What does רוּחַ (rûḥa) mean in the Bible?
רוּחַ (rûḥa): Smell as the sense of perceiving and accepting divine presence; pleasure-based discernment rather than intellectual understanding
Hebrew · H7306
רוּחַ
Properly, to blow , i.e. breathe ; only (literally) to smell or (by implication, perceive (figuratively, to anticipate, enjoy)
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רוּחַ H7306
Pronunciation rûḥa
What does רוּחַ (rûḥa) mean in the Bible?
רוּחַ (rûḥa): Smell as the sense of perceiving and accepting divine presence; pleasure-based discernment rather than intellectual understanding
Full entry for רוּחַ (H7306) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H7306?
The BSB source-word alignment has 11 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include smell (2), . . . (1), And He will delight (1), He catches the scent (1), it to enjoy (1).
Where does רוּחַ (rûḥa) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Genesis 8:21. Its strongest book concentrations include Genesis (2), 1 Samuel (1), Amos (1), Deuteronomy (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It smell 2× Deuteronomy 4:28, Psalms 115:6
. . . 1× Judges 16:9
And He will delight 1× Isaiah 11:3
He catches the scent 1× Job 39:25
it to enjoy 1× Exodus 30:38
smelled 1× Genesis 8:21
stand the stench 1× Amos 5:21
then may He accept 1× 1 Samuel 26:19
to smell 1× Leviticus 26:31
When Isaac smelled 1× Genesis 27:27
Show sample aligned rows
Genesis 8:21 וַיָּ֣רַח to smelled Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Genesis 27:27 וַיָּ֛רַח to When Isaac smelled Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Exodus 30:38 לְהָרִ֣יחַ to it to enjoy Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct Leviticus 26:31 אָרִ֔יחַ to to smell Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular Deuteronomy 4:28 יְרִיחֻֽן׃ to smell Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Judges 16:9 בַּהֲרִיח֣וֹ to . . . Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular 1 Samuel 26:19 יָרַ֣ח to then may He accept Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular Job 39:25 יָרִ֣יחַ to He catches the scent Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Psalms 115:6 יְרִיחֽוּן׃ to smell Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun Isaiah 11:3 וַהֲרִיח֖וֹ to And He will delight Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Genesis 8:21
Aligned rows 11
Books represented 10
Genesis 2 Exodus 1 Leviticus 1 Deuteronomy 1 Judges 1 1 Samuel 1 Job 1 Psalms 1 Isaiah 1 Amos 1
Source forms
אָרִ֔יחַ 1x ’ā·rî·aḥ Leviticus 26:31
אָרִ֖יחַ 1x ’ā·rî·aḥ Amos 5:21
בַּהֲרִיח֣וֹ 1x ba·hă·rî·ḥōw Judges 16:9
וַהֲרִיח֖וֹ 1x wa·hă·rî·ḥōw Isaiah 11:3
וַיָּ֣רַח 1x way·yā·raḥ Genesis 8:21
וַיָּ֛רַח 1x way·yā·raḥ Genesis 27:27
יָרַ֣ח 1x yā·raḥ 1 Samuel 26:19
יָרִ֣יחַ 1x yā·rî·aḥ Job 39:25
Parsing patterns
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular 2x Genesis 8:21, Genesis 27:27
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular 2x Leviticus 26:31, Amos 5:21
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun 2x Deuteronomy 4:28, Psalms 115:6
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular 1x Isaiah 11:3
Preposition-b | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular 1x Judges 16:9
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct 1x Exodus 30:38
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular 1x Job 39:25
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular 1x 1 Samuel 26:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Smell as the sense of perceiving and accepting divine presence; pleasure-based discernment rather than intellectual understanding
Source Gloss
properly, to blow , i.e. breathe ; only (literally) to smell or (by implication, perceive (figuratively, to anticipate, enjoy)
Extended definition Source: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Smell as the sense of perceiving and accepting divine presence; pleasure-based discernment rather than intellectual understanding
properly, to blow, i.e. breathe; only (literally) to smell or (by implication, perceive (figuratively, to anticipate, enjoy) BDB: smell Usage: accept, smell, × touch, make of quick understanding.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 1 Aligned forms 4
Hiphil causative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action 4×
Imperfect 1Sam 26:19 · Job 39:25 · Amos 5:21 · Lev 26:31 4×
Word Origins
רוּחַ is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain