What Is the Soul?
The Bible defines the soul as a living being — not an immortal inner entity
Written by Alexi, a Jehovah's Witness and Bible student. Published .
What does 'soul' mean in the Bible?
Most religious traditions teach that humans have an immortal soul that leaves the body at death. But the Bible teaches something quite different: 'Jehovah God went on to form the man out of dust from the ground and to blow into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man came to be a living person.' (Genesis 2:7, NWT) The Hebrew word translated 'person' here is nephesh — traditionally rendered 'soul.' Man did not receive a soul; he became a soul.
Animals are also called 'souls' in Scripture. Genesis 1:20 in Hebrew uses nephesh for sea creatures and birds. The soul is not some special spiritual part unique to humans — it refers to any living, breathing creature.
- Genesis 2:7: The man came to be a living person [soul].
- Ezekiel 18:4: Look! All the souls — to me they belong. As the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son — to me they belong. The soul who sins is the one who will die.
- 1 Corinthians 15:45: So it is written: 'The first man Adam became a living person [soul].'
Is the soul immortal according to the Bible?
Ezekiel 18:4 clearly states: 'The soul who sins is the one who will die.' If the soul were immortal, this statement would be meaningless. Revelation 16:3 speaks of 'every living soul in the sea' dying. The idea of an immortal soul comes not from the Bible but from Greek philosophy, especially Plato's teachings about the immortality of the soul.
Understanding that the soul is the person himself — not a separate entity — makes the hope of resurrection even more beautiful. God will re-create the whole person, restoring everything that defined who they were.
- Ezekiel 18:4: The soul who sins is the one who will die.
- Revelation 16:3: Every living soul in the sea died.
- Acts 3:23: Any soul that does not listen to that Prophet will be completely destroyed from among the people.
Keep Studying with JW Study
Read What Is the Soul? in the New World Translation, take personal study notes, and build a consistent reading habit. For deeper research, the authoritative sources are the Insight on the Scriptures volumes and publications available at wol.jw.org alongside JW Library.
Other Study Topics
- Is Jesus God? — Understanding Jesus' identity as the Son of God — distinct from Jehovah
- Jesus and Michael the Archangel — Scriptural evidence that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel
- Holy Spirit — Person or Force? — The Bible shows the holy spirit is God's active force, not a third person
- Holy Spirit Is Not a Person — Key Verses — Scriptural proof that the holy spirit is God's active force, not a person
- The Trinity Is Not Biblical — Key Verses — Scripture consistently distinguishes the Father from the Son — the Trinity doctrine has no Bible basis
- The Angel of the Lord Is Michael — Key Verses — Scriptural evidence connecting the angel of Jehovah, Michael the archangel, and Jesus Christ
- What Happens When We Die? — Death is a state of unconscious sleep — not heaven, hell, or purgatory
- God's Kingdom — What Is It? — A real government in heaven that will rule over a paradise earth
- Why Does God Allow Suffering? — Understanding the issue of universal sovereignty and why Jehovah permits evil for now
- The Sanctity of Blood — Why Jehovah commands us to abstain from blood — and what this means today