נַפְשֹׁ nephesh (H5315) means “being” and is the whole of a person or animal; the unity of the body, organs, and breath. This is demonstrated in Job 38:39 where the word commonly translated “appetite” is נַפְשֹׁ nephesh: “Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite (H5315) of the young lions?”
When a person dies, their spirit returns to Elohim, their soul goes down to Sheol, and their flesh decays and returns to dust (cf. Psalms 16:10; Ecclesiastes 12:7; Genesis 3:19; Acts 2:31)
- Psalms 16:10 “For you will not abandon my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.”
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 “…and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Elohim who gave it.”
- Genesis 3:19 “By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
- Acts 2:31 “…he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Messiah, that neither was he abandoned in Sheol, nor did his flesh see decay.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23 May the Elohim of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah.
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