The Difference Between psychē and nephesh
psychē (Greek, G5590) means "heart" and nephesh (Hebrew, H5315) means "any" — two words from different Testaments that address the same biblical theme. Comparing them shows how the Old and New Testaments speak with one consistent voice on this subject.
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ψυχή vs נֶפֶשׁ
psychē and nephesh
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See how psychē (ψυχή) and nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) compare → https://lemmalink.com/compare/G5590/H5315
ψυχή
breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151 (πνεῦμα), which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222 (ζωή), which is mere vita
G5590
Exegetical Meaning
breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151 (πνεῦμα), which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222 (ζωή), which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew H05315, H07307 and H02416) | Etymology: from G5594 (ψύχω); | KJV: heart (+ -ily), life, mind, soul, + us, + you
Origin
Root form
English Glosses
Canon Usage
No data
Context Themes
No clusters available
נֶפֶשׁ
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
H5315
Exegetical Meaning
properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental) | Etymology: from H5314 (נָפַשׁ); | KJV: any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
Origin
Root form
English Glosses
Canon Usage
No data
Context Themes
- The Whole Living Creature
- The Soul That Thirsts