Hebrew · roo-AHKH
רוּחַ
Ruach
“Wind, breath, Spirit”
“The earth was formless and empty, and the ruach of God was hovering over the waters.”
Genesis 1:2
The first movement of God in Scripture is ruach — His Spirit hovering over dark waters. Wherever the Bible wants to say 'God came close,' it usually says ruach.
What it means
Ruach is one word for three mysteries: the wind you cannot see, the breath you cannot hold, and the Spirit you cannot command.
It is the breath God breathed into Adam, the wind that split the Red Sea, the Spirit that fell on David, and the power that raised Christ from the dead.
To pray for ruach is to pray: 'Breathe here. Move here. I cannot arrange this — only You can.'
Pray the word
Spirit of the living God, breathe on every dry and formless place in my life.
Hover over what I cannot fix, and speak until it lives.
Come as wind where I am stuck, as breath where I am weary, as fire where I am cold.
The breath of the Almighty gives me life — His Spirit moves in every dead place and makes it live.
In the Mighty Name of Jesus! Amen.
Where it appears: Ezekiel 37:9-10 · Acts 2:2-4 · Job 33:4 · Romans 8:11