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רוּחַ

𐤓𐤅𐤇

rûwach

H7306 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To breathe, exhale, or give off scent (literal); to perceive by smelling; (figuratively) to accept, find something agreeable or pleasing, or to enjoy or anticipate. Used with concrete reference to the taking in of scent or breath, and more abstractly for receiving or discerning, particularly in the context of offerings and the divine acceptance of sacrifice.

Semantic Range

to breathe, exhale, smell, perceive by scent, enjoy, delight in, accept (as of sacrifices), anticipate

Root / Etymology

Root: רוח. The root רוח primarily conveys the idea of 'to breathe' or 'to blow.' The verb רוּחַ is a denominative, derived from the noun רוּחַ ('breath, wind, spirit'), and may represent an earlier verbal form from which the noun itself is derived. The core verbal meaning centers on the physiological or perceptive process of breathing or smelling.

Historical & Contextual Notes

רוּחַ in its verbal form occurs infrequently in the Hebrew Bible, most commonly in poetic and ritual contexts. In Genesis 8:21, it is used of YHWH 'smelling' (accepting) the pleasing aroma of a sacrifice—an anthropomorphic expression deriving from sacrificial rites. In Isaiah 11:3, the participle refers to a figure who will 'delight in' (lit. 'smell' or 'sense') the fear of YHWH, with the verb conveying perceptive discernment. Over time, the primary sense of 'to breathe' or 'to smell' remained, but the verb acquired figurative extensions, such as 'to accept favorably' (usually offerings) and 'to enjoy' (as of a fragrance or an anticipated event). English translations often constrict the semantic range by rendering the verb only as 'smell' or 'accept,' missing some of the nuance around perception and delight. This verb is distinct from the noun רוּחַ ('breath, wind, spirit') in lexical scope. In late biblical and post-biblical literature, the verb is largely replaced by other forms for 'smell' or 'accept.'

Translation Consistency

primary "smell" 9 occurrences

The primary literal sense is about breath and scent (to give off or perceive an aroma), and the common figurative use is that something is "a pleasing smell/ aroma" to someone (i.e., accepted or enjoyed). "Smell" is natural English, fits the typical usages (breathe/exhale, give off scent, perceive by scent) and can consistently cover the figurative sense of being pleasing or accepted. It is also the most frequent choice in the P2 renderings.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"him accept" (1x) "delight" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primitive root; properly, to blow, i.e. breathe; only (literally) to smell or (by implication, perceive (figuratively, to anticipate, enjoy); accept, smell, [idiom] touch, make of quick understanding.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

רוּחַ (rûwach) — to breathe, to blow, to smell, to perceive by scent

Root רוּחַ to breathe, to blow, to smell, to perceive by scent
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H7307 רוּחַ wind-breath
H7308 רוּחַ breath-wind of

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H7306-01 אָרִ֖יחַ aricha HVhi1cs I delight I cause to smell I will cause to smell 2
H7306-05 וַ/יָּ֣רַח vayarach HC/Vhw3ms and smelled and he took in the scent and he smelled 2
H7306-08 יְרִיחֻֽ/ן yerichun HVhi3mp/Sn smell they will exhale do they smell 2
H7306-02 בַּ/הֲרִיח֣/וֹ baharicho HR/Vhc/Sp3ms at-its-smelling his causing it to smell at its smelling 1
H7306-03 לְ/הָרִ֣יחַ leharicha HR/Vhc to smell to cause to smell to smell 1
H7306-04 וַ/הֲרִיח֖/וֹ vaharicho HC/Vhc/Sp3ms and-he-will-smell-him/it to cause him to smell to cause him to smell 1
H7306-06 יָרַ֣ח yarach HVhi3ms let accept Breath let him accept 1
H7306-07 יָרִ֣יחַ yaricha HVhi3ms it smells he will cause to smell he will cause to smell 1

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H7306-05 Genesis 8:21 וַ/יָּ֣רַח vayarach HC/Vhw3ms smelled and he took in the scent and he smelled
H7306-05 Genesis 27:27 וַ/יָּ֛רַח vayarach HC/Vhw3ms and smelled and he took in the scent and he smelled
H7306-03 Exodus 30:38 לְ/הָרִ֣יחַ leharicha HR/Vhc to smell to cause to smell to smell
H7306-01 Leviticus 26:31 אָרִ֔יחַ aricha HVhi1cs I-will-smell I cause to smell I will cause to smell
H7306-08 Deuteronomy 4:28 יְרִיחֻֽ/ן yerichun HVhi3mp/Sn smell they will exhale they will smell
H7306-02 Judges 16:9 בַּ/הֲרִיח֣/וֹ baharicho HR/Vhc/Sp3ms at-its-smelling his causing it to smell at its smelling
H7306-06 1 Samuel 26:19 יָרַ֣ח yarach HVhi3ms let accept Breath let him accept
H7306-04 Isaiah 11:3 וַ/הֲרִיח֖/וֹ vaharicho HC/Vhc/Sp3ms and-he-will-smell-him/it to cause him to smell to cause him to smell
H7306-01 Amos 5:21 אָרִ֖יחַ aricha HVhi1cs I delight I cause to smell I delight
H7306-08 Psalms 115:6 יְרִיחֽוּ/ן yerichun HVhi3mp/Sn they smell they will exhale do they smell
H7306-07 Job 39:25 יָרִ֣יחַ yaricha HVhi3ms it smells he will cause to smell he will cause to smell
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