נֶפֶשׁ
nephesh
Modern Summary of Strong’s Concordance (1890)
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
The Hebrew word nephesh means "soul; a living being, the breath of life," encompassing related ideas including any, appetite, beast, body.
Its Greek parallel is ψυχή (psychē), revealing shared conceptual ground across the biblical languages.
The semantic range of nephesh — spanning meanings like any, appetite, beast — suggests a word whose full significance cannot be captured by a single English term.
Lexical data derived from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. See full disclaimer
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