach: the highest authority binding protects.
“Because of this, I tell you that people will be forgiven any sin and blasphemy, but blaspheming the Ruach HaKodesh will not be forgiven. One can say something against the Son of Man and be forgiven; but whoever keeps on speaking against the Ruach HaKodesh will never be forgiven, neither in the ‘olam hazeh [this world] nor in the ‘olam haba [the world to come]” (Matthew 12:30-32).
Yeshua said that ‘blaspheming’ the ‘breath’ of God will never be forgiven in this world or the world to come. Blasphemy is multifaceted and begins with speaking offense to that which gives ‘life’ to our very souls – physical life and spiritual life. It is through the ‘breath’ that we are reborn in His Kingdom, and without that ‘breath,’ we remain dead in our sins to face judgment.
“Yeshua answered, “Yes, indeed, I tell you that unless a person is born from water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born from the flesh is flesh, and what is born from the Spirit is spirit. Stop being amazed at my telling you that you must be born again from above! The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going. That’s how it is with everyone who has been born from the Spirit” (John 3:5-8).
The ‘breath’ of God was poured out on Shavuot. The ‘breath’ of God guides us into all Truth and is prophetic. The ‘breath’ of God will testify of Yeshua. Without the ‘breath,’ there is no way to ‘test the spirits’ to make sure they are of Adonai. The ‘breath’ of God convicts the world of sin. The ‘breath’ of God seals those who hear the message of salvation and put their trust in Yeshua. The ‘breath’ of God gives spiritual gifts to His people. The’breath’ of God also produces fruit in a believer’s life.
“However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own initiative but will say only what he hears. He will also announce to you the events of the future” (John 16:13).
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send you from the Father — the Spirit of Truth, who keeps going out from the Father — he will testify on my behalf” (John 15:26).
“When he comes, he will show that the world is wrong about sin, about righteousness and about judgment …” (John 16:8).
“Furthermore, you who heard the message of the truth, the Good News offering you deliverance, and put your trust in the Messiah were sealed by him with the promised Ruach HaKodesh …” (Ephesians 1:13).
“Moreover, to each person is given the particular manifestation of the Spirit that will be for the common good. To one, through the Spirit, is given a word of wisdom; to another, a word of knowledge, in accordance with the same Spirit; to another, faith, by the same Spirit; and to another, gifts of healing, by the one Spirit; to another, the working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, the ability to judge between spirits; to another, the ability to speak in different kinds of tongues; and to yet another, the ability to interpret tongues. One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things” (Matthew 5:22-23).
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