Body, Soul, and Spirit - Observations

G-d's Spirit and G-d's Soul

It is quite apparent that G-d has a Spirit (is a Spirit?) because His Spirit is mentioned in the beginning of Genesis and numerous other places.  In John 4:24 the Master tells us that G-d is Spirit; it is His very essence and nature. Since we are made in the "image of G-d" (e.g. Genesis 1:27, 9:6) it seems reasonable that we, too, are (in part) a spirit.

What is very interesting is that G-d also has a soul, a nephesh. As one of the promises given in Leviticus 26, G-d tells His people this: 

"If you walk in My statutes and keep my commandments so as to carry them out... I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul [nephesh] will not reject you." (Leviticus 26:3, 11)

Remember the observation earlier in this article that the nephesh was the "lower soul"? This begs the question: Does G-d's "lower soul" connect with our "higher soul"? Scripture does not provide a clear answer.

As the perfect pinnacle of Spirit, G-d would only have need of a nephesh (lower soul) in order to interact with beings that are of a lower state than Him.  Since there is nothing of a higher state than Him, it would seem logical that G-d would have no need of a neshamah.  Scripture makes no indication that He does.

Tree of Life

Life [Hebrew: חַי, chai] is very much a part of the study of body, the soul, and the spirit.

The Tree of Life is mentioned in Genesis 2.

Out of the ground the LORD G-d caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9)

Here in the story of the Creation we are told that G-d created the [definite article] Tree of Life, ועץ החיים (v'etz hachayyim).

Notice that the Hebrew word used here for "life" (chai) is plural. Literally the Hebrew reads the Tree [singular] of Lives [plural]. The first time we find chayyim in Scripture is two verses earlier in Genesis 2:7 with the creation of man:

Then the LORD G-d formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

Examining the literal Hebrew wording of this verse we find:

Then the LORD G-d formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed [naphak] into his nostrils the breath [neshamah] of life [chayyim (plural... lives!)]; and man became a living [chayah] being [nephesh].

Is this telling us that G-d created Adam with the "breath of lives" of all mankind?  It is possible.  This may also be speaking of the two lives we have: life in this world and then life in the world to come.

Isaiah 57

Isaiah 57 provides another interesting insight:

"For I will not contend forever, Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before Me, And the breath of those whom I have made. (Isaiah 57:16)

A literal reading of the Hebrew of this verse reveals this:

For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit [ruach] would grow faint before Me and the souls [neshamah- in plural form: neshamot] I have made.

If G-d were to remain angry then the spirits and souls that He has made would grow faint. Since He has created us for His glory (Isaiah 43:7) we cannot grow faint because His glory never does.

Strongs Comparison Table

The Strong's Exhaustive Concordance provided wonderful insight which we've organized into the following table:

The Life Is In the Blood

Thinking about the table above, how can we say that plants do not have "life"?  There are several verses that help us understand what Scripture means when it refers to "life":

Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood. (Genesis 9:4)

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.

For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, 'You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.' (Leviticus 17:11, 14)

Only be sure not to eat the blood, for the blood is the life, and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. (Deuteronomy 12:23)

There are several other similar verses but the point is clear: the life of the flesh is in the blood. Without blood there is no "life" in Biblical terms (in regards to people and animals).  Whether or not the life of plants is similar in nature to humans and animals is a matter of discussion far beyond the scope of this article.

There remains one additional topic of interest related to body, soul, and spirit: eternal life...