1832.-Soul and Breath. 1 Kings 17:21 by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Jun 13, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 23.

1832.—Soul and Breath. 1 Kings 17:21.

By Editor

Does “soul” in 1 Kings 17:21, “Let this child’s soul come into him again,” refer to spirit? E. M. H.

“Soul” here simply means the breath of life. Verse 17 declares, “There was no breath left in him.” Elijah prays that the breath, the life, may come back. The record does not say that the child came into his body again, but that the soul or life of the child came into the child again. Breath in verse 17 comes from neshamah, defined by Strong, “a puff, wind, vital breath, animal, blast, breath, inspiration, soul, spirit.” Soul in verses 21, 22, is from nephesh, a breathing creature, animal, vitality, breath, life, etc.