pneuma · spirit, Spirit

What it means

pneuma (πνεῦμα) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “spirit, Spirit”.

Spirit; also wind and breath. With "holy", the Holy Spirit of God.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. Air moving with force.
2. Literally "wind": the air of the lungs, what gives life.
3. A person's spirit, their inner self.
4. An invisible being without a body, often evil: a demon.
5. God himself at work, giving life and dwelling in believers.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

Spirit; also wind and breath. It comes from the verb πνέω, “blow”.

• Wind John 3:8
• The Holy Spirit Matthew 28:19Acts 2:4
• A person's spirit Luke 23:46
• Unclean spirits Mark 1:23
• Breath: “the breath of his mouth” 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Historical and cultural background

In John 3:8 the word appears twice in the same sentence, with both senses: “The wind blows where it wants… So it is with everyone who has been born of the Spirit”.

How we translate it

“Spirit” 342 times, “spirits” 32, “breath” 2, “wind” 1. This edition's glossary sets “spirit / Spirit” and allows “wind” and “breath”. In the New Testament πνεῦμα ἅγιον is written “Holy Spirit”, capitalized. Although the Greek word is neuter, this edition refers to the Spirit as “he”, because John takes it up with the masculine ἐκεῖνος (John 14:26; 16:13-14).

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• Spirit ×342
• spirits ×32
• breath ×2
• spiritual gifts ×1
• wind ×1
• winds ×1

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×19
• Mark×23
• Luke×36
• John×24
• Acts×70
• Romans×34
• 1 Corinthians×40
• 2 Corinthians×17
• Galatians×18
• Ephesians×14
• Philippians×5
• Colossians×2
• 1 Thessalonians×5
• 2 Thessalonians×3
• 1 Timothy×3
• 2 Timothy×3
• Titus×1
• Philemon×1
• Hebrews×12
• James×2
• 1 Peter×8
• 2 Peter×1
• 1 John×12
• Jude×2
• Revelation×24

• Matthew 1:18

  Now the origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this: when his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, before they came together she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.

• Matthew 1:20

  And as he was considering these things, look, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to yourself Mary as your wife, for what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

• Matthew 3:11

  I immerse you in water for change of mind, but the one who comes after me is stronger than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit and fire.

• Matthew 3:16

  And after being immersed, Jesus at once went up from the water; and look, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and coming upon him.

• Matthew 4:1

  Then Jesus was led up into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tested by the devil.

• Matthew 5:3

  “Happy are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

• Matthew 8:16

  When evening came, they brought to him many who were possessed by demons; and he drove out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were ill,

• Matthew 10:1

  And calling to himself his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, so as to drive them out and to heal every disease and every sickness.

• Matthew 10:20

  For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

• Matthew 12:18

  “Look, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased; I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.

• Matthew 12:28

  But if by the Spirit of God I drive out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

• Matthew 12:31

  Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven every sin and blasphemy, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.

• Matthew 12:32

  And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

• Matthew 12:43

  When the unclean spirit goes out of the man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.

• Matthew 12:45

  Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. So it will be also with this evil generation.”

• Matthew 22:43

  He says to them, “How then does David, in the Spirit, call him Lord, saying,

• Matthew 26:41

  Keep watch and pray, so that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh weak.”

• Matthew 27:50

  And Jesus, crying out again with a loud voice, let go of his spirit.

• Matthew 28:19

  So go and make disciples of all the nations, immersing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

• Mark 1:8

  I immersed you in water, but he will immerse you in the Holy Spirit.”

• Mark 1:10

  And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit coming down like a dove to him.

• Mark 1:12

  And at once the Spirit drives him out into the wilderness.

• Mark 1:23

  And at once there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

• Mark 1:26

  And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

• Mark 1:27

  And they were all amazed, so that they questioned one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

• Mark 2:8

  And at once Jesus, knowing in his spirit that they were reasoning like this within themselves, says to them, “Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?

• Mark 3:11

  And the unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, would fall down before him and cry out, saying, “You are the Son of God!”

• Mark 3:29

  but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin.”

• Mark 3:30

  For they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

• Mark 5:2

  And when he had come out of the boat, at once a man with an unclean spirit met him from the tombs.

• Mark 5:8

  For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”

• Mark 5:13

  And he gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered into the pigs, and the herd, about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowning in the sea.

• Mark 6:7

  And he summons the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, and he was giving them authority over the unclean spirits.

• Mark 7:25

  But at once a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard about him, came and fell at his feet.

• Mark 8:12

  And sighing deeply in his spirit, he says, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

• Mark 9:17

  And one of the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, who has a mute spirit;

• Mark 9:20

  And they brought him to him. And when the spirit saw him, at once it convulsed the boy, and falling on the ground he was rolling about, foaming.

• Mark 9:25

  And when Jesus saw that a crowd was running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never again enter into him!”

• Mark 12:36

  David himself said by the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

• Mark 13:11

  And when they lead you away, handing you over, do not worry beforehand what you are to say, but whatever is given you in that hour, say that; for it is not you who are speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

And 339 more times.