What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?
Let’s begin by considering this text in Genesis:
“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 being.” Genesis 2:7
The soul is a living being. It is not something we possess inside us, but rather who we are when we are alive. When God unites the breath of life with a body, a person becomes a living soul. We do not have a soul, but rather we are a soul.
But if we are a soul, then don’t we have a spirit? And what is a spirit? Consider the following Bible texts (emphasis supplied throughout):
“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” Job 33:4
“And all flesh died that moved on the earth…. All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.” Genesis 7:21–22
“As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils.” Job 27:3
“Sever yourselves from such a man, whose breath is in his nostrils; for of what account is he?” Isaiah 2:22
These texts provide evidence that the “spirit” of man and the “breath of life” are synonymous. When God breathes life into man, He gives them the “spirit of life.” This is important, because there is a great difference between the “spirit of life” as breath, and a ghostly spirit.
Many people today believe in ghost spirits, but the Bible does not support such an idea. Not a single Bible verse supports this idea that man has a ghostly, transparent-like spirit within him that is somehow liberated from the body at death. This is a Greek philosophical view of death, rather than a biblical truth.
You will notice in all the above texts that the “breath” and the “spirit” are one in the same when referencing created men. The wording in Genesis says it best:
“All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was on the dry land, died.” Genesis 7:22
And look at this verse from the King James Version:
“All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; my lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.” Job 27:3–4 (KJV)
There is no mistaking that the spirit that man possesses is not an intelligent, immortal ghost, but the breath of life given by God. This all makes perfect sense when you study other texts like the ones below:
“Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.” Ecclesiastes 12:7
“Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.” Ezekiel 18:4
Notice how Ecclesiastes 12:7 mentions that when a person dies, his “spirit will return to God who gave it.” This is the only text in all the Bible that communicates that the spirit returns to God at death.
Again, many assume that the spirit that returns to God is an immortal, intelligent, ghostly apparition of some sort. However, a deeper look into the word spirit reveals that the original Hebrew word for “spirit” in this text and many others is rûach—literally, “breath” or “wind.” Therefore, what returns to God when a person dies is the breath of life that was given to them in the beginning to live. Death is creation in reverse.
When we are brought into this world God unites our body with the breath of life and then we become living souls. At death, we breathe our last breath and the breath of life returns to Him. This is why Ezekiel 18:4 says, “…the soul who sins shall die.”
The soul is not some transparent, ghostly form that resides within the body until death. And the soul is not immortal, as many people believe. If the soul was immortal, then it could not die (Ezekiel 18:4). This is clear evidence that the soul is a living person who has the breath of life. A person ceases to be a living soul when the breath of life is taken from them. In fact, nowhere in the Bible is a soul referred to as a “dead soul.” The only soul that can exist is a living soul that possesses the breath/spirit of life. That’s why Luke wrote the following:
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.” Acts 2:41 (KJV)
“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.” Acts 27:37 (KJV)
The above texts prove that a soul cannot be a ghost. Did the disciples baptize three thousand ghosts on the day of Pentecost? Was Paul aboard a ghost-ship in Acts 27? Obviously not! That’s why even the New King James translation of that same verse says:
“And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.” Acts 27:37
A soul is a living person. The soul ceases to exist when a person dies because the breath/spirit of life is taken back by God.
In conclusion, the soul is not the spirit, and the spirit is not the soul. They are two different things—although, you cannot have one without the other. In order for a living soul to exist, one’s body must be given the breath of life by God. Without the breath of life to make that body alive, the soul cannot be.
This is similar to the relationship of a light bulb and electricity. The bulb cannot function properly and ceases to light-up without the electricity. So also, a person cannot be alive and living without the miracle power of the breath of life given by God. This is why the resurrection at the Second Coming of Christ is so necessary. All the righteous dead will be raised from the grave because God will once again give them the breath of life to live. What a glorious moment that will be!