The General Principle

  1. When man is created or born he becomes a LIVING SOUL (Genesis 2:7)
  2. When man dies he decays into dust and knows nothing (Genesis 3:19; Psalm 146:4)

The Original Words ‘Nephesh’ and ‘Psuche’ Translated Soul

In the Old Testament

The Hebrew word ‘NEPHESH’ occurs over 700 times. It is translated in various ways VIZ. soul 428 times (e.g. Genesis 2:7); life and living 119 times (e.g. Proverbs 12:10); person 30 times (e.g. Genesis 14:21); mind 15 times (e.g. Genesis 23:8); creature 9 times (e.g. Genesis. 1:20); body 7 times (e.g. Haggai 2:13).

In the New Testament

The Greek word ‘PSUCHE’ occurs 105 times. It is translated in various ways VIZ. soul 58 times (e.g. Acts 2:27); life 40 times (e.g. Matthew 16:25); mind 3 times (e.g. Philippians 1:27); heart 1 time (e.g. Ephesians 6:6); heartily 1 time (e.g. Colossians 3:23); us 1 time; you 1 time.


Man’s Life Cycle

Souls are born
 Genesis 46:15,18
Souls breathe
 Joshua 11:11
Souls expire
 Job 31:39 (mg.)
Souls die
 Job 7:15
Souls go to grave
 Psalm 89:48
Souls may be raised from grave
 Psalm 49:15

Souls Possess

blood
 Jeremiah 2:34; Revelation 6:9-10
hands
 Leviticus 4:2-4
lips
 Leviticus 5:4

Souls Function


Eat
 Leviticus 7 : 20
touch
 Leviticus 5:2
fast
Psalms 35: 13
faint
 Psalms 107:5
sin
Leviticus 18:29
can be fettered
 Psalms105:18 (mg.)
can be slain
 Revelation 6:9-10
can be beheaded
 Revelation 20:4
can be burnt
 Isaiah 47:14 (mg.)


Souls Die

Ezekiel 18:4; Psalms 78:50; Isaiah 53:12; Revelation 16:3; Psalms 89:48; Joshua 10:28,30,32,35; Job 7:15; Psalms 33:19; Ezekiel 13:19; James 5:20.

Animals Have Souls

Numbers 31:28; Genesis 1:21,24; Genesis 2:19; Genesis 9:10 (creature is ‘NEPHESH’ in these Genesis quotes).

Souls are Never Described as Immortal

Souls are not once described as ‘immortal’ neither are the adjectives ‘immortal’ or ‘deathless’ ever linked to the word soul’. The phrase ‘immortal soul’ never occurs in Scripture.

Immortality is Something

to be sought
Romans 2:7
of which we are in hope
Titus 1:2
to be reaped
Galatians 6:8
promised
1 John 2:25
to be bestowed in coming age
Mark 10:30


Resurrection – Man’s Only Hope of Life After Death

1 Corinthians 15:16-18
1 Corinthians 15:32