The soul is the self, the “I” that inhabits the body and acts through it. Without the soul, the body is like a light bulb without electricity, a computer without the software... With the introduction of the soul, the body acquires life, sight and hearing, thought and speech, intelligence and emotions, will and desire, personality and identity.
In truth, not just the human being, but also every created entity possesses a “soul.” Animals have souls, as do plants and even inanimate objects; every blade of grass has a soul, and every grain of sand. Not only life, but also existence requires a soul to sustain it—a “spark of G–dliness” that perpetually imbues its object with being and significance. A soul is not just the engine of life; it also embodies the why of a thing’s existence, it’s meaning and purpose. It is a thing’s “inner identity, it’s raison d’être. Just like the ‘soul’ of a musical composition is the composer’s vision that energizes and gives life to the notes played in a musical composition—the actual notes are like the body expressing the vision and feeling of the soul within them. Each soul is the expression of G–d’s intent and vision in creating that particular being.”¹
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Author: Yanki Tauber
Keywords: Soul, Nephesh, Spirit, Self, Life, Ruach, Nefesh, Ruak, Mind, Body soul spirit, Soul and spirit, Spirit and soul
Bible reference(s): Genesis 1:20, Genesis 2:7, Genesis 12:13, Genesis 19:20, Genesis 27:4, Genesis 27:25, Genesis 34:8, Genesis 49:6, Leviticus 26:11, Leviticus 26:30, Judges 5:21, 1 Samuel 1:15, 1 Samuel 24:11, 1 Samuel 26:21, 2 Samuel 4:9, 1 Kings 1:29, Job 6:7, Job 7:11, Job 7:15, Job 9:21, Job 10:1, Job 19:2, Job 27:2, Job 30:15, Job 30:16, Job 30:25, Psalms 3:2, Psalms 6:3, Psalms 6:4, Psalms 7:2, Psalms 7:5, Psalms 11:1, Psalms 13:2, Psalms 16:2, Psalms 16:10, Psalms 17:13, Psalms 22:20, Psalms 23:3, Psalms 25:1, Psalms 25:20, Psalms 26:9, Psalms 30:3, Psalms 31:7, Psalms 31:9, Psalms 34:2, Psalms 35:3, Psalms 35:4, Psalms 35:7, Psalms 35:9, Psalms 35:12, Psalms 35:13, Psalms 35:17, Psalms 40:14, Psalms 41:4, Psalms 42:1, Psalms 42:2, Psalms 42:4, Psalms 42:5, Psalms 42:6, Psalms 42:11, Psalms 43:5, Psalms 49:15, Psalms 54:3, Psalms 54:4, Psalms 55:18, Psalms 56:6, Psalms 56:13, Psalms 57:1, Psalms 57:4, Psalms 57:6, Psalms 59:3, Psalms 62:1, Psalms 62:5, Psalms 63:1, Psalms 63:5, Psalms 63:8, Psalms 63:9, Psalms 66:16, Psalms 69:1, Psalms 69:10, Psalms 69:18, Psalms 70:2, Psalms 71:10, Psalms 71:13, Psalms 71:23, Psalms 77:2, Psalms 84:2, Psalms 86:2, Psalms 86:4, Psalms 86:13, Psalms 86:14, Psalms 88:3, Psalms 88:14, Psalms 94:17, Psalms 94:19, Psalms 103:1, Psalms 103:2, Psalms 103:22, Psalms 104:1, Psalms 104:35, Psalms 109:20, Psalms 116:4, Psalms 116:7, Psalms 116:8, Psalms 119:20, Psalms 119:25, Psalms 119:28, Psalms 119:81, Psalms 119:109, Psalms 119:129, Psalms 119:167, Psalms 119:175, Psalms 120:2, Psalms 120:6, Psalms 130:5, Psalms 130:6, Psalms 131:2, Psalms 138:3, Psalms 139:14, Psalms 141:8, Psalms 142:4, Psalms 142:7, Psalms 143:3, Psalms 143:6, Psalms 143:8, Psalms 143:11, Psalms 143:12, Psalms 146:1, Ecclesiastes 4:8, Ecclesiastes 7:28, Song of Solomon 1:7, Song of Solomon 3:1, Song of Solomon 3:2, Song of Solomon 3:3, Song of Solomon 3:4, Song of Solomon 5:6, Song of Solomon 6:12, Isaiah 1:14, Isaiah 26:9, Isaiah 38:15, Isaiah 38:17, Isaiah 42:1, Isaiah 61:10, Jeremiah 4:19, Jeremiah 4:31, Jeremiah 5:9, Jeremiah 5:29, Jeremiah 6:8, Jeremiah 9:9, Jeremiah 12:7, Jeremiah 13:17, Ezekiel 18:4, Jeremiah 18:20, Jeremiah 20:13, Jeremiah 31:14, Lamentations 1:11, Lamentations 1:16, Lamentations 3:17, Lamentations 3:20, Lamentations 3:24-25, Lamentations 3:58, Ezekiel 4:14, Jonah 2:5, Jonah 2:7, Micah 6:7, Micah 7:1, Zechariah 11:8, Matthew 10:28, Matthew 12:18, Matthew 16:26, Matthew 22:37, Matthew 26:38, Mark 8:36-37, Mark 12:30, Mark 12:33, Mark 14:34, Luke 1:46, Luke 10:27, Luke 12:19-20, John 12:27, Acts 2:27, Acts 2:31, Acts 4:32, 1 Corinthians 15:45, 2 Corinthians 1:23, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 10:38-39, 1 Peter 1:9, 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Peter 2:11, 1 Peter 2:25, 1 Peter 4:19, 2 Peter 2:8, 3 John 1:2, Revelation 16:3, Revelation 20:4
Source: “What is a Soul?”, Chabad.org
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