Man is a soul. Genesis 2:7 (KJV), “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Please note, man became a soul; he did not receive a soul. Thus, Genesis 2:7 tells us what a soul is. Body + Breath of Life = Living Soul.
“Soul” is Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Hebrew word #5315, nephesh. Animals, people, and even God are “souls” or nephesh.
Animals are souls. Genesis 1:21,24 (KJV), 21 “And God created great whales, and every living creature (nephesh) that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. … 24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature (nephesh) after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.”
God is a soul. Psalm 11:5 (NKJV), “The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul (nephesh) hates.”
Human and animal souls can die. When a person’s body dies, his soul dies or ceases to exist. Ezekiel 18:4 (NKJV), “Behold, all souls (nephesh) are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine; the soul who sins shall die.”
In the future resurrection, all dead souls will be awakened. John 5:28-29 (ESV), “…all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.”
An immortal soul is a reward only for faithful Christians. Romans 2:7 (ESV), “To those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” 2 Peter 1:4 (KJV), “Whereby are given unto us (consecrated/dedicated followers of Christ) exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature (immortality) having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Faithful and obedient human souls will receive everlasting life on earth. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Isaiah 35:10 (KJV), “And the ransomed (Jesus ransomed all mankind) of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
During Christ’s reign, any willfully disobedient souls will die the second death. Revelation 21:8 (KJV), “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone (complete destruction forever): which is the second death.”
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?”
