Greek and Hebrew Word Studies from the Scriptures
What is the Soul and Spirit?
by Bob Pickle
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Preface
-
The Various Renderings
-
Personifications?
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Identifying the Original Words in Each Text; End Notes After Each Verse
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The Soul - Old Testament (94
Verses)
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The Soul - New Testament (33
Verses)
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The Spirit - Old Testament
(27 Verses)
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The Spirit - New Testament
(4 Verses)
Preface
The most common conception of the nature of man is
that man has an immortal soul and/or spirit within him that can be
conscious after death. This was the understanding of the Greek
philosophers, the Pharisees of Jesus's day, and numerous pagan
religions. But was this the understanding of the Bible writers?
What follows are a total of 157 verses in which the
Greek and Hebrew words for "soul" and "spirit" are
used in ways that do not fit in with this common conception of the nature
of man. For example, some of these verses declare that souls can die,
can touch, can eat, can thirst, can hunger, etc. These seemingly
peculiar uses of the words for "soul" and "spirit"
must be explained somehow, and these explanations should be taken into
account when considering the other verses where these words occur.
The Various Renderings
Before we actually look at the verses, let's first
look at all the various ways these Greek and Hebrew words are
translated:
The word for "soul" in the Old Testament is
nephesh. Nephesh is translated in following ways (the numbers
being the number of occurrences of each way):
any 3
appetite 2
beast 2
body 4
breath 1
creature 9
dead 5
dead body 4
desire 4
fish 1
ghost 2
heart 15
hearty 1
herself 2
himself 8
life 117
lust 2
man 3
mind 15
mortally 1
myself 1
one 1
own 1
person 29
pleasure 3
soul 475
thing 2
themselves 3
thyself 1
will 4
would have it 1
yourselves 6
Some of these renderings may be confusing. For instance,
how can the same word be translated "life," "body,"
and "dead body"?
The meaning of nephesh's root word is "to
breathe." Since those who are breathing still have "life,"
one of the meanings for nephesh is "life." Since the
"body" is what we use to breathe with, one of the meanings for
nephesh is "body." Since a
"dead body" is what once breathed, one of the meanings for nephesh
is "dead body." Thus, all three renderings of nephesh,
though apparently quite different, are derived from the same basic
meaning of the root word.
In the New Testament the word for "soul" is psuche.
Psuche is translated in the following ways:
heart 1
heartily (combined with ek) 1
life 40
make doubt (combined with airo) 1
mind 3
soul 58
you 1
The word for "spirit" in the Old Testament
is either ruach or neshamah. Ruach is translated in the
following ways:
air 1
anger 1
blast 4
breath 27
cool 1
courage 1
mind 6
quarters 1
side 6
Spirit or spirit 240
wind 94
vain 2
Neshamah is translated in the following
ways:
blast 3
breath 17
inspiration 1
souls 1
spirit 2
The Greek word pnoe is used in the Septuagint
(the Greek version of the Old Testament) for neshamah, but it is
only used in the New Testament in Acts 2:2, where it is translated
"wind," and in Acts 17:25, where it is translated "breath."
In the New Testament the word
for "spirit" is pneuma. Pneuma is translated the
following ways:
ghost 2
Ghost (with Holy) 90
life 1
spirit 151
Spirit 137
spiritual gift 1
spiritually 1
wind 1
Personifications?
One brief thought before we look at the verses: There
are some verses that seem to use "soul" and "spirit"
in ways that harmonize with the common concept of the nature of man. How
can this be? Is the Bible contradicting itself?
Here is one suggestion: It was commonplace for the
Bible writers to take parts of man's being and personify them, give
them attributes they did not in actuality possess. Perhaps sometimes
they personified the "soul" and "spirit" as well.
The most familiar example of a part of a person being
personified is the heart. The heart, simply an organ that pumps blood,
is said to have qualities that the mind does have, but that the heart
definitely does not have.
Another example which is not so familiar is the
personification of the kidneys, called the "reins" (Ps. 7:9;
16:7; 26:2; 73:21; Prov. 23:16; Jer. 11:20; 12:2; 17:10; 20:12; Rev.
2:23). The kidneys seem to have been made the seat of the affections and
emotions.
Another example is the use of the words for
"bowels" (Ps. 40:8 (translated "heart"); Cant. 5:4;
Is. 16:11; 63:15; Jer. 4:19; 31:20; Lam. 1:20; 2:11; Luke 1:78
(translated "tender"); 2 Cor 7:15 (translated
"inward affection"); Php. 2:1; Col. 3:12; Phm. 1:7, 20;
1 Jn. 3:17).
In the light of these scriptures, the possibility
that the Bible writers also occasionally personify the "soul"
and "spirit" should be considered. In other words, the
"soul" and the "spirit" may in some verses be given
qualities that they do not in actuality possess.
Identifying the Original Words in Each Text;
End Notes After Each Verse
Special Note: The words in bold are
those translated from the Greek and Hebrew words in question. Within the
parentheses following these bolded words are the particular Greek or
Hebrew words used in the text. If the Septuagint uses the corresponding
Greek word for the Hebrew word in question, this Greek word is also
included within the parentheses.
After each passage is a sentence or so in brackets
which emphasizes the inconsistency between that verse and the popular
concept of soul and spirit. Sometimes the sentence may appear a bit
humorous.
The Soul - Old Testament (94
Verses)
"And God created great whales, and every living creature
(nephesh, psuche) that moveth, which the waters brought forth
abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and
God saw that it was good" (Gen. 1:21). [According to the first
occurrences of the word for "soul" in the entire Bible, animals
are "souls." The same Hebrew phrase for "living soul" is also found in vs. 20.]
"And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature
(nephesh, psuche) after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and
beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so" (Gen. 1:24).
[According to this second occurrence of the word for "soul" in the Bible,
animals are "souls."]
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul
(nephesh, psuche)" (Gen. 2:7). [He became a "soul"
rather than received a "soul."]
"Whatsoever Adam called every living creature (nephesh,
psuche), that was the name thereof" (Gen. 2:19). [Animals are
"souls."]
"But flesh with the life (nephesh, psuche)
thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your
blood of your lives (nephesh, psuche) will I require; at
the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at
the hand of every man's brother will I require the life (nephesh,
psuche) of man" (Gen.
9:4, 5). [Either the "soul" is in the blood,
or the blood is the "soul."]
"And with every living creature (nephesh, psuche)
that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the
earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the
earth" (Gen. 9:10). [Animals are "souls."]
"And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make
between me and you and every living creature (nephesh, psuche)
that is with you, for perpetual generations" (Gen. 9:12). [Animals are
"souls."]
"And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you
and every living creature (nephesh, psuche) of all flesh;
and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And
the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may
remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature
(nephesh, psuche) of all flesh that is upon the earth" (Gen.
9:15, 16). [Animals are "souls."]
"Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with
me for thy sake; and my soul (nephesh, psuche) shall live
because of thee" (Gen. 12:13). ["Souls" can die.]
"And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons
(nephesh), and take the goods to thyself" (Gen. 14:21).
["Soul" here refers to the entire person.]
"And the LORD said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt:
for all the men are dead which sought thy life (nephesh,
psuche)" (Ex. 4:19). [Someone can take someone
else's
"soul."]
"And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in
the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of
work shall be done in them, save that which every man (nephesh,
psuche) must eat, that only may be done of you" (Ex. 12:16).
["Souls" can eat.]
"And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life
for life (both are nephesh, psuche)" (Ex. 21:23). [You
can give a "soul."]
"And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings
be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither
shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an
abomination, and the soul (nephesh, psuche) that eateth of
it shall bear his iniquity" (Lev. 7:18). ["Souls" can eat.]
"But the soul (nephesh, psuche) that eateth of the
flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD,
having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul (nephesh,
psuche) shall be cut off from his people. Moreover the soul (nephesh,
psuche) that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of
man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of
the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the
LORD, even that soul (nephesh, psuche) shall be cut off
from his people" (Lev. 7:20, 21). ["Souls" can eat, touch, and be cut
off.]
"Whatsoever soul (nephesh, psuche) it be that
eateth any manner of blood, even that soul (nephesh, psuche)
shall be cut off from his people" (Lev. 7:27).
["Souls" can eat and be cut off.]
"And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the
rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing (nephesh,
psuche) which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto
you" (Lev. 11:10). [Animals are "souls."]
"This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every
living creature (nephesh, psuche) that moveth in the
waters, and of every creature (nephesh, psuche) that
creepeth upon the earth" (Lev. 11:46). [Animals are
"souls."]
"And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the
strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood; I
will even set my face against that soul (nephesh, psuche)
that eateth blood, and will cut him off from among his people. For the life
(nephesh, psuche) of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given
it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls (nephesh,
psuche): for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul
(nephesh, psuche). Therefore I said unto the children of Israel,
No soul (nephesh, psuche) of you shall eat blood, neither
shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood" (Lev.
17:10-12). ["Souls" can eat. The "soul" is in the blood.]
"For it is the life (nephesh, psuche) of all
flesh; the blood of it is for the life (nephesh) thereof:
therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of
no manner of flesh: for the life (nephesh, psuche) of all
flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. And
every soul (nephesh, psuche) that eateth that which died
of itself, or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your
own country, or a stranger, he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe
himself in water, and be unclean until the even" (Lev. 17:14, 15).
[The blood is the "soul." A "soul" can eat a
"soul."]
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons
of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead
(nephesh, psuche) among his people"
(Lev. 21:1). [A dead body is a "soul."]
"Neither shall he go in to any dead body (nephesh,
psuche), nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother"
(Lev. 21:11). [A dead body is a "soul."]
"Whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead (nephesh,
psuche), or a man whose seed goeth from him" (Lev. 22:4). [A dead
body is a "soul."]
"And whatsoever soul (nephesh, psuche) it be that
doeth any work in that same day, the same soul (nephesh,
psuche) will I destroy from among his people" (Lev. 23:30).
["Souls" can work and be destroyed.]
"And he that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast (nephesh,
psuche) for beast (psuche)" (Lev. 24:18).
[Animals are "souls."]
"Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp
every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is defiled
by the dead (nephesh, psuche" (Num. 5:2). [A dead
body is a "soul."]
"All the days that he separateth himself unto the LORD he shall
come at no dead body (nephesh, psuche)" (Num. 6:6).
[A dead body is a "soul."]
"And the priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the
other for a burnt offering, and make an atonement for him, for that he
sinned by the dead (nephesh, psuche), and shall hallow his
head that same day" (Num. 6:11). [A dead body is a
"soul."]
"And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead
body (nephesh, psuche) of a man, that they could not keep the
passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on
that day: And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead
body (nephesh, psuche) of a man" (Num. 9:6, 7). [A dead
body is a "soul."]
"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or
of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body (nephesh,
psuche), or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover
unto the LORD" (Num. 9:10). [A dead body is a "soul."]
"He that toucheth the dead body (nephesh, psuche)
of any man shall be unclean seven days" (Num. 19:11). [A dead body
is a "soul."]
"Whosoever toucheth the dead body (nephesh, psuche)
of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the
tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul (nephesh, psuche)
shall be cut off from Israel" (Num. 19:13). [A dead body is a
"soul." A "soul" can be cut off.]
"And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the
open fields, or a dead body (nephesh), or a bone of a man,
or a grave, shall be unclean seven days" (Num. 19:16). [A dead body
is a "soul."]
"And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water,
and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons
(nephesh, psuche) that were there, and upon him that touched a
bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave" (Num. 19:18). ["Souls" can get sprinkled upon.]
"Whosoever hath killed any person (nephesh), and
whosoever hath touched any slain, purify both yourselves and your
captives on the third day, and on the seventh day" (Num. 31:19).
["Souls" can be murdered.]
"The slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person (nephesh,
psuche) at unawares" (Num. 35:11). ["Souls" can be murdered.]
"Every one that killeth any person (nephesh, psuche)
unawares may flee thither" (Num. 35:15). ["Souls" can be murdered.]
"Whoso killeth any person (nephesh, psuche), the
murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one
witness shall not testify against any person (nephesh, psuche)
to cause him to die" (Num. 35:30). ["Souls" can
be murdered. And the "soul" that killed the "soul"
can receive the death penalty.]
"Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life
(nephesh, psuche); and thou mayest not eat the life (nephesh,
psuche) with the flesh" (Deut. 12:23). [The blood is the
"soul." The "soul" can be eaten.]
"And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life
(both are nephesh, psuche), eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand
for hand, foot for foot" (Deut. 19:21). [If a "soul" is
killed, the "soul" that killed it must be killed.]
"Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person
(nephesh, psuche). And all the people shall say, Amen" (Deut.
27:25). [A "soul" can be murdered by a hit man.]
"Deliver our lives (nephesh, psuche) from death.
And the men answered her, Our life (nephesh, psuche) for
yours, if ye utter not this our business" (Josh. 2:13, 14).
["Souls" can be saved from physical death.]
"We were sore afraid of our lives (nephesh, psuche)
because of you" (Josh. 9:24). [One's own "soul" can be
rather scary.]
"And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge
of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all
the souls (nephesh) that were therein; he let none remain" (Josh.
10:28). [All the "souls" got destroyed.]
"And he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls
(nephesh) that were therein; he let none remain in it" (Josh.
10:30). [All
the "souls" got destroyed.]
"And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which
took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and
all the souls (nephesh) that were therein" (Josh.
10:32). [All the
"souls" got destroyed.]
"And all the souls (nephesh) that were therein he
utterly destroyed that day" (Josh. 10:35). [All the "souls" got
destroyed.]
"But destroyed it utterly, and all the souls (nephesh)
that were therein" (Josh. 10:37). [All the "souls" got destroyed.]
"And he . . . utterly destroyed all the souls (nephesh)
that were therein; he left none remaining" (Josh. 10:39). [All the "souls" got destroyed.]
"And they smote all the souls (nephesh) that were
therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them" (Josh.
11:11). [All the "souls" got destroyed.]
"That the slayer that killeth any person (nephesh,
psuche) unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be
your refuge from the avenger of blood" (Josh. 20:3).
["Souls" can be killed.]
"Whosoever killeth any person (nephesh, psuche) at
unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of
blood" (Josh. 20:9). ["Souls" can be killed.]
"Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives
(nephesh, psuche) unto the death in the high places of the
field" (Judg. 5:18). [These people almost had their
"souls" killed.]
"And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be
heard among us, lest angry (nephesh, psuche) fellows run
upon thee, and thou lose thy life (nephesh, psuche), with
the lives (nephesh, psuche) of thy household" (Judg.
18:25). [If they died, they would lose their "souls."]
"I have occasioned the death of all the persons (nephesh,
psuche) of thy father's house" (1 Sam. 22:22).
["Souls" can be killed.]
"And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast
shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved
thy life (nephesh), and the lives (nephesh,
psuche) of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives (nephesh,
psuche) of thy wives, and the lives (nephesh) of thy
concubines" (2 Sam. 19:5). ["Souls" can be saved from
physical death.]
"And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this:
is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives
(nephesh, psuche)? therefore he would not drink it. These things
did these three mighty men" (2 Sam. 23:17). [These men almost had
their "souls" killed.]
"Now therefore come, let me, I pray thee, give thee counsel,
that thou mayest save thine own life (nephesh, psuche),
and the life (nephesh, psuche) of thy son Solomon"
(1 Kings 1:12). ["Souls" can be saved from physical death.]
"And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and
hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for
thyself, nor hast asked the life (nephesh, psuche) of
thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern
judgment . . ." (1 Kings 3:11). [A king can receive the
"soul" of his enemy.]
"And his servants said unto him, Behold now, we have heard that
the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings: let us, I pray
thee, put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes upon our heads, and go out
to the king of Israel: peradventure he will save thy life (nephesh,
psuche)" (1 Kings 20:31). [A "soul" can be saved from physical
death.]
"And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said,
Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man
turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by
any means he be missing, then shall thy life (nephesh, psuche)
be for his life (nephesh, psuche), or else thou shalt pay
a talent of silver" (1 Kings 20:39). [If the prisoner's "souls" didn't
die, the guard's "soul" would have to.]
"And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast
let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction,
therefore thy life (nephesh, psuche) shall go for his life
(nephesh, psuche), and thy people for his people" (1 Kings
20:42). [Since the Syrian king's "soul" didn't die,
King Ahab's "soul" would have to.]
"Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their
tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and
fled for their life (nephesh, psuche)" (2 Kings 7:7).
[The Syrians were extremely interested in saving their
"souls."]
"And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing:
shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives (nephesh,
psuche) in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives (nephesh,
psuche) they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These
things did these three mightiest" (1 Chr. 11:19). [These men almost
had their "souls" killed.]
"And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and
thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life (nephesh,
psuche) of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast
asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my
people, over whom I have made thee king . . ." (2 Chr.
1:11). [A king can receive the "soul" of his enemy.]
"And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all
that a man hath will he give for his life (nephesh, psuche)" (Job
2:4). [Everyone will give anything to keep from losing their "soul."]
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but
save his life (nephesh, psuche)" (Job 2:6). [God
asked Satan to save Job's "soul."]
"The things that my soul (nephesh, psuche) refused
to touch are as my sorrowful meat" (Job 6:7). ["Souls" can touch.]
"What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end,
that I should prolong my life (nephesh, psuche)" (Job
6:11). ["Souls" can be prolonged.]
"[Leviathan's] breath (nephesh, psuche) kindleth
coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth" (Job 41:21). [Leviathan
has a "soul." His "soul" is rather hot.]
"All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they
that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive
his own soul (nephesh, psuche)" (Ps. 22:29). [The
"soul" cannot be kept alive, humanly speaking.]
"Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the
snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life (nephesh,
psuche)" (Prov. 7:23). [Traps for birds are designed to catch
the bird's "soul."]
"A righteous man regardeth the life (nephesh, psuche)
of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel" (Prov.
12:10). [Christians will take care of their animal's "soul."]
"And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite
(nephesh)" (Prov. 23:2). [Drastic measures for those who
like their "souls."]
"As cold waters to a thirsty soul (nephesh, psuche),
so is good news from a far country" (Prov. 25:25).
["Souls" like ice water.]
"The full soul (nephesh, psuche) loatheth an
honeycomb; but to the hungry soul (nephesh, psuche) every
bitter thing is sweet" (Prov. 27:7). ["Souls" can be
either full
and hungry. Full "souls" hate sweets.]
"Therefore hell hath enlarged herself (nephesh, psuche),
and opened her mouth without measure" (Isa. 5:14). [Even hell has a
"soul." Her "soul" has gotten larger.]
"And they shall be broken in the purposes thereof, all that make
sluices and ponds for fish (nephesh, psuche)" (Isa.
19:10). [Fish are "souls."]
"Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them;
they shall not deliver themselves (nephesh, psuche) from
the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire
to sit before it" (Isa. 47:14). [The fire of hell will totally burn
up the wicked "souls."]
"And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew
pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every
stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my
people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you? And
will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces
of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls
alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your
lies? Wherefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I am against your
pillows, wherewith ye there hunt the souls to make them fly, and
I will tear them from your arms, and will let the souls go, even
the souls (all eight are nephesh, psuche) that ye hunt to
make them fly" (Ezek. 13:18-20). ["Souls" can be hunted,
slain, and saved by people.]
"The soul (nephesh, psuche) that sinneth, it shall
die" (Ezek. 18:4). [The sinning "soul" will die.]
"The soul (nephesh, psuche) that sinneth, it shall
die" (Ezek. 18:20). [The sinning "soul" will die.]
"And it shall come to pass, that every thing (nephesh,
psuche) that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall
come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish,
because these waters shall come thither" (Ezek. 47:9). [Fish are
"souls."]
"Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body
(nephesh, psuche) touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And
the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean" (Hag. 2:13).
[Dead bodies are "souls."]
The Soul - New Testament (33
Verses)
"Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go
into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's
life (psuche)" (Mat. 2:20). [People can look for
"souls" in order to take them somewhere.]
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life
(psuche), what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for
your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life (psuche)
more than meat, and the body than raiment" (Mat. 6:25).
["Souls" can eat.]
"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill
the soul (psuche): but rather fear him which is able to
destroy both soul (psuche) and body in hell" (Mat.
10:28). [God
won't just destroy the body in hellfire. He'll destroy the
"soul" too.]
"He that findeth his life (psuche) shall lose it:
and he that loseth his life (psuche) for my sake shall
find it" (Mat. 10:39). [People can both find and lose their "soul."
If they find their "soul," they'll lose it, but if they lose
their "soul" for Jesus's sake, they'll find it.]
"For whosoever will save his life (psuche) shall
lose it: and whosoever will lose his life (psuche) for my
sake shall find it" (Mat. 16:25). [People can both save and lose their
"soul." Those who do save their
"soul" will lose it, and those who lose their "soul"
will find it.]
"Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life (psuche) a ransom for
many" (Mat. 20:28). [Jesus paid someone His "soul" as a
ransom for us.]
"And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath
days, or to do evil? to save life (psuche), or to kill?
But they held their peace" (Mark 3:4). [Physically saving a
"soul" is the opposite of killing it.]
"For whosoever will save his life (psuche) shall
lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life (psuche) for
my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it" (Mark 8:35). [People can
both save and lose their
"soul." Those who do save their
"soul" will lose it, but those who lose their "soul"
for the sake of the gospel will save it.]
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life (psuche) a ransom for
many" (Mark 10:45). [Jesus paid someone His "soul" as a
ransom for us.]
"Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it
lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life
(psuche), or to destroy it?" (Luke 6:9). [Physically saving
a "soul" is the opposite of destroying it.]
"For whosoever will save his life (psuche) shall
lose it: but whosoever will lose his life (psuche) for my
sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:24). [People can both save
and lose their
"soul." Those who do save their
"soul" will lose it, and those who lose their "soul"
for Jesus's sake will save it.]
"And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take
no thought for your life (psuche), what ye shall eat;
neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life (psuche)
is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment" (Luke 12:22,
23). ["Souls" can eat.]
"Whosoever shall seek to save his life (psuche)
shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life (psuche)
shall preserve it" (Luke 17:33). [People can both save and lose their
"soul." Those who try to save their
"soul" will lose it, and those who lose their "soul"
will preserve it.]
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life
(psuche) for the sheep" (John 10:11). [Shepherds that lose their lives
while protecting their sheep from wolves, robbers, bears, and lions have
just given their "souls" for their sheep.]
"As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay
down my life (psuche) for the sheep" (John 10:15). [Jesus laid His "soul"
down somewhere for His sheep.]
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life
(psuche), that I might take it again" (John 10:17). [Jesus laid His
"soul"
down somewhere, and then picked it up again.]
"Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long
dost thou make us to doubt (psuche)? If thou be the
Christ, tell us plainly" (John 10:24). [To "lift up" (the
meaning of the Greek word for "make") another's
"soul" is to make them doubt.]
"He that loveth his life (psuche) shall lose it;
and he that hateth his life (psuche) in this world shall
keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:25). [Jesus wants us to hate
our own "soul."]
"Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will
lay down my life (psuche) for thy sake. Jesus answered
him, Wilt thou lay down thy life (psuche) for my
sake?" (John 13:37, 38). [Peter wanted to lay his "soul"
down
somewhere too.]
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life
(psuche) for his friends" (John 15:13). [If you are a really
special friend, given the right circumstances, you will lay your
"soul"
down somewhere too.]
"Men that have hazarded their lives (psuche) for
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 15:26). [Some have risked
losing their "souls" for Jesus.]
"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life
(psuche) dear unto myself" (Acts 20:24). [Paul didn't like
his "soul."]
"And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be
with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of
our lives (psuche)" (Acts 27:10). [Their "souls" were
going to get hurt or damaged.]
"And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no
loss of any man's life (psuche) among you, but of the
ship" (Acts 27:22). [No one on board was going to lose their
"soul."]
"Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine
altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life (psuche)"
(Rom. 11:3). [Jezebel wanted to obtain Elijah's "soul."]
"Who have for my life (psuche) laid down their
own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches
of the Gentiles" (Rom. 16:4). [It was as if Priscilla and Aquila had
given their physical life in order to save Paul's "soul."]
"Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not
regarding his life (psuche), to supply your lack of
service toward me" (Php. 2:30). [Epaphroditus didn't care about his
"soul."]
"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life
(psuche) for us: and we ought to lay down our lives (psuche)
for the brethren" (1 Jn. 3:16). [As Jesus laid His "soul"
down somewhere, so should we.]
"And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and
had life (psuche), died" (Rev. 8:9). [Fish have
"souls."]
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word
of their testimony; and they loved not their lives (psuche)
unto the death" (Rev. 12:11). [Christians will not love their
"souls," even if threatened with death.]
"And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it
became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul (psuche)
died in the sea" (Rev. 16:3). [Fish are
"souls."]
The Spirit - Old Testament (27
Verses)
"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath (neshamah, pnoe) of
life; and man became a living soul" (Gen. 2:7). [God put the
"spirit" into Adam's nose.]
"And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the
earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath (ruach,
pneuma) of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the
earth shall die" (Gen. 6:17). [Animals have the "spirit" in
them too.]
"And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all
flesh, wherein is the breath (ruach, pneuma) of
life" (Gen. 7:15). [Animals have the "spirit" in them too.]
"All in whose nostrils was the breath (neshamah-ruach, pnoe)
of life, of all that was in the dry land, died" (Gen. 7:22).
[The "spirit" lives in the nose.]
"And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt,
neither did there remain any more courage (ruach, pneuma)
in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven
above, and in earth beneath" (Josh. 2:11). [Their
"spirits" were all gone, but they were still alive.]
"And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which
were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the
Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the
waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were
passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit (ruach)
in them any more, because of the children of Israel" (Josh. 5:1).
[Their "spirits" were all gone, but they were still alive.]
"God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb
and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger
(ruach, pneuma) was abated toward him, when he had said
that" (Judg. 8:3). [Their "spirit" weakened or relaxed
towards him.]
"And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon's wisdom,
and the house that he had built, and the meat of his table, and the
sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their
apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the
house of the LORD; there was no more spirit (ruach) in
her" (1 Kings 10:4, 5). [Her "spirit" totally left,
yet she was still alive.]
"There was no more spirit (ruach) in her"
(2 Chr. 9:4). [Her "spirit" totally left, yet she was
still alive.]
"All the while my breath (neshamah, pnoe) is in
me, and the spirit (ruach, pneuma) of God is in my
nostrils" (Job 27:3). [The "spirit" lives in the nose.]
"The Spirit (neshamah, pnoe) of God hath made
me, and the breath (ruach, pneuma) of the Almighty hath
given me life" (Job 33:4). [God's "spirit" gives us
life.]
"If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit
(ruach, pneuma) and his breath (neshamah); all
flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust"
(Job 34:14, 15). [Man cannot live without his
"spirit."]
"Into thine hand I commit my spirit (ruach,
pneuma): thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth" (Ps.
31:5). [After being redeemed, the psalmist asks God to take care of his
spirit for him.]
"So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping
innumerable, both small and great beasts. . . . Thou
hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath
(ruach, pneuma), they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest
forth thy spirit (ruach, pneuma), they are created: and
thou renewest the face of the earth" (Ps. 104:25, 29, 30). [They don't get their own "spirit" back again
when they are recreated. Instead, it's God's spirit that enters into
them.]
"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom
there is no help. His breath (ruach, pneuma) goeth forth,
he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish"
(Ps. 146:3, 4). [When the "spirit" leaves, the person can no
longer think.]
"For that which befalleth the sons of men
befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so
dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath (ruach, pneuma);
so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All
go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again. Who
knoweth the spirit (ruach, pneuma) of man that goeth
upward, and the spirit (ruach, pneuma) of the beast that
goeth downward to the earth" (Eccl. 3:19-21). [There is no
difference between the "spirit" of animals and the
"spirit" of people.]
"Then shall the dust return to the earth as it
was: and the spirit (ruach, pneuma) shall return unto God
who gave it" (Eccl. 12:7). [The "spirits" of all, both
good and bad, go back to God.]
"Cease ye from man, whose breath (neshamah)
is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of" (Isa.
2:22). [The "spirit" lives in the nose.]
"The breath (ruach, pneuma) of
our nostrils, the anointed of the LORD, was taken in their pits, of whom
we said, Under his shadow we shall live among the heathen" (Lam.
4:20). [The "spirit" belongs to our nose.]
"Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones;
Behold, I will cause breath (ruach, pneuma) to enter into
you, and ye shall live: and I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring
up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath (ruach,
pneuma) in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the
LORD" (Ezek. 37:5, 6). [One thing these bones absolutely had to
have before they could live again was a "spirit."]
"And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh
came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath
(ruach, pneuma) in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind
(ruach, pneuma), prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind
(ruach, pneuma), Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds
(ruach, pneuma), O breath (ruach), and breathe
upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded
me, and the breath (ruach, pneuma) came into them, and
they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army"
(Ezek. 37:8-10. [You can have a perfect human body, but if it doesn't have a
"spirit," it won't be alive. This "spirit" that
gives life to the body is the same thing as the wind.]
"And shall put my spirit (ruach,
pneuma) in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own
land" (Ezek. 37:14). [If God puts His
"spirit" in us, we will live.]
The Spirit - New Testament (4
Verses)
"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father,
into thy hands I commend my
spirit (pneuma): and having said thus, he gave up the
ghost" (Luke 23:46). [Jesus asked His Father
to take care of His spirit for Him.]
"For as the body without the spirit (pneuma) is
dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). [Here
"spirit" must refer to the "breath" of life.]
"And after three days and an half the Spirit (pneuma)
of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet"
(Rev. 11:11). [It wasn't their own "spirit" that came back into
them. It was the breath of life from God.]
"And he had power to give life (pneuma) unto the
image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and
cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be
killed" (Rev. 13:15). [A false prophet will have the power to give
an inanimate object a "spirit."]
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