In the Tanakh, the word ruach generally
means wind, breath, mind, spirit. Job in the Holy Bible spoke of ruach saying; “The ruach of God (from God) is in my
nostrils (Job 27:3)”. In mankind, ruach further denotes the principle of life
that possesses reason, will and conscience. Also Job 33:4 says; “The Spirit of
God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life”.
Jesus
of Nazareth says in John 3:8 that; “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but
you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with
everyone born of the Spirit.” (“Upepo huvuma kuelekea upendako; waisikia sauti yake, lakini
hujui unakotoka wala unakokwenda. Ndivyo ilivyo kwa mtu aliyezaliwa kwa Roho”. –
Yohana 3:8). The book of Ezekiel 37:9-10 also speaks of ruach by saying; "Then He said to me, "Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again. So I spoke the message as He commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet--a great army.'"