7306. ruach

Lexical Summary

ruach: Spirit, wind, breath

Original Word: רוּחַ
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: ruwach
Pronunciation: roo'-akh
Phonetic Spelling: (roo'-akh)
KJV: accept, smell, X touch, make of quick understanding
Word Origin: [a primitive root]

1. (properly) to blow, i.e. breathe
2. (literally, only) to smell
3. (by implication) perceive
4. (figuratively) to anticipate, enjoy

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

accept, smell, touch, make of quick understanding

A primitive root; properly, to blow, i.e. Breathe; only (literally) to smell or (by implication, perceive (figuratively, to anticipate, enjoy) -- accept, smell, X touch, make of quick understanding.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
see riach.

Brown-Driver-Briggs

[רִיחַ] verb denominative Hiph`il (?),smell, perceive odour; -Imperfect3masculine singular יָרִיחַ Job 39:25, יָרַח 1 Samuel 26:19 2t.; וַיָּ֫רַח Genesis 8:21; 3masculine plural יְרִיח֑וּן Psalm 115:6, יְרִיחֻ֑ן Deuteronomy 4:28, etc.; Infinitive construct הָרִיחַ Exodus 30:38, etc.; — smell, with accusative Genesis 8:21; Genesis 27:27 (JE), 1 Samuel 26:19; absolute Deuteronomy 4:28; Psalm 115:6; metaphor בּהֲרִיחוֺ אֵשׁ Judges 16:9, יָרִיחַ מִלְחָמָה Job 39:25 the horse scenteh battle; with ב Exodus 30:38; Leviticus 26:31 (both P); metaphor = delight in Amos 5:21; Isaiah 11:3 (probably dittograph Br^{MP 202}).

Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Hebrew 7306 (רוּחַ) functions as a verb whose basic sense is “to smell, scent, breathe, perceive by scent, accept with delight.” In Scripture the verb is applied to human experience, animal instinct, idolatrous impotence, and—most significantly—the Lord’s gracious or displeased response to sacrificial worship. By tracing each occurrence, one sees a unified, Spirit-wrought testimony to Yahweh’s personal engagement with His covenant people and to the future Messiah who “will delight in the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:3).

Range of Meaning in Canonical Context

1. Sensory perception: literal smelling of odors by people or animals (Genesis 27:27; Job 39:25).
2. Acceptance or rejection of worship: Yahweh “smells” (i.e., receives or refuses) sacrifices (Genesis 8:21; Leviticus 26:31; Amos 5:21).
3. Discernment: the capacity to “sense” or “detect,” whether human (Judges 16:9) or messianic (Isaiah 11:3).
4. Figurative portrayal of lifeless idols that cannot smell (Deuteronomy 4:28; Psalm 115:6).
5. Covenant warning and plea for atonement (Exodus 30:38; 1 Samuel 26:19).

Key Old Testament Occurrences

• Genesis 8:21 – After the flood, “When the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, He said in His heart, ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of man…’.” The verb underscores God’s gracious acceptance of Noah’s burnt offering and inaugurates a universal covenant of preservation.
• Genesis 27:27 – Isaac’s sensory delight (“When Isaac smelled the smell of his garments…”) becomes the trigger for covenant blessing upon Jacob, showing how ordinary experience can mediate redemptive promise.
• Exodus 30:38 – The holy incense of the tabernacle may not be replicated “to enjoy its fragrance”; otherwise the offender “shall be cut off from his people.” Acceptable worship is defined by divine command, not human preference.
• Leviticus 26:31 – In covenant curses Yahweh warns, “I will no longer smell the pleasing aroma of your offerings.” Rejection of worship is the tangible indicator of broken fellowship.
• Isaiah 11:3 – Of the coming Branch it is said, “He will delight in the fear of the LORD.” The verb pictures Messiah as one whose very ‘breath’ is saturated with reverent pleasure in Yahweh, forming the foundation for His righteous judgment.
• Amos 5:21 – “I hate, I despise your feasts; I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.” What should have ascended as a fragrant aroma has become an odious stench because of unrepentant hearts.

Theological and Redemptive Themes

1. Sacrificial Aroma and Divine Pleasure: From Noah to the tabernacle, the verb links atoning blood and ascending incense with God’s favorable disposition, foreshadowing Christ’s self-offering, “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
2. Covenant Reciprocity: The same verb announces both blessing (Genesis 8:21) and curse (Leviticus 26:31), highlighting the moral coherence of God’s covenant dealings.
3. Living versus Dead Worship: Idols cannot smell (Psalm 115:6), but the living God actively responds; therefore true religion is relational, not merely ritual.
4. Messianic Discernment: Isaiah 11:3 portrays the Messiah’s supernatural sensitivity—He ‘breathes in’ the fear of the LORD and thus judges not by outward appearance but by Spirit-filled insight.

Cultic and Liturgical Dimensions

The tabernacle incense (Exodus 30) and whole-burnt offerings served as olfactory symbols of prayer and devotion rising to heaven. The exclusivity of the formula protected Israel from syncretism and reminded worshipers that holiness touches every sense. New-covenant worship retains the essence: “the prayers of the saints” ascend like incense (Revelation 8:4), and believers themselves become a “pleasing aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

Christological and Eschatological Horizons

Isaiah 11:3 situates רוּחַ within the Spirit-endowed ministry of the Branch from Jesse. His perfect delight in Yahweh secures righteous rule and universal peace. The post-resurrection church, indwelt by the same Spirit, is commissioned to spread “the fragrance of the knowledge of Him” everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:14), anticipating the new creation where curses have ceased and worship is eternally accepted.

Implications for Worship and Ministry

• Guard the purity of corporate worship; self-styled innovations risk becoming a stench before God.
• Stress repentance and faith; acceptable aroma arises only through the atoning work of Christ.
• Cultivate spiritual discernment—prayerful “breathing in” the fear of the LORD enables wise judgment in shepherding God’s people.
• Encourage believers to embody the gospel relationally; as the Spirit sanctifies hearts, their lives emit the fragrance that testifies to the living God who still “breathes in” the devotion of His redeemed.

Forms and Transliterations

אָרִ֔יחַ אָרִ֖יחַ אריח בַּהֲרִיח֣וֹ בהריחו וַהֲרִיח֖וֹ וַיָּ֛רַח וַיָּ֣רַח והריחו וירח יְרִיחֻֽן׃ יְרִיחֽוּן׃ יָרִ֣יחַ יָרַ֣ח ירח יריח יריחון׃ יריחן׃ לְהָרִ֣יחַ להריח ’ā·rî·aḥ ’ārîaḥ aRiach ba·hă·rî·ḥōw bahariCho bahărîḥōw lə·hā·rî·aḥ lehaRiach ləhārîaḥ vahariCho vaiYarach wa·hă·rî·ḥōw wahărîḥōw way·yā·raḥ wayyāraḥ yā·raḥ yā·rî·aḥ yaRach yāraḥ yaRiach yārîaḥ yə·rî·ḥun yə·rî·ḥūn yeriChun yərîḥun yərîḥūn

Englishman's Concordance

Genesis 8:21
HEB: וַיָּ֣רַח יְהוָה֮ אֶת־
KJV: And the LORD smelled a sweet savour;
INT: smelled the LORD smelled

Genesis 27:27
HEB: וַיִּשַּׁק־ ל֔וֹ וַיָּ֛רַח אֶת־ רֵ֥יחַ
KJV: and kissed him: and he smelled the smell
INT: came and kissed smelled smelled of his garments

Exodus 30:38
HEB: יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה כָמ֖וֹהָ לְהָרִ֣יחַ בָּ֑הּ וְנִכְרַ֖ת
KJV: shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off
INT: shall make like to smell shall be cut his people

Leviticus 26:31
HEB: מִקְדְּשֵׁיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֣א אָרִ֔יחַ בְּרֵ֖יחַ נִיחֹֽחֲכֶֽם׃
KJV: unto desolation, and I will not smell the savour
INT: your sanctuaries and I will not smell smell your soothing

Deuteronomy 4:28
HEB: יֹֽאכְל֖וּן וְלֹ֥א יְרִיחֻֽן׃
KJV: nor hear, nor eat, nor smell.
INT: eat nor smell

Judges 16:9
HEB: פְּתִֽיל־ הַנְּעֹ֙רֶת֙ בַּהֲרִיח֣וֹ אֵ֔שׁ וְלֹ֥א
KJV: is broken when it toucheth the fire.
INT: A string of tow toucheth fire was not

1 Samuel 26:19
HEB: הֱסִֽיתְךָ֥ בִי֙ יָרַ֣ח מִנְחָ֔ה וְאִ֣ם ׀
KJV: have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering:
INT: the LORD has stirred accept an offering if

Job 39:25
HEB: הֶאָ֗ח וּֽ֭מֵרָחוֹק יָרִ֣יחַ מִלְחָמָ֑ה רַ֥עַם
KJV: ha; and he smelleth the battle
INT: Ha afar smelleth the battle and the thunder

Psalm 115:6
HEB: לָ֝הֶ֗ם וְלֹ֣א יְרִיחֽוּן׃
KJV: not: noses have they, but they smell not:
INT: have noses cannot smell

Isaiah 11:3
HEB: וַהֲרִיח֖וֹ בְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה
KJV: And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear
INT: understanding the fear of the LORD

Amos 5:21
HEB: חַגֵּיכֶ֑ם וְלֹ֥א אָרִ֖יחַ בְּעַצְּרֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃
KJV: your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
INT: your festivals Nor smell your solemn

11 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 7306
11 Occurrences

’ā·rî·aḥ — 2 Occ.
ba·hă·rî·ḥōw — 1 Occ.
lə·hā·rî·aḥ — 1 Occ.
wa·hă·rî·ḥōw — 1 Occ.
way·yā·raḥ — 2 Occ.
yā·raḥ — 1 Occ.
yā·rî·aḥ — 1 Occ.
yə·rî·ḥun — 2 Occ.