A STUDY OF THE SOUL by William Covert

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 7, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 36.

A STUDY OF THE SOUL.

By William Covert

BY WILLIAM COVERT.

What Is the Soul?

The idea has prevailed with many that man is connected with the future life by means of an entity called the soul. It is held that this soul retains consciousness even when the body is dead. Not this only, but it is also supposed to be responsible for the actions performed by the physical man; and that, for this reason, the soul is called, immediately after the body dies, to answer for the things the body did while living.

Cruden’s Complete Concordance says that the word “soul” in the Scripture, especially in the style of the Hebrew, “is very equivocal.” He means by this that it may be understood in a variety of senses. Truly the word is capable of a great many definitions, and is often used in a manner hard to define. Because of this uncertainty, there exist many theories concerning what should be understood by the term “soul.”

The original word “nephesh” in the Old Testament, from which the term “soul” is translated, occurs 745 times, and is translated “soul” about 473 times. Besides the word “soul,” it is rendered “life” and “lives” 118 times. It is rendered “person” 29 times. It is also translated “body,” “mind,” “will,” “appetite,” “thing,” “breath,” “beast,” “dead body,” “creatures,” “desire,” etc. Altogether it is rendered in more than forty ways.

The word in the New Testament from which the term “soul” is translated, is “psuche,” it occurs 105 times, and is rendered “soul,” 58 times; “life,” 40 times; “heart,” twice; “us,” once; and “you,” once.

Being used in so many ways, it has become for speakers and writers a kind of verbal vehicle for the reception of many doubtful or ambiguous ideas relating to the nature of man especially, and to the attributes of animals generally.

Its first use in the Scriptures relates to the entire Adam, who became a living soul when the Creator breathed into him the breath of life. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” The being who was formed from the dust of the ground is the same that became a living soul. That person or being was man. Whatever man may be said to be, may, as far as this particular text is concerned, be said of the soul; for that soul was man. “The first man Adam was made a living soul.” 1 Cor. 15:45.

But the term soul is often applied to the different attributes of man, and to the lower animals. To determine its true significance, one should examine the connection in which it is used; and even then the meaning may not always seem clear.

The Whole Being.

The following Scriptures are some of the instances in which the word “soul” refers to the entire person or being: “And Abram took Sarai, his wife, and Lot, his brother’s son, with the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan.” Gen. 12:5. “These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah; all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three.” Gen. 46:15. “These are the sons of Rachel, which were born unto Jacob; all the souls were fourteen.” “All the souls which came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, . . . were threescore and six; and the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls; all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.” Gen. 46:22, 26, 27. “Who [God] will render . . . tribulation and anguish, upon every soul that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.” Rom. 2:6–9.

A remarkable usage of the word “soul” is found in the 31st chapter of Numbers. The children of Israel had defeated the Midianites in battle; and in so doing captured a great number of people, and gathered in many cattle, sheep, etc. In making disposition of the spoils, the advice given to Israel was to take “one soul” of every five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep. The word is here applied indiscriminately to human beings and to the lower animals captured in war.

Souls Killed with the Sword, etc.

“And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was not any left to breathe.” Joshua 11:11. “The soul that doeth aught presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.” Num. 15:30.

They Do Many Things.

Souls may see, hear, eat, drink, talk, touch unclean things, confess sins, bring offerings to the Lord, find lost articles, take things by violence, deceive their neighbors, and make amends for harm done, etc. See the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Leviticus.

All the Creatures in the Sea Called Souls.

“And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea, and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soul died in the sea.” Rev. 16:3.

Every Living Thing Has a Soul.

In speaking of birds, beasts, and fishes, together with mankind, the following words are used: “Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord hath wrought this? In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.” Job 12:9, 10.

Souls Die.

In Num. 6:6 the Authorized Version translates that which might be rendered “dead soul,” as “dead body.” The same is also true of Num. 9:6. Cruden translates these texts by using the term “soul” instead of “body.” “He shall come at no dead soul.” “And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead soul of a man.” “He that toucheth the dead soul of any man shall be unclean seven days.” “Whosoever toucheth the dead soul of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel.” Num. 19:11, 13.

The Soul of the Sinner Is Threatened with Death.

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Eze. 18:4.

“Let him know, that he which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” James 5:20. Christ says, “Fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matt. 10:28. The testimony from the book of James shows that the conversion of a sinner is equivalent to saving a soul from death. So must the words of Christ as quoted above, show that the soul that is not converted will be punished with death. That is, to destroy a soul in hell is equivalent to visiting the penalty of death upon that soul. This agrees with the apostle’s testimony in the case, which says, “The wages of sin is death.”

Souls Affected by Food.

“And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a-lusting; and the children of Israel wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic; but now our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all, besides this manna, before our eyes.” Num. 11:4–6. “Because thy soul longeth to eat flesh; thou mayest eat flesh.” Deut. 12:20. In the first scripture noticed, the word soul refers to the persons of the people. In the others, it describes their appetite. Their appetite lusted after flesh, and the Lord “gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” Ps. 106:15. While their appetites got flesh, their spirits were made lean. This is the usual result when the flesh rules.

The Emotions.

“My soul shall be joyful in the Lord; it shall rejoice in His salvation.” Ps. 35:9. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength.” Luke 10:27. “With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early.” Isa. 26:9. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Ps. 103:1, 2.

“Tell me, O Thou whom my soul loveth, where Thou feedest . . . Thy flock.” “I sought Him whom my soul loveth.” Song of Solomon 1:7, and 3:1. “Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth?” Ch. 3:3. “My soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the Lord’s flock is carried away captive.” Jer. 13:17. “O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee; my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee, in a dry and thirsty land.” Ps. 63:1.

The Mind.

“Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul trusteth in Thee.” Ps. 57:1. “In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.” Ps. 94:19. “Rejoice the soul of thy servant; for unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.” Ps. 86:4. “When wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall watch over thee.” Prov. 2:10, 11; R. V. “The soul of the wicked desireth evil; his neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.” Prov. 21:10. “My soul hath them [my afflictions] still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.” Lam. 3:20, 21. “Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.” Hab. 2:4, R. V. “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matt. 11:28, 29.

(Continued next week.)