The breath of God is first mentioned in the Bible when God breathed life into the clay specimen that He formed, and Adam, man, become a living soul. When people begin to panic over some incident or circumstance or show signs of high anxiety they are often told to take a deep breath. When you slow down your breathing rhythm your heart beat stabilises. Is there something about breathing that we have missed? In other words, is there a link to God and our breath?
Most believers have read or heard the creation account as recorded in Genesis 2:7. God, breathed into the clay specimen and man became a living being, a living person, a soul. Note that when the life force of breath entered the “body mass” a soul came into being. Physical, Spiritual and Personal components constitute man. Body, Soul and Spirit.
The Hebrew word for breath is “ruach”. The Greek word for breath is “pneuma”, which means “air, wind or breath.” The Hebrew word for Holy Spirit is “ruach hakodesh.”
When Moses met with the Divine Creator at the burning bush he audaciously asked God for the Lord’s name, “Who will I say has sent me.” God gave His unpronounceable name “Yhwh.” The Hebrew consonants made the name unpronounceable but Hebrew scholars introduced two vowels to YHWH (Yahweh). Today we refer to God’s name as Jehovah or more correctly in Hebrew Yahweh. Jewish sages associated this name with the sound of breath. YHWH are Hebrew consonants that represent breathing sounds or aspirant consonants. In the Hebrew alphabet the ‘Yod” or “Y” is pronounced like “yacht”, the letter “H” is “He”, the “V or W” is the letter “vav”. The combination of these letters produces a breathing sound.
It is a profound fact that God’s name is associated with breath (However, God is more than just mere breath).
Jewish leaders and writers often exclude the name of God in their writings and leave out the vowels in respect for God’s Holy name. They feel that by pronouncing His full name “Yahweh” they would be contaminating His name because of their depravity and weaknesses. Breathing His name is a preferred choice.
Most people are familiar with the fact that when a baby is born the midwife or the doctor whacks the child on the behind for the child to take its first breath. It seems that it is necessary for the new born babe to whisper God’s name at the beginning of life. At the beginning and end of life we whisper His Divine name. When we die we breathe out our last breath and again whisper God’s name.
Isn’t it ironic that even atheist who deny God’s existence inadvertently and obliviously whisper God’s name every time they breath.
A Christian song contains this beautiful concept, and may the lyrics bless you and all those who read this article.
The sound of our breathing by Jason Gray
Everybody draws their very first breath
With Your name upon their lips
Every one of us is born of dust
But come alive with heaven’s kiss
‘Cause the name of God
Is the sound of our breathing
Hallelujahs rise
On the wings of our hearts beating
So breathe in, breathe out
Speak it aloud oh oh, oh oh
The glory surrounds
This is the sound oh oh, oh oh
Moses bare foot at the burning bush
Wants to know who spoke to him
The answer is unspeakable
Like the rush of a gentle wind
‘Cause the name of God
Is the sound of our breathing
Hallelujahs rise
On the wings of our hearts beating
So breathe in, breathe out
Speak it aloud oh oh, oh oh
The glory surrounds
This is the sound oh oh, oh oh
In him we live and move and have our being
We speak the name as long as we are breathing
So breathe in
Breathe out…
Breathe in
Breathe out…
‘Cause the name of God
Is the sound of our breathing
Hallelujahs rise
On the wings of our hearts beating
So breathe in, breathe out
Speak it aloud oh oh, oh oh
The glory surrounds
This is the sound oh oh, oh oh
[x2]
Doubters and deceivers, skeptics and believers
We speak it just the same
From birth to death, every single breath
Is whispering Your name
