What is the translated Greek/Hebrew word for “spirit of God” in Genesis Line 1?
The Hebrew word for spirit is ruach, and is similar to the Greek word pneuma, as both can be rendered either as “spirit”, “breath” or “wind”, depending on the context. An interesting example of this is found here: “Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.”‘” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. ” Ezekiel 37:9-10 The word here is ruach, and it is hard to know whether to render it “breath” or “spirit” or “wind”, because it can mean all three.
