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roh
רוה
Often pronounced “ruach”, this word is often translated as “spirit”, but this interpretation may not adequately portray the intent of the original documents.
Ezekiel describes the 'roh' as a component of (or possibly the driver of) a flying physical object. In Ezekiel 8, after seeing a UFO descend, he felt a force that seemed to pull his head, causing him to rise into the air. Some kind of “tractor beam” lifted him “between earth and the sky”. The destination was not some extra-dimensional “heaven” or “spiritual plane”. It was between the ground and the sky. He flew up, but not too far up. He did not rise beyond the sky. He didn’t even reach orbit. He stayed well within the atmosphere. This was accomplished by the 'roh'. Perhaps one way to interpret this is that 'roh' may simply refer to the ways, styles, and technologies of the elohim, rather than specifying particular details. This is a linguistic twist which is still inherent even across languages. Consider the phrase “the spirit of the age” which describes a “zeitgeist” rather than a specific object. The English word “spirit” still carries this dual functionality.
Genesis 1:2, the “roh of elohim” is said to hover over “the surface” (pen) of the deep. Another possible interpretation is that this technology “flew over the edge of the deep” which might explain why the earth was “formless and void”. Does this phrase describe not a passive state but perhaps a destructive event? Mirroring the later flood and Tower of Babel stories, is “the void” simply the first mention and earliest remembrance of the cyclic cataclysms?
If so, the narrative runs as follows: The Elohim gave earth form and the Roh wiped it out. Yet the roh are tied to the Elohim. Rather than an opposing force, it seems that the technology or culture of the Elohim led to a rise and a subsequent fall.
Effects of Roh
- the roh often yields apocalyptic visions.
- an energizing effect may cause one to dance vigorously or enter a berserker battle frenzy.
- this effect may manifest in superhuman strength - Judges 14:6 credits the 'roh' as the source of Samson's strength
- allows one person to heal others
- navigation of spaceships
- teleportation: the apostle Philip credits the 'roh' for his teleportation in Acts 81)
LexID 7307