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HebrewH5315Key Word

נֶפֶשׁ: nephesh (H5315), a Hebrew word meaning "properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)"

nephesh

Plain-Language Summary

Based on Strong’s Concordance

The word "nephesh" primarily refers to a living, breathing being or creature, emphasizing the concept of vitality or life. It can be applied broadly to describe physical or mental aspects, including appetite, desire, emotions, or individuality. Depending on context, it may also signify the soul, self, or essence of a person or animal.

soul; a living being, the breath of life

anyappetitebeastbodybreathcreaturedeaddesire

The Hebrew word nephesh means "soul; a living being, the breath of life," encompassing related ideas including any, appetite, beast, body.

Secondary Meanings
  • the inner self, the seat of desire and emotion
  • life, vitality
  • a person, a creature
Rare / Figurative Uses
  • appetite or desire (by extension)
  • a dead body (euphemistic)

Lexical data derived from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. See full disclaimer

Word DNA

Origin

This word acts as a root form.

From the guides
What Is a Lemma?What Are Strong's Numbers?How to Do a Word StudyWord RootsLexical Range

Meaning Layers

This word carries distinct senses across different contexts.

How This Word Behaves

Selected distinct patterns of usage found in Scripture.

Context Clusters group verses by the role this word plays — not just where it appears, but what it's doing. Expand any cluster to read the passages and see the pattern for yourself.

Cross-Language Connections

How nephesh pairs with its counterpart across the Testaments.

nepheshpsychēGreek — 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
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nepheshruachHebrew — wind; by resemblance breath, i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
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nepheshlevHebrew — the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
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Heart, Soul & Mind Cluster

Words that share the same theological orbit.

καρδίαkardiaלֵבlevψυχήpsychēνοῦςnoysσάρξsarx
Compare with psychē (Greek)What is a lemma?Understanding word roots

Guided Word Studies

Trace key biblical words step-by-step across both Testaments with our guided studies.

The Word of God

From divine speech to incarnate presence

Spirit: Breath to Presence

The animating breath of creation and the Holy Spirit

Grace and Covenant Mercy

How chesed became charis

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נֶפֶשׁ

Pronunciationnephesh

H5315

properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)

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Word of the WeekHebrewH2896
טוֹב
ṭôwb
good (as an adjective) in the widest sense
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