Brooding, Hovering, Moving: Ruach Hakodesh, the "Spirit of God"

I thought it might be interesting to compare some translations of the first few lines of Genesis, where the Spirit of God "moves" over the "face of the waters." In some translations the Spirit simply "moves"; in others, the Spirit "broods" or "hovers." The NAB version has the most dramatic description of the Spirit's actions, where the Spirit is a "mighty wind." In Hebrew, the grammatical gender of "Ruach Hakodesh" (the Holy Spirit) is feminine. The Holy Spirit is also associated with "Holy Wisdom," or "Hagia Sophia."


Genesis 1:1-2
New American Bible
In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.

New International Version – UK
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

King James Version
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

New Life Version
In the beginning God made from nothing the heavens and the earth. The earth was an empty waste and darkness was over the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was moving over the top of the waters.

Amplified Bible
IN THE beginning God (prepared, formed, fashioned, and) created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and an empty waste, and darkness was upon the face of the very great deep. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

English Standard Version
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

The Spirit is said to have been "moving, hovering, and brooding" over "the waters" at the creation.