The Ruach HaKodesh: Him Or Her?

Ever wondered just what Ruach HaKodesh, the set apart spirit really is? Because the Heavenly Father is depicted throughout Scripture as masculine, it is generally understood that Yahweh's spirit is masculine as well. This teaching will examine the evidence to see if there is indeed a feminine aspect to Yahweh's character as well.

Shabbat Shalom! In response to the closing statement of last weeks' Shabbat message, we received the following enquiry; perhaps this question was raised in your mind as well.

I have been chewing on your Shabbat Message for a few days. I Have a question about the last paragraph where you refer to the Rauch as doing HER work. Is this a new teaching, or have I missed something along the way? Otherwise, a very well thought out message. Thanks, Bro. K., VA

No, from what I have been able to find, this is not a new teaching, although it is rather new to myself. This only goes to say however that I missed it for quite some time along the way. :) The teaching is, in fact, present among many of the Rabbinical writings, and other literature composed by studiers of the word throughout Hebraic history.

To start this right, I should probably begin with a brief definition of Yahweh and procede from there. The following is excerpts from our booklet, Secrets of the B'rit Chadasha, several of my posts over our forum, an updated statement of belief which is not yet uploaded to the internet, plus a little more. :)

Yahweh of course is the Eternal Being, as revealed to us in the Scriptures. Like mankind whom He created in His image, Yahweh is composed of several attributes. These are 1.) The soul or being of Yahweh, 2.) The spirit or character of Yahweh and 3.) The body of Yahweh, or the form in which He chooses to manifest Himself towards us. This is not to say that Yahweh is a "trinity", as in three persons or beings, but rather ONE Elohim (Mighty One) which is composed of numerous attributes, in accordance with the Sh''ma passage of Deuteronomy 6:4. "Hear O Yisra''el, Yahweh your Elohim, Yahweh is ONE."

Upon referencing the first chapters of Genesis, we find in the account of creation that "In the image of Yahweh created He them (mankind), male and female created He them", whereby indicating that the "image of Yahweh" has both masculine and feminine attributes or qualities. Now for clarity, Yahweh is a Spirit, and because spirits do not have gender, Yahweh is in fact, neither male nor female. Therefore when we speak of Yahweh in these terms, it is merely figurative (remez or allegorical), so that we can better understand Yahweh from our human perspective.

The aspects or attributes of Yahweh are as follows:

• The Father aspect of Yahweh is the soul or being, from whence all precedes.
• The Ruach HaKodesh is the spirit or character aspect of Yahweh, and therefore a part of Yahweh (Isa 40:13). The Ruach is pictured allegorically throughout the Tanakh as the feminine or motherly aspect of Yahweh, and is also synonymous with Wisdom, as depicted in the Proverbs where wisdom says, "Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was." (Prov 8:22,23) The phrase, "YHWH possessed me", indicates that wisdom is the Ruach, or the bride, especially since wisdom is portrayed as feminine.
• Yahshua is the only begotten Son, the Miltha (word, body, substance) of Yahweh which was brought forth, or revealed to mankind at the dawn of the Creation. Yahshua is also a part of Yahweh as evidenced by His statement, "The Father and I are One", amongst many others which for brevity, we will not mention herein. It was through the Miltha of Yahweh that the earth and heavens were created, and it is the Miltha of Yahweh which manifested Itself to us in the form of a Man, Yahshua of Nazareth, as the promised Moshiach through whom we are offered Salvation from our sins.

It is through the soul or being of Yahweh (Fatherly aspect) and the wisdom or spirit of Yahweh (Motherly aspect) that the Son of Yahweh, the bodily manifestation or substance of Yahweh was conceived, and eventually brought forth into the world by the means of a virgin named Miriam. Continuing on, we find that Moshiach was conceived OF the Ruach (Matthew 1:20), and in the physical portrayal of this, He was born OF Miriam. The meaning of the word "OF" carries through in that Moshiach is conceived and born of the Ruach, as pictured in Miriam. The conception in the spiritual realm was also pictured at Moshiach's baptism when the Ruach HaKadesh descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and Yahweh spoke from heaven saying, "My Son, the Beloved, In You I did delight" (Luke 3:22), and again, "This day have I brought the forth" (Psa 2:7, Acts 13:33).

Because there is "Elohim the Father" and "Elohim the Son", there is also of necessity an "Elohim the Mother", an allegorical picture which is filled by the Ruach. Paul however reminded us that such things are remez (allegory), during his discussion of marriage in Ephesians 5:31-33. He first revealed that the secret of which He spoke was Moshiach and the assembly, but then returned to the physical picture, in order to clarify the relationship of the physical and spiritual which He was bringing to light.

Because the things on earth are pictures of that in the heavens (Gen 1:26, Romans 5:4, Heb 8:5, 9:9), the same is certainly the case with marriage in comparison to our relationship with Yahweh. Just as a husband, wife, and family are one unit, so Yahweh, the Ruach, and the Son are one unit. And if foresay the unit is disunited, it is unrighteous. (Mal 2:15, 4:5,6) Because there is no unrighteousness in Elohim, a separation or division between his attributes cannot exist.

Herein we find that the Father, Ruach and Son are three attributes or members of the ONE Yahweh which cannot be separated. Just as a man is composed of body, soul and spirit, so is Yahweh. The Father = The Soul or Being of Yahweh, from which all precedes. The Mother = The Spirit of Yahweh (i.e. "like as a hen gathereth her chicks under her wings...") whereby we are all overshadowed with His power. The Moshiach = the Miltha (body, substance) of Yahweh, whereby Salvation was brought to man.

Last but not least, this is not to say that it is incorrect or wrong to reference the Ruach HaKodesh as "He", "It", etc, but I do believe that what I just went through helps to better clarify in our minds who Yahweh really is, what He is like, and why He shows the actions which He does towards us. At the very least, I hope this helps to clarify why I worded myself as I did, and I would appreciate hearing our reader's thoughts in support of either outlook. :)

In Moshiach YAHshua,
Matthew Coover (MattithYAH)