5 myths
Myths, legends, and mystical writings about Holy Spirit from across Jewish tradition.
5 myths on JewishMythology.com retell how Jewish tradition imagines holy spirit, drawn from the Hebrew Bible, Midrash, Talmud, Kabbalah, and later Jewish literature. Each story below synthesizes primary sources into a single narrative; follow any myth to read it, and from there into the source passages behind it.
God names Balaam inside Abraham's blessing. Abimelech is told Abraham is a prophet who will pray for him. Jacob blesses Benjamin by the Holy Spirit.
Jacob kept the wells of Haran flowing for twenty years. Three days after he set his face toward Gilead, Laban's well went dry.
After Isaac blessed Jacob with stolen goatskins, Rebekah laid her hands on Jacob and spoke a second blessing. The holy spirit finished it for her.
When God came to Balaam wherever Balaam stood, the rabbis said this was not an honor. It was the parable of a king and a beggar at the door.
Jacob embraced his grandsons and reached for the holy spirit to bless them. Nothing came. Joseph read the room and stepped outside to kneel before God returned.
