Soul · Hebrew
H5315 — nephesh ↗Living being, life, self, appetite, desire.
THE BIBLE · LEARN BY COMPARING
Soul vs. Spirit: What’s the Difference?
Does a human being have a soul and a spirit? Are they different, or two expressions for our inner life? Begin with the questions and compare the actual Scriptures.
You can read full KJV passages, study the Hebrew and Greek words, save verses, and explore competing interpretations without being pushed toward a predetermined answer.
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FIRST, THE ORIGINAL WORDS
Four words worth knowing
These are broad lexical ranges, not interchangeable definitions. Click through to see actual KJV occurrences and context.
Soul · Greek
G5590 — psychē ↗Life, soul, self or inner life, depending on context.
Spirit · Hebrew
H7307 — ruach ↗Wind, breath, spirit, disposition; sometimes God's Spirit.
Spirit · Greek
G4151 — pneuma ↗Wind, breath, spirit; human spirit or Holy Spirit by context.
THREE INTERPRETIVE APPROACHES
How Christians understand these passages
These models help readers recognize different readings. They are not exhaustive, mutually exclusive denominations, or a substitute for the biblical texts.
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