Beth-El Baptist Church
10/10/04
What is the difference between Soul and Spirit?
There is a lot of confusion about what the soul is and what the spirit is. Today we will be looking at various attributes that are associated with soul and/or spirit in order to try to gather an understanding of how the two are similar and how they differ.
|
Attribute |
Soul |
Spirit |
|
Hebrew |
683 times – Nephesh 1 time - Nediybah |
348 times – Ruwach 11 times – Ruwach (Aramaic) 24 times - Neshamah |
|
Word meanings |
Soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion, heart, will |
Breath, life, soul, heart, mind |
|
Greek |
95 times - psuche |
350 times - pneuma |
|
Word meanings |
Wind, breath, mind, spirit, courage |
Movement of air, spirit, soul |
|
Animals |
Genesis 1:20,21 Leviticus 24:17-18 |
Ecclesiastes 3:21 |
|
Being alive |
Genesis 2:7; 12:5 Acts 20:10 |
Genesis 7:15 James 2:26 |
|
Of God |
Leviticus 26:11 |
John 4:24 |
|
Flesh |
Genesis 9:4,5 |
Ezekiel 37:1-10 |
|
Removal of |
Genesis 35:18 Jeremiah 6:8 |
Matthew 12:43-45 |
|
Identity |
1Samuel 1:15 |
1 John 4:1-6 |
|
Emotions |
Psalm 35:9 |
Joshua 2:11 |
|
Desires |
Ecclesiastes 6:7-9 |
|
|
Behavior |
|
Numbers 11:25 |
|
Sin |
Isaiah 49:7 |
1 Corinthians 2:10-14 |
|
Redemption |
1 Kings 1:29 Matthew 10:28 Hebrews 13:17 |
Psalm 31:5 Ezekiel 11:19 Romans 7:6 |
|
Source |
Ezekiel 18:4 |
Acts 2:17-18 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 |
|
Grieving |
|
Ephesians 4:30 |
By looking at the numerous ways in which the Hebrew and Greek words for ‘soul’ are used we can see that both man, animal, and God Himself have references to their soul (nephesh, psuche). From scriptures that essentially define the word soul (Gen 2:7; 9:4,5) as well as the use elsewhere, the “definition” of soul be described as that which makes a man or animal alive or living. It is the existence of the blood that defines the reality of their soul. The soul could be further described as the inner man, his emotions, desires, and character.
By looking at how the Hebrew and Greek words for Spirit are used we can see that the term spirit tends to be more associated with movement and motion. The word for spirit is often translated as “breath” or “wind” so they seem to carry with them the idea of force or movement. Essentially it seems that the spirit is more in line with the motive or force behind our emotions.
There are times in which the words soul and spirit are very similar if not identical (Isa 26:9) while other times they are clearly different. In 1 Samuel 1:15, Hannah has a sorrowful spirit, which is highly emotional, but she poured out her soul, which is centered on her wants, desires, needs. But most striking is the difference between Adam and Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:45). While Adam is considered living, or alive, Jesus is identified as being able to make alive (quickening).
In general the scriptures indicate that both the soul and spirit are required to make one alive. The soul tends to identify a single individual more at the emotional state while spirit focuses more on movement and drive. The soul tends not to be associated with action while the spirit is strongly action oriented.
Both are required to make you, you, but it is the spirit that God replaces in you to make you His. (Ezekiel 11:19). It is the soul that is redeemed by God’s divine grace by giving a new spirit. By His spirit we no longer want to fulfill the desires of the natural soul, but instead the desires of the redeemed soul.
1. What is known about the soul?
a. Hebrew words
Nephesh (683 occurrences, Strongs 05315) – soul, self, life, creature, person appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion, heart, will
Nediybah (1 occurrence, Strongs 05082) – nobility, nobleness, noble deeds (Job 30:15)
b. Greek words
Psuche (95 occurrences, Strongs 5590) – breath, life, soul, life, heart, mind
c. Soul related to animals
Gen 1:20,21
Lev 17:11,14; 24:17-18
Psa 74:19
Isa 19:10
d. Soul related to being alive
Gen 2:7; 12:5,13; 14:21; 19:17,20; 32:30; 35:18; 37:21
Exo 12:4,16;
Lev 2:1;
1Ki 17:21-22
Jer 38:16
Act 20:10
e. Soul related to death
Lev 19:28; 21:1, 11; 22:4
Job 11:20
f. Soul related to self, identity
Gen 27:4, 19; 34:3; 42:21; 44:30; 49:6;
Exo 4:19; 23:9
Lev 26:16
Num 30:2-13
Deu 4:29; 6:5;
1Sa 1:15
Psa 27:12
Ecc 6:7-9
Luk 12:19-23
Act 15:24
g. Soul as emotion
Deu 13:6; 23:24;
1Sa 18:1-3
Job 30:25
Psa 35:9;
h. Soul defined
Deu 12:23
i. Soul related to sin
Gen 9:10,12; 17:14
Exo 12:15; 15:9; 21:23
Lev 4:2; 5:1-4
Isa 49:7; 53:10-12;
j. Soul of God
Lev 26:11; 26:30; 27:2
2Sa 14:14
1Ki 1:29
Pro 6:16
Isa 1:14
Jer 5:9,29; 9:9; 15:1
Eze 23:18, 22, 28
k. Soul and redemption
1Ki 1:29
1Ch 22:19
Job 12:9; 27:8
Psa 6:4; 16:10; 19:7; 22:29; 23:3; 26:9; 30:3; 34:22; 49:7-8; 49:15; 56:13; 63:9; 97:10; 121:7; 124:7; 141:8
Pro 8:36; 11:30
Isa 38:17
Eze 13:19; 18:4;
Mat 10:28,39; 16:26; 20:28
Heb 13:17
Jam 5:20
Rev 20:4
l. Soul related to mind
Gen 23:8
Deu 18:6; 28:65
2. What is known about the spirit?
a. Hebrew Words
Ruwach (348, 11occurrences, Strongs 07307, 07308) – wind, breath, mind, spirit, courage
Neshamah (24 occurrences, Strongs 05397) – breath, spirit
b. Greek Words
Pneuma (350 occurrences, Strongs 4151) – movement of air, spirit, soul
c. Spirit Moves
Gen 1:2
Psa 78:39; 103:15
d. Spirit strives/is provoked
Gen 6:3
Psa 106:32
e. Is in Life
Gen 7:15, 22
Num 16:22
Job 7:7
Psa 104:29
Jam 2:26
f. Spirit is similar to Wind
Gen 3:8, 8:1
Exo 10:13, 19; 14:21; 15:8, 10
1Ki 19:11
Psa 1:4
g. Spirit can be grieved/quenched
Gen 26:35; 41:8
Exo 6:9
Eph 4:30
1Th 5:19
h. Spirit can be revived/renewed
Gen 45:27
Jdg 15:19
1Sa 30:12
Job 10:12
Psa 51:10-17
Luk 8:55
Tit 3:5
i. Spirit can come from or be of God
Gen 41:38
Exo 28:3; 31:3
Num 11:17, 25-29; 14:24
Ecc 12:7
j. Spirit can modify behavior
Exo 35:21
Num 11:25; 24:2
Jos 2:11; 5:1
Jdg 3:10; 6:34; 11:29; 13:25; 14:6, 14:19
1Ch 5:26
Ezr 1:5
Mar 1:23-27; 9:17-25
Act 2:17
1Co 12:7-13
Gal 5:22-23
Eph 4:23
k. Spirit as a picture of emotional state
Num 5:14, 30
Deu 2:30
Jos 2:11
Jdg 8:3
1Sa 1:15
1Ki 21:5
Psa 32:2
l. Spirit can be evil
Jdg 9:23
1Sa 16:14-16
1Ki 22:21-24
Psa 78:8
Job 17:1
m. Spirit Creates
Job 26:13; 33:4
n. Spirit can be overwhelmed
Psa 77:3; 142:3-7
o. Spirit is redeemed
Psa 31:5
p. Spirit of God exists everywhere
Psa 139:7
q. God is a Spirit
Joh 4:24
r. God’s word is a Spirit
Joh 6:63
s. Spirit differentiates between good and evil
Pro 15:4,13; 16:2-3,19, 32; 18:14; 29:11, 23
Ecc 7:8
1Co 15:45
Gal 4:29; 5:17
1Jo 4:1-6
t. Spirit needs controlled
Pro 25:28
1Co 14:31
u. Spirit is not physical/fleshly
Isa 31:3; 42:5
Eze 37:1-10
Mat 26:41
Gal 6:8
v. Spirits can be cast out
Mat 8:16; 12:28; 12:43-45
w. Spirit can be personal
Luk 1:17,47
Rom 8:16
x. Ultimately only two classes or types of Spirits
1Co 2:10-14
3. Soul and Spirit together?
1Sa 1:15
Job 7:11; 12:10; 30:15
Isa 26:9; 42:1; 57:16
Mat 12:18
Luk 1:46-47
1Co 15:45
Phi 1:27
1Th 5:23
Heb 4:12
1Pe 1:22