What is the soul? “The LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Hebrew: ruach – spirit of life), and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). God did not give a soul to man, but He created man a soul or being. The word “soul” from the Old Testament (Hebrew: nephesh) means a breathing creature. Therefore,  Adam did not receive a soul; he became a soul. Thus, Body + Breath of Life = Living Soul.

We may illustrate this with a light bulb. The bulb is like the body. The electricity is like the breath of life. The shining light is like the living soul. Without the bulb or the electricity, the shining light does not exist. Similarly, without a body and without a breath of life, the soul does not exist. 

What is the spirit of man? The spirit is the breath of life or the privilege of living that God gave to man. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). 

This text reminds us of the original sentence of death pronounced upon Adam for disobedience. He had been formed from the dust and therefore he should forfeit his life and return unto the dust. Adam died. The breath of life (the spirit), the energizing life principle, was removed from his body and is also removed from each of our bodies upon death and returned to God.

The living soul – the person – dies, but the spirit (the life principle of the person) is returned to God, who remembers all things and will one day return that essence or spirit to each resurrected human. 

Death is the nonexistence of life. All living souls die, whether they are human or animal. But there is hope for humankind beyond the grave. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22

“For a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out—those who have done good will rise to live [immortal life in heaven], and those who have done evil will rise to judgment.” John 5:28-29

What is the difference between the soul and the spirit? A soul is a living, breathing creature, be it man or animal. The spirit is the essence of life or the energizing life principle that each of us has. It is our uniqueness. When we die, this uniqueness is returned to God’s memory. During the Millennium when humans come forth from their graves, they will receive that spirit, or essence, of who they were. Nothing is lost with God. 

A soul does not enter a fetus. The fetus becomes a soul. What does the Bible teach about the fetus and aborted or premature births? We need to reason on the subject because the Bible is not specific. The Law Covenant reads, “Now if people struggle with each other and strike a pregnant woman so that she gives birth prematurely, but there is no injury, the guilty person shall certainly be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise” Exodus 21:22-25 (NASB20).

These scriptures speak about an injury but are not specific respecting who is injured. It might apply to an injury to the woman or to the child. If it does apply to the child and the child dies, then strict justice means “a life for a life.”

There are also some additional indirect scriptures in Job 3:11,13,15-16 (NASB20), 11 “Why did I (Job) not die at birth, Come out of the womb and pass away?…13 For now I would have lain down and been quiet; I would have slept then, I would have been at rest…15-16 Or with rulers who had gold, Who were filling their houses with silver. Or like a miscarriage which is hidden, I would not exist, as infants that never saw light.”

In these verses, Job is wishing he had never been born. Then he could be in the grave with all the dead, including those miscarried, and those who were stillborn. Since Job believed he would be resurrected (See Job 19:25-26) with all of mankind, his desire to have died as an unborn human being seems to indicate that those fetuses will also be resurrected.

Consequently, it seems reasonable that at some point, while in the womb, a fetus becomes a soul. However, we are not dogmatic about when this occurs.

Additional Resources:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1227: “Where Do the Human Soul and Spirit Go When We Die? (Part I)”
Defining what the human soul is and is not, and its destiny at death
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes

Episode #1228: “Where Do the Human Soul and Spirit Go When We Die? (Part II)”
Defining what the human spirit is and is not, and its destiny at death
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes

Blog Post: What is the difference between the soul and the spirit?

For children, parents and Bible class teachers:
Animated CQ Kids video: “What is the soul?”