πνεῦμα
pneuma
spirit/breath: spirit
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word πνεῦμα (pneuma) is a term with a rich meaning and diverse usage in the Bible. At its core, πνεῦμα refers to spirit or breath, encompassing both the physical and metaphysical aspects of life. This multifaceted concept is evident in its 380 occurrences throughout the biblical text. In its physical sense, πνεῦμα describes the breath or wind that sustains life. However, its usage extends far beyond this literal meaning, often symbolizing the immaterial or divine aspect of existence. In this sense, πνεῦμα can refer to the human spirit, encompassing emotions, thoughts, and volition. It can also represent the divine spirit, signifying the presence and action of God. The significance of πνεῦμα lies in its ability to convey the complex relationship between the physical and spiritual realms. Its usage in the Bible highlights the interconnectedness of human experience and the divine, underscoring the idea that life is more than just a physical existence. By exploring the various meanings and contexts of πνεῦμα, we gain a deeper understanding of the biblical authors' perspectives on the nature of humanity and the world around us.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
380 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:20But when he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take to yourself Mary, your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:11I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:16Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
Matthew 4:1Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 8:16When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;
Matthew 10:1He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.
Matthew 10:20For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Matthew 12:18“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; my beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him. He will proclaim justice to the nations.
Matthew 12:28But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then God’s Kingdom has come upon you.
Matthew 12:31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men.
Matthew 12:32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, neither in this age, nor in that which is to come.
Matthew 12:43When an unclean spirit has gone out of a man, he passes through waterless places, seeking rest, and doesn’t find it.
Matthew 12:45Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more evil than he is, and they enter in and dwell there. The last state of that man becomes worse than the first. Even so will it be also to this evil generation.”
Luke 2:25Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
Mark 3:11The unclean spirits, whenever they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, “You are the Son of God!”
Matthew 22:43He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,
Matthew 26:41Watch and pray, that you don’t enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 27:50Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
Matthew 28:19Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Mark 1:8I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:10Immediately coming up from the water, he saw the heavens parting, and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
Mark 1:12Immediately the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness.
Mark 1:23Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out,
Mark 1:26The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
Mark 1:27They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!”
Mark 2:8Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you reason these things in your hearts?
Mark 3:29but whoever may blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.”
Mark 3:30—because they said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Mark 5:2When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs.
Mark 5:8For he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
Mark 5:13At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
Mark 6:7He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Mark 7:25For a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.
Mark 8:12He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Most certainly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
Mark 9:17One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;
Mark 9:20They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
Mark 9:25When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”
Mark 9:25When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”
Luke 7:21In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.
Mark 12:36For David himself said in the Holy Spirit, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.” ’
Mark 13:11When they lead you away and deliver you up, don’t be anxious beforehand, or premeditate what you will say, but say whatever will be given you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
Mark 14:38Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Luke 1:15For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:17He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”
Luke 1:35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
Luke 1:41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 1:47My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
Luke 1:67His father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,