'Spirit' in the Bible

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

And the Lord said, “My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt. Their days will be 120 years.”

Everything with the breath of the spirit of life in its nostrils—everything on dry land died.

Then Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone like this, a man who has God’s spirit in him?”

But when they told Jacob all that Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

Moses told this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their broken spirit and hard labor.

You are to instruct all the skilled craftsmen, whom I have filled with a spirit of wisdom, to make Aaron’s garments for consecrating him to serve Me as priest.

I have filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every craft

Everyone whose heart was moved and whose spirit prompted him came and brought an offering to the Lord for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its services, and for the holy garments.

He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft

Then I will come down and speak with you there. I will take some of the Spirit who is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you bear the burden of the people, so that you do not have to bear it by yourself.

Then the Lord descended in the cloud and spoke to him. He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed the Spirit on the 70 elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but they never did it again.

Two men had remained in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad; the Spirit rested on them—they were among those listed, but had not gone out to the tent—and they prophesied in the camp.

But Moses asked him, “Are you jealous on my account? If only all the Lord’s people were prophets and the Lord would place His Spirit on them!”

But since My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me completely, I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it.

When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came on him,

The Lord replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man who has the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him.

But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us travel through his land, for the Lord your God had made his spirit stubborn and his heart obstinate in order to hand him over to you, as has now taken place.

cast spells, consult a medium or a familiar spirit, or inquire of the dead.

You will find no peace among those nations, and there will be no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despondent spirit.

Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the Lord handed over Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him.

The Spirit of the Lord took control of Gideon, and he blew the ram’s horn and the Abiezrites rallied behind him.

God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,

The Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, who traveled through Gilead and Manasseh, and then through Mizpah of Gilead. He crossed over to the Ammonites from Mizpah of Gilead.

Then the Spirit of the Lord began to direct him in the Camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

the Spirit of the Lord took control of him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done.

The Spirit of the Lord took control of him, and he went down to Ashkelon and killed 30 of their men. He stripped them and gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. In a rage, Samson returned to his father’s house,

When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came to meet him shouting. The Spirit of the Lord took control of him, and the ropes that were on his arms became like burnt flax and his bonds fell off his wrists.

The Spirit of the Lord will control you, you will prophesy with them, and you will be transformed into a different person.

When Saul and his attendant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God took control of him, and he prophesied along with them.

When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly took control of him, and his anger burned furiously.

So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit sent from the Lord began to torment him,

so Saul’s servants said to him, “You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God troubles you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better.”

Whenever the spirit from God troubled Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

The next day an evil spirit sent from God took control of Saul, and he began to rave inside the palace. David was playing the lyre as usual, but Saul was holding a spear,

Now an evil spirit sent from the Lord came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear. David was playing the lyre,

he sent agents to seize David. However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s agents, and they also started prophesying.

So he went to Naioth in Ramah. The Spirit of God also came on him, and as he walked along, he prophesied until he entered Naioth in Ramah.

Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes and set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I tell you.”

But the king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”“I see a spirit form coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me,His word was on my tongue.

But when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord may carry you off to some place I don’t know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth.

“Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’

“The Lord asked him, ‘How?’“He said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’“Then He said, ‘You will certainly entice him and prevail. Go and do that.’

“You see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”

Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Did the Spirit of the Lord leave me to speak to you?”

After they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken from you.”So Elisha answered, “Please, let me inherit two shares of your spirit.”

When the sons of the prophets from Jericho who were facing him saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They came to meet him and bowed down to the ground in front of him.

Then the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “Since there are 50 strong men here with your servants, please let them go and search for your master. Maybe the Spirit of the Lord has carried him away and put him on one of the mountains or into one of the valleys.”He answered, “Don’t send them.”

But Elisha questioned him, “Wasn’t my spirit there when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is it a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male and female slaves?

I am about to put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and return to his own land where I will cause him to fall by the sword.’”

Then the Spirit took control of Amasai, chief of the Thirty, and he said:We are yours, David,we are with you, son of Jesse!Peace, peace to you,and peace to him who helps you,for your God helps you.So David received them and made them leaders of his troops.

The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded.

“Then a spirit came forward, stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will entice him.’“The Lord asked him, ‘How?’

“So he said, ‘I will go and become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’“Then He said, ‘You will entice him and also prevail. Go and do that.’

“Now, you see, the Lord has put a lying spirit into the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the Lord has pronounced disaster against you.”

Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah came up, hit Micaiah in the face, and demanded, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord leave me to speak to you?”

In the middle of the congregation, the Spirit of the Lord came on Jahaziel (son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite from Asaph’s descendants),

The Spirit of God took control of Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood above the people and said to them, “This is what God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the Lord’s commands and you do not prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, He has abandoned you.’”

You sent Your good Spirit to instruct them.You did not withhold Your manna from their mouths,and You gave them water for their thirst.

You were patient with them for many years,and Your Spirit warned them through Your prophets,but they would not listen.Therefore, You handed them over to the surrounding peoples.

Surely the arrows of the Almighty have pierced me;my spirit drinks their poison.God’s terrors are arrayed against me.

Therefore I will not restrain my mouth.I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

My spirit is broken.My days are extinguished.A graveyard awaits me.

But it is a spirit in manand the breath of the Almightythat give him understanding.

For I am full of words,and my spirit compels me to speak.

The Spirit of God has made me,and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

If He put His mind to itand withdrew the spirit and breath He gave,

Therefore my heart is gladand my spirit rejoices;my body also rests securely.

Into Your hand I entrust my spirit;You redeem me, Lord, God of truth.

How joyful is the manthe Lord does not charge with sinand in whose spirit is no deceit!

The Lord is near the brokenhearted;He saves those crushed in spirit.

God, create a clean heart for meand renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not banish me from Your presenceor take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore the joy of Your salvation to me,and give me a willing spirit.

The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

He humbles the spirit of leaders;He is feared by the kings of the earth.

I think of God; I groan;I meditate; my spirit becomes weak.Selah

At night I remember my music;I meditate in my heart, and my spirit ponders.

Then they would not be like their fathers,a stubborn and rebellious generation,a generation whose heart was not loyaland whose spirit was not faithful to God.

for they embittered his spirit,and he spoke rashly with his lips.

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit?Where can I flee from Your presence?

Although my spirit is weak within me,You know my way.Along this path I travelthey have hidden a trap for me.

My spirit is weak within me;my heart is overcome with dismay.

Answer me quickly, Lord;my spirit fails.Don’t hide Your face from me,or I will be like thosegoing down to the Pit.

Teach me to do Your will,for You are my God.May Your gracious Spiritlead me on level ground.

If you respond to my warning,then I will pour out my spirit on youand teach you my words.

The tongue that heals is a tree of life,but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.

A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.

Pride comes before destruction,and an arrogant spirit before a fall.

Better to be lowly of spirit with the humblethan to divide plunder with the proud.

A joyful heart is good medicine,but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

A man’s spirit can endure sickness,but who can survive a broken spirit?

A person’s pride will humble him,but a humble spirit will gain honor.

Who knows if the spirit of people rises upward and the spirit of animals goes downward to the earth?

The end of a matter is better than its beginning;a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.

Don’t let your spirit rush to be angry,for anger abides in the heart of fools.