"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."]