Spirit

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Hebrew: ruwach (OT:7307), occurs 378 times and is rendered spirit 232 times.  In the remaining 146 times it is rendered 16 different ways. The Greek word for spirit in the N.T. is pneuma (NT:4151).

It occurs 385 times and corresponds to ruwach above.  The primary meaning of both words is invisible force.  The spirit of man is the intellect, will, mind, conscience, and other invisible faculties that make him a free moral agent and a rational being.  Both the soul and spirit of man are immortal (see Twenty-five Proofs of Immortality of the Soul).

They are so closely related that it is hard to distinguish the fine points of difference between them, but there is a difference.  This is clear from 1 Thes. 5:23; Hebrews 4:12.  In general we can say that the spirit is that which knows (1 Cor. 2:11), and the soul is that which feels.  (See Job-On the Nature of Man.)  Both comprise the inner man which leaves the body at death (James 2:26).

The Word “Spirit” is Used of:

  1. God’s personal spirit (Psalm 139:7; Psalm 143:10; Isaiah 30:1; Isaiah 40:13)
  2. The Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 48:16; Isaiah 61:1; Zech.12:10)
  3. Angels (Psalm 104:4)
  4. Cherubim (Ezekiel 1:12-21; Ezekiel 10:17)
  5. Demons (Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6)
  6. Other spirit beings (Zech.6:5)
  7. New nature of the child of God (1 Cor. 6:17)
  8. Man’s personal spirit (Numbers 16:22; Numbers 27:16; Proverbs 18:14; Proverbs 20:27; Proverbs 25:28; Eccles. 3:21)
  9. Judgment of God Is Translated As:
    1. Blast (Exodus 15:8; 2 Kings 19:7; Isaiah 37:7)
    2. Breath (Genesis 6:17; Genesis 7:15,22; 2 Samuel 22:16; Psalm 18:15)
    3. Spirit (Isaiah 4:4; Isaiah 28:6; Isaiah 34:16)
  10. Spiritual gifts or invisible endowments of power (Genesis 41:38; Exodus 28:3; Exodus 31:3; Exodus 35:31; Numbers 11:17,25-29; Numbers 24:2; Numbers 27:18; Deut. 34:9; Isaiah 11:2; Isaiah 32:15; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 61:1; Ezekiel 2:2; Ezekiel 3:24)
  11. The resurrected body (1 Cor. 15:45)
  12. Wind (Ezekiel 37:9)
  13. Mind (Genesis 26:35; Proverbs 29:11; Ezekiel 11:5; Ezekiel 20:32; Daniel 5:20)
  14. Courage (Joshua 2:11)
  15. Anger (Judges 8:3)
  16. The whole person (Psalm 77:3,6; Psalm 106:33; Ezekiel 21:7; Daniel 2:1,3; Malachi 2:15,16)
  17. Temperature (Genesis 3:8)
  18. Whirlwind (Ezekiel 1:4)
  19. Windy (Psalm 55:8)
  20. Air (Job 41:16)
  21. Tempest (Psalm 11:6)
  22. Quarters (winds, 1 Chron. 9:24)

The Spirit of Man Can Be:

  1. Troubled (Genesis 41:8)
  2. Revived (Genesis 45:27)
  3. In anguish (Exodus 6:9)
  4. Made willing (Exodus 35:21)
  5. Jealous (Numbers 5:14,30)
  6. Hardened (Deut. 2:30)
  7. Sorrowful (1 Samuel 1:15)
  8. Stirred up (2 Chron. 36:22)
  9. Committed to God (Psalm 31:5)
  10. Guileless (Psalm 32:2)
  11. Contrite (Psalm 34:18)
  12. Broken (Psalm 51:17)
  13. Overwhelmed (Psalm 77:3)
  14. Steadfast (Psalm 78:8)
  15. Provoked (Psalm 106:33)
  16. Hasty (Proverbs 14:29)
  17. Haughty (Proverbs 16:18)
  18. Humble (Proverbs 16:19)
  19. Ruled (Proverbs 16:32)
  20. Wounded or hurt (Proverbs 18:14)
  21. Vexed (Eccles. 1:14)
  22. Patient (Eccles. 7:8)
  23. Constrained (Job 32:18)
  24. Searched (Psalm 77:6)
  25. Made to keep secrets (Proverbs 11:13)
  26. In error (Isaiah 29:24)
  27. Proud (Eccles. 7:8)
  28. Heavy (Isaiah 61:3)
  29. Made to learn (Job 20:3; Job 32:8)
  30. Increased in knowledge (1 Cor. 2:11)

Two Sacrifices are Always Acceptable:

  1. A broken spirit. Hebrew: shabar (OT:7665), to shiver; break in pieces; reduce to splinters.  See Thirty-five Broken Things in Scripture.
  2. A broken and contrite heart. Hebrew: dakah (OT:1794), to crumble; beat to pieces; bruise; crush; humble (Psalm 51:8,17; Psalm 38:8; Psalm 44:19); cp. nakeh (OT:5223), smitten; maimed; dejected; contrite; lame (Isaiah 66:2).

God won’t despise a broken and contrite spirit or heart because of His infinite compassion, mercy, and grace which are promised to all who are crushed and beaten to pieces by sin and satanic powers.

Finis J. Dake, Dake Topical Index, WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “Spirit”.

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