What the Bible Says About the Soul

SUMMARY OF THE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT: THE SOUL

Article by DC

THE SOUL DEFINED

The Bible defines the soul in both the Old and New Testaments as a “breathing creature” having “vitality” and includes humans and animals. The Bible clearly states that the soul dies, meaning the person dies and is not immortal. It is also used of various attributes and aspects of the body and has capacities which only apply of bodily organisms.

HUMANS AND ANIMALS ARE BREATHING CREATURES

The first time the word “soul” is used in the Hebrew language in the Bible refers to animals. In the English Standard Version of the Bible, it was translated in English as “living” and “creature”. When the LORD God breathed the breath of life into the man, he became a living “soul.”

Key Bible Verses

Genesis 1:20-21

“And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living (soul) creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature (soul) that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.”

Genesis 2:7

“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.” (KJV)

THE SOUL DIES

The LORD God gives life to the soul (human or animal). Because of sin - disobedience to God - the soul or the person dies. The Bible never refers to or speaks of the soul as being immortal.

Key Bible Verse

Ezekiel 18:4

“Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.”

THE SOUL HAS CAPACITIES THAT ONLY APPLY TO BODILY ORGANISMS

The term “soul” in the Bible pertains only to bodily organisms, not energy/power/essence (spirit) or expression. It can refer to a person, aspects of a person such as life, eating, having blood or mind.

A Person’s Life

Matthew 16:25

(Jesus said) “For whoever would save his life (soul) will lose it, but whoever loses his life (soul) for my sake will find it.”

A Person’s Mind

Philippians 1:27  

“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind (soul) striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,”

A Person that Eats and has Blood

Leviticus 17:15

“And every soul that eateth that which died of itself,” (KJV)

Jeremiah 2:34

“Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents…” (KJV)