Nephesh (soul, life) — Meaning in the Bible
A Hebrew word for life, living being, self or soul. It describes the whole living person, not only an inner part.
Scripture in WEBWorld English Bible — Protestant Edition
What it means
God breathed into the man and he became a living nephesh (soul or being). Animals are also called living creatures with the same word. Genesis 2:7Genesis 1:24
"Bless the LORD, my soul" (nephesh) means my whole self. "Love the LORD your God with all your soul" uses the same word. Psalm 103:1Deuteronomy 6:5
Key passages
- Genesis 2:7 — A living soul.
- Deuteronomy 6:5 — With all your soul.
- Psalm 42:1–2 — My soul thirsts for God.
- Psalm 103:1 — Bless the LORD, my soul.
Original language
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
How translations differ
- Genesis 2:7 is translated "a living soul" in some versions and "a living being" or "a living creature" in others. Genesis 2:7