– Immaterial and independent part of people that subsists after death. It has several meanings.
– Indicates vitality, life, the vital principle:
Gen 2:7 : So the Lord God formed man from the clay of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
Ex 1,5 : All the people who came out of Jacob were seventy in number.
Ex 12,4 : If the family is too small for a lamb.
Ex 21,23 : But, if there is other damage, it is urgent to give life for life.
Jer 38:18 : But if you do not hand yourself over to the officials of the king of Babylon, the city will fall into the hands of the Chaldeans.
Psalm 6 :5: Return, Lord, deliver my soul.
– In the sense of living being in general and man in particular:
Job 10:1 : My soul is disgusted with life.
Psalm 6 :5: Return, O Lord, deliver my soul; save me, for your goodness.
– Synonym of immortal spirit:
1 Kings 17:21 : Lord my God, I beseech you, let this child’s soul return to him.
Job 14:22 : It is only for him that his flesh suffers, and his soul only mourns for him.
Mt 10:28 : Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.
Mt 16:25 : For whoever wants to save his life will lose it.
– Same as living being, person:
Gen 46:26 : The number of people who came out of Jacob […] not counting the wives of his children was seventy in all.
– Influenced by Greek philosophy, it is more valued to the detriment of the body. Although the Book of Wisdom already opposes the soul (life) to the body, it is in the NT that this opposition is accentuated:
Wis 3,1-2 : But the souls of the righteous are in the hands of God.
Wis 15,8 : From the same clay, he also forms, like a wicked worker.
Mt 16,26 : What will it profit a man to gain the whole world, if it forfeits his life?
Mark 3:4 : Then he asks them: “Is it lawful to do good or evil on the Sabbath? Save a life or kill?
Mc 8,34-37 : If anyone wants to follow me, deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me.
Lk 9,23-25 : Then he addressed them all: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself.
Jo 12,25 : Whoever loves his life will lose it; but whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
– That’s why we should save our soul. And take care that those of the brothers are also saved:
Mt 6,31-34 : Seek first the Kingdom of God and his justice and all these things will be given to you in addition.
Lc 12,13-21 : And I will say to my soul: O my soul, you have many goods in store for many years to come.
Mt 9,35-37 : Seeing the crowd, he was moved with compassion, because they were weakened and slaughtered like sheep without a shepherd.
Mk 8,36s : For what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, if he loses his life?
Lk 15 :1 : Publicans and sinners came to Jesus to hear him.
Rom 10:1 : Brethren, my heart’s desire and supplication to God for them is that they be saved.
1Cor 9,19-22 : Although free from subjection to anyone, I made myself the servant of all to win as many people as possible.
1Cor 10,33 : I do not seek my own interests, but the interests of others, so that all may be saved.
2Cor 12:15 : I will most gladly give what is mine, and I will give myself for your souls.
– The soul, as a living being, is attributed hunger and thirst. Still in figurative language, she can be happy, and hopeful:
Ps 41 :3: My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
Ps 62,2 : My soul thirsts for you.
Psalm 106 :9: Because he soothed the thirsty throat, and filled the hungry with good things.
Ps 34 :9: Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, and rejoice in his help.
Ps 129,5 : My soul has confidence in his word.
– See MANSION OF THE DEAD.
