“We Sing to Ruah” Song Video

One of my favorite biblical female divine images is Ruah, the Hebrew word for “Spirit.” Ruah gave birth to the universe. She’s first found in Genesis 1:2: “The Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.” The word in this verse translated “moving,” (rachaph) is used to describe divine action only one other time in the Bible, and that is in Deuteronomy 32:11, which images Deity as a Mother Eagle. The first word for “Spirit” in the Bible is feminine. The first picture of the Divine is of a Mother Eagle giving birth to the universe. The Spirit who created the whole universe is female. It may seem obvious that the Spirit who gave birth to the universe is female. But She’s been buried in patriarchal culture and tradition. The word Ruah also means “breath.” Ruah is the Breath of Life. Ruah breathes Her life into everyone. Let us now praise Her!

We sing to Ruah, our Maker;
we sing to Ruah and praise Her,
for Ruah Spirit makes the world thrive;
we sing to Ruah, Ruah, Ruah, Breath of Life.

We sing to Ruah, our Maker;
we sing to Ruah and praise Her,
for Ruah Spirit daily gives birth;
we sing to Ruah, Ruah, Maker of all Earth.

Words © 2019 Jann Aldredge-Clanton   

Video Credits

Performed by: Katie Ketchum

Lyrics: Jann Aldredge-Clanton

From: Hersay: Songs for Healing and Empowerment

Recorded at: Joe Hoffmann Studios, Occidental, CA

Visual Art:

Katie Ketchum: Hersay book cover painting

Stacy Boorn: “Ruah: Spirit, Wind, and Breath” painting

Deborah Swanson Hall: “Ruah, Breath of Life” quilt artwork

Lucy Synk: “Ruah” painting

Linda Palmstrom: “Ruah” painting