Word studies · Greek · Strong's G4151
πνεῦμα · pneûma · appears 385 times in the New Testament
In one line: The unseen, life-giving presence of God within a person.
The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:16
Spirit refers to breath or wind, and by extension to the immaterial, life-giving reality of a person, an angelic being, or — most significantly — God Himself as the Holy Spirit.
Pneuma spans a wide range: ordinary breath or wind, the human spirit or inner life, evil spirits, and — capitalized in translation — the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity who indwells and empowers believers. Context determines which sense is meant.
Pneuma comes from the verb pneō, “to blow” or “breathe,” the same root behind English words like “pneumatic.” The word's physical starting point — moving air — became a natural metaphor for the unseen but powerful reality of spirit and life.
The wordplay between “wind” and “Spirit” is explicit in John 3, where Jesus tells Nicodemus the Spirit's work is like the wind — pneuma in both cases — heard and felt in its effects even though it can't be seen or controlled.
Pneuma (G4151) is the same word used for the Holy Spirit and for a human being's own spirit, which is why Romans 8:16 can say “the Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit” using pneuma twice for two distinct realities.
The Holy Spirit's presence is central to New Testament Christian life — regenerating believers, indwelling them, and producing the “fruit of the Spirit.” Pentecost marks the decisive gift of the Spirit to the church as Jesus promised.
Rather than relying only on willpower, ask the Spirit to produce His fruit in you — patience, kindness, self-control — since these are described as His work, not just yours to muster. Pray specifically for the Spirit's help in one area where you feel weak today.
a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged in marriage to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 1:18I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Mark 1:8for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
Luke 1:15Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
John 1:32until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen.
Acts 1:2and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 1:4Press and hold spirit in any chapter and this study opens on the verse you are reading, with the lexicons, every occurrence and the commentaries beside it. The Bible is free to read.
Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible, public domain. Strong's definitions are public domain. Counts come from The Pillar's own tagged text.