נֶ֫פֶשׁ
soul
also: self, life, creature, person fuller range ↓
H5315
Strong's Hebrew
nephesh
Transliteration
/neh'-fesh/
Pronunciation
Usage in the Hebrew Bible
757
appearances
Full lexicon entry — Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
From Brown-Driver-Briggs (BDB)
BDB Definition
soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
- that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
- living being
- living being (with life in the blood)
- the man himself, self, person or individual
- seat of the appetites
- seat of emotions and passions
- activity of mind
- dubious
- activity of the will
- dubious
- activity of the character
- dubious
Where this word appears
See every Construct-state word in the Hebrew Bible →
Grammar key — what these labels mean
Part of speech
- Noun
- A naming word — a person, place, thing, or idea.
Noun type
- Common
- A common noun — a general class of person, place, or thing (“king,” “city,” “water”), not a specific name.
State
- Construct
- A noun bound to a following noun in a possessive / “of” relationship (the construct chain).
- Absolute
- The independent form of a noun, not bound to a following word.
Gender
- Both
- Attested as both masculine and feminine.
Number
- Singular
- One.
- Plural
- More than one (in Hebrew, generally three or more).
Grammatical forms
- Noun, Common, Both, Singular, Construct 537 times (71%)
- Noun, Common, Both, Singular, Absolute 169 times (22%)
- Noun, Common, Both, Plural, Construct 34 times (4%)
- Noun, Common, Both, Plural, Absolute 17 times (2%)
Parsed forms decoded from the imported morphology (morphhb / Westminster Leningrad Codex — WLC text public domain, morphhb tagging CC BY 4.0), counted across 757 parsed occurrences — not distinct verses.
Page 3 of 4 — showing verses 401–600 of 683 distinct verses where H5315 appears, across 31 books. Click any verse to open its interlinear word-by-word view. Verse text shown in the World English Bible for context — . Each verse’s Hebrew form is shown with its reference; the English is not keyword-highlighted, since the data carries no word-level English alignment. Use “Compare translations” on any verse to read it across multiple English versions. This concordance covers the Hebrew Bible; Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) occurrences are not indexed here.
Psalms 141 verses
- Psalms 74:19 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs cs Don't deliver the soul of your dove to wild beasts. Don't forget the life of your poor forever.
- Psalms 77:2 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn't get tired. My soul refused to be comforted.
- Psalms 78:18 לְ/נַפְשָֽׁ/ם prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp They tempted God in their heart By asking food according to their desire.
- Psalms 78:50 נַפְשָׁ֑/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp He made a path for his anger. He didn't spare their soul from death, But gave their life over to the pestilence,
- Psalms 84:2 נַפְשִׁ/י֮ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
- Psalms 86:2 נַפְשִׁ/י֮ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You, my God, save your servant who trusts in you.
- Psalms 86:4 נֶ֣פֶשׁ נַפְשִׁ֥/י n c bs cs n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Bring joy to the soul of your servant, For to you, Lord, do I lift up my soul.
- Psalms 86:13 נַ֝פְשִׁ֗/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs For your loving kindness is great toward me. You have delivered my soul from the lowest Sheol.
- Psalms 86:14 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs God, the proud have risen up against me. A company of violent men have sought after my soul, And they don't hold regard for you before them.
- Psalms 88:3 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs For my soul is full of troubles. My life draws near to Sheol.
- Psalms 88:14 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Yahweh, why do you reject my soul? Why do you hide your face from me?
- Psalms 89:48 נַפְשׁ֖/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms What man is he who shall live and not see death, Who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
- Psalms 94:17 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Unless Yahweh had been my help, My soul would have soon lived in silence.
- Psalms 94:19 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Your comforts delight my soul.
- Psalms 94:21 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs cs They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, And condemn the innocent blood.
- Psalms 97:10 נַפְשׁ֣וֹת n c bp cs You who love Yahweh, hate evil. He preserves the souls of his saints. He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
- Psalms 103:1 נַ֭פְשִׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Praise Yahweh, my soul! All that is within me, praise his holy name!
- Psalms 103:2 נַ֭פְשִׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Praise Yahweh, my soul, And don't forget all his benefits;
- Psalms 103:22 נַ֝פְשִׁ֗/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Praise Yahweh, all you works of his, In all places of his dominion. Praise Yahweh, my soul.
- Psalms 104:1 נַפְשִׁ֗/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.
- Psalms 104:35 נַ֭פְשִׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!
- Psalms 105:18 נַפְשֽׁ/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms They bruised his feet with shackles. His neck was locked in irons,
- Psalms 105:22 בְּ/נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms To discipline his princes at his pleasure, And to teach his elders wisdom.
- Psalms 106:15 בְּ/נַפְשָֽׁ/ם prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul.
- Psalms 107:5 נַ֝פְשָׁ֗/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp Hungry and thirsty, Their soul fainted in them.
- Psalms 107:9 נֶ֣פֶשׁ וְ/נֶ֥פֶשׁ n c bs conj + n c bs For he satisfies the longing soul. He fills the hungry soul with good.
- Psalms 107:18 נַפְשָׁ֑/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp Their soul abhors all kinds of food. They draw near to the gates of death.
- Psalms 107:26 נַ֝פְשָׁ֗/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp They mount up to the sky; they go down again to the depths. Their soul melts away because of trouble.
- Psalms 109:20 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs This is the reward of my adversaries from Yahweh, Of those who speak evil against my soul.
- Psalms 109:31 נַפְשֽׁ/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms For he will stand at the right hand of the needy, To save him from those who judge his soul.
- Psalms 116:4 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Then called I on the name of Yahweh: "Yahweh, I beg you, deliver my soul."
- Psalms 116:7 נַ֭פְשִׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Return to your rest, my soul, For Yahweh has dealt bountifully with you.
- Psalms 116:8 נַפְשִׁ֗/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs For you have delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, And my feet from falling.
- Psalms 119:20 נַפְשִׁ֣/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul is consumed with longing for your ordinances at all times.
- Psalms 119:25 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul is laid low in the dust. Revive me according to your word!
- Psalms 119:28 נַ֭פְשִׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul is weary with sorrow: Strengthen me according to your word.
- Psalms 119:81 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul faints for your salvation. I hope in your word.
- Psalms 119:109 נַפְשִׁ֣/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul is continually in my hand, Yet I won't forget your law.
- Psalms 119:129 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Your testimonies are wonderful, Therefore my soul keeps them.
- Psalms 119:167 נַ֭פְשִׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul has observed your testimonies. I love them exceedingly.
- Psalms 119:175 נַ֭פְשִׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Let my soul live, that I may praise you. Let your ordinances help me.
- Psalms 120:2 נַ֭פְשִׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Deliver my soul, Yahweh, from lying lips, From a deceitful tongue.
- Psalms 120:6 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul has had her dwelling too long With him who hates peace.
- Psalms 121:7 נַפְשֶֽׁ/ךָ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms Yahweh will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.
- Psalms 123:4 נַ֫פְשֵׁ֥/נוּ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cp Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud.
- Psalms 124:4 נַפְשֵֽׁ/נוּ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cp Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul;
- Psalms 124:5 נַפְשֵׁ֑/נוּ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cp Then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.
- Psalms 124:7 נַפְשֵׁ֗/נוּ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cp Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.
- Psalms 130:5 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs I wait for Yahweh. My soul waits. I hope in his word.
- Psalms 130:6 נַפְשִׁ֥/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul longs for the Lord more than watchmen long for the morning; More than watchmen for the morning.
- Psalms 131:2 נַ֫פְשִׁ֥/י נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother, Like a weaned child is my soul within me.
- Psalms 138:3 בְ/נַפְשִׁ֣/י prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.
- Psalms 139:14 וְ֝/נַפְשִׁ֗/י conj + n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs I will give thanks to you, For I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.
- Psalms 141:8 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. In you, I take refuge. Don't leave my soul destitute.
- Psalms 142:4 לְ/נַפְשִֽׁ/י prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Look on my right, and see; For there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.
- Psalms 142:7 נַפְשִׁ/י֮ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Bring my soul out of prison, That I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, For you will be good to me.
- Psalms 143:3 נַפְשִׁ֗/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
- Psalms 143:6 נַפְשִׁ֓/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs I spread forth my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
- Psalms 143:8 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, For I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to you.
- Psalms 143:11 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Revive me, Yahweh, for your name's sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
- Psalms 143:12 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, And destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am your servant.
- Psalms 146:1 נַ֝פְשִׁ֗/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh, my soul.
Proverbs 54 verses
- Proverbs 1:18 לְ/נַפְשֹׁתָֽ/ם prep + n c bp cs + sfx pers 3mp But these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
- Proverbs 1:19 נֶ֖פֶשׁ n c bs cs So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
- Proverbs 2:10 לְֽ/נַפְשְׁ/ךָ֥ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
- Proverbs 3:22 לְ/נַפְשֶׁ֑/ךָ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms So they will be life to your soul, And grace for your neck.
- Proverbs 6:16 נַפְשֽׁ/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms There are six things which Yahweh hates; Yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
- Proverbs 6:26 נֶ֖פֶשׁ n c bs For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
- Proverbs 6:30 נַ֝פְשׁ֗/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Men don't despise a thief, If he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry:
- Proverbs 6:32 נַ֝פְשׁ֗/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
- Proverbs 7:23 בְ/נַפְשׁ֥/וֹ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn't know that it will cost his life.
- Proverbs 8:36 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death."
- Proverbs 10:3 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs cs Yahweh will not allow the soul of the righteous to go hungry, But he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
- Proverbs 11:17 נַ֭פְשׁ/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms The merciful man does good to his own soul, But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
- Proverbs 11:25 נֶֽפֶשׁ n c bs cs The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
- Proverbs 11:30 נְפָשׂ֣וֹת n c bp The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
- Proverbs 12:10 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs cs A righteous man regards the life of his animal, But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
- Proverbs 13:2 וְ/נֶ֖פֶשׁ conj + n c bs cs By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things; But the unfaithful crave violence.
- Proverbs 13:3 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms He who guards his mouth guards his soul. One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
- Proverbs 13:4 נַפְשׁ֣/וֹ וְ/נֶ֖פֶשׁ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms conj + n c bs cs The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing, But the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
- Proverbs 13:8 נֶֽפֶשׁ n c bs cs The ransom of a man's life is his riches, But the poor hear no threats.
- Proverbs 13:19 לְ/נָ֑פֶשׁ prep + n c bs Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, But fools detest turning from evil.
- Proverbs 13:25 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul, But the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
- Proverbs 14:10 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; He will not share these with a stranger.
- Proverbs 14:25 נְ֭פָשׁוֹת n c bp A truthful witness saves souls, But a false witness is deceitful.
- Proverbs 15:32 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms He who refuses correction despises his own soul, But he who listens to reproof gets understanding.
- Proverbs 16:17 נַ֝פְשׁ֗/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
- Proverbs 16:24 לַ֝/נֶּפֶשׁ prep det + n c bs Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
- Proverbs 16:26 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs cs The appetite of the laboring man labors for him; For his mouth urges him on.
- Proverbs 18:7 נַפְשֽׁ/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are a snare to his soul.
- Proverbs 19:2 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; Nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way.
- Proverbs 19:8 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
- Proverbs 19:15 וְ/נֶ֖פֶשׁ conj + n c bs cs Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
- Proverbs 19:16 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
- Proverbs 19:18 נַפְשֶֽׁ/ךָ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms Discipline your son, for there is hope; Don't be a willing party to his death.
- Proverbs 20:2 נַפְשֽׁ/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion: He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
- Proverbs 21:10 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs cs The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
- Proverbs 21:23 נַפְשֽׁ/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.
- Proverbs 22:5 נַ֝פְשׁ֗/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: Whoever guards his soul stays from them.
- Proverbs 22:23 נָֽפֶשׁ n c bs For Yahweh will plead their case, And plunder the life of those who plunder them.
- Proverbs 22:25 לְ/נַפְשֶֽׁ/ךָ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms Lest you learn his ways, And ensnare your soul.
- Proverbs 23:2 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
- Proverbs 23:7 בְּ/נַפְשׁ֗/וֹ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
- Proverbs 23:14 וְ֝/נַפְשׁ֗/וֹ conj + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from Sheol.
- Proverbs 24:12 נַ֭פְשְׁ/ךָ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms If you say, "Behold, we didn't know this;" Doesn't he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn't he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
- Proverbs 24:14 לְ/נַ֫פְשֶׁ֥/ךָ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms So you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; If you have found it, then there will be a reward, Your hope will not be cut off.
- Proverbs 25:13 וְ/נֶ֖פֶשׁ conj + n c bs cs As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to those who send him; For he refreshes the soul of his masters.
- Proverbs 25:25 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs Like cold water to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
- Proverbs 27:7 נֶ֣פֶשׁ וְ/נֶ֥פֶשׁ n c bs conj + n c bs A full soul loathes a honeycomb; But to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
- Proverbs 27:9 נָֽפֶשׁ n c bs Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; So does earnest counsel from a man's friend.
- Proverbs 28:17 נָפֶשׁ n c bs A man who is tormented by life blood will be a fugitive until death; No one will support him.
- Proverbs 28:25 נֶ֭פֶשׁ n c bs One who is greedy stirs up strife; But one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.
- Proverbs 29:10 נַפְשֽׁ/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; And they seek the life of the upright.
- Proverbs 29:17 לְ/נַפְשֶֽׁ/ךָ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms Correct your son, and he will give you peace; Yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
- Proverbs 29:24 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
- Proverbs 31:6 נָֽפֶשׁ n c bs Give strong drink to him who is ready to perish; And wine to the bitter in soul:
Ecclesiastes 7 verses
- Ecclesiastes 2:24 נַפְשׁ֛/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
- Ecclesiastes 4:8 נַפְשִׁ/י֙ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment? This also is vanity, yes, it is a miserable business.
- Ecclesiastes 6:2 לְ/נַפְשׁ֣/וֹ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but an alien eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.
- Ecclesiastes 6:3 וְ/נַפְשׁ/וֹ֙ conj + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms If a man fathers a hundred children, and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not filled with good, and moreover he has no burial; I say, that an untimely birth is better than he:
- Ecclesiastes 6:7 הַ/נֶּ֖פֶשׁ ptcl def.art + n c bs All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.
- Ecclesiastes 6:9 נָ֑פֶשׁ n c bs Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.
- Ecclesiastes 7:28 נַפְשִׁ֖/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs which my soul still seeks; but I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found; but a woman among all those have I not found.
Song of Solomon 7 verses
- Song of Solomon 1:7 נַפְשִׁ֔/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Tell me, you whom my soul loves, Where you graze your flock, Where you rest them at noon; For why should I be as one who is veiled Beside the flocks of your companions? Lover
- Song of Solomon 3:1 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs By night on my bed, I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn't find him.
- Song of Solomon 3:2 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs I will get up now, and go about the city; In the streets and in the squares I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but I didn't find him.
- Song of Solomon 3:3 נַפְשִׁ֖/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs The watchmen who go about the city found me; "Have you seen him whom my soul loves?"
- Song of Solomon 3:4 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs I had scarcely passed from them, When I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go, Until I had brought him into my mother's house, Into the chamber of her who conceived me.
- Song of Solomon 5:6 נַפְשִׁ/י֙ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs I opened to my beloved; But my beloved left; gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn't find him. I called him, but he didn't answer.
- Song of Solomon 6:12 נַפְשִׁ֣/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Without realizing it, My desire set me with my royal people's chariots. Friends
Isaiah 32 verses
- Isaiah 1:14 נַפְשִׁ֔/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My soul hates your New Moons and your appointed feasts; They are a burden to me. I am weary of bearing them.
- Isaiah 3:9 לְ/נַפְשָׁ֔/ם prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp The look of their faces testify against them. They parade their sin like Sodom. They don't hide it. Woe to their soul! For they have brought disaster upon themselves.
- Isaiah 3:20 הַ/נֶּ֖פֶשׁ ptcl def.art + n c bs the headdresses, the ankle chains, the sashes, the perfume bottles, the charms,
- Isaiah 5:14 נַפְשָׁ֔/הּ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3fs Therefore Sheol has enlarged its desire, And opened its mouth without measure; And their glory, their multitude, their pomp, and he who rejoices among them, descend into it.
- Isaiah 10:18 מִ/נֶּ֥פֶשׁ prep + n c bs He will consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and it shall be as when a standard-bearer faints.
- Isaiah 15:4 נַפְשׁ֖/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Heshbon cries out, and Elealeh; their voice is heard even to Jahaz: therefore the armed men of Moab cry aloud; his soul trembles within him.
- Isaiah 19:10 נָֽפֶשׁ n c bs The pillars [of Egypt] shall be broken in pieces; all those who work for hire [shall be] grieved in soul.
- Isaiah 26:8 נָֽפֶשׁ n c bs Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, have we waited for you; to your name, even to your memorial [name], is the desire of our soul.
- Isaiah 26:9 נַפְשִׁ֤/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs With my soul have I desired you in the night; yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you earnestly: for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
- Isaiah 29:8 נַפְשׁ/וֹ֒ וְ/נַפְשׁ֖/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms conj + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms It shall be as when a hungry man dreams, and, behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreams, and, behold, he drinks; but he awakes, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul has appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against Mount Zion.
- Isaiah 32:6 נֶ֣פֶשׁ n c bs cs For the fool will speak folly, and his heart will work iniquity, to practice profanity, and to utter error against Yahweh, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and to cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
- Isaiah 38:15 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs What shall I say? he has both spoken to me, and himself has done it: I shall go softly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.
- Isaiah 38:17 נַפְשִׁ/י֙ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Behold, [it was] for [my] peace [that] I had great bitterness: But you have in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; For you have cast all my sins behind your back.
- Isaiah 42:1 נַפְשִׁ֑/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.
- Isaiah 43:4 נַפְשֶֽׁ/ךָ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms Since you have been precious in my sight, [and] honorable, and I have loved you; therefore will I give men in your place, and peoples instead of your life.
- Isaiah 44:20 נַפְשׁ/וֹ֙ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms He feeds on ashes; a deceived heart has turned him aside; and he can't deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?
- Isaiah 46:2 וְ/נַפְשָׁ֖/ם conj + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
- Isaiah 47:14 נַפְשָׁ֖/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: it shall not be a coal to warm at, nor a fire to sit before.
- Isaiah 49:7 נֶ֜פֶשׁ n c bs Thus says Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall worship; because of Yahweh who is faithful, [even] the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.
- Isaiah 51:23 לְ/נַפְשֵׁ֖/ךְ prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 2fs and I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to your soul, Bow down, that we may go over; and you have laid your back as the ground, and as the street, to those who go over.
- Isaiah 53:10 נַפְשׁ֔/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand.
- Isaiah 53:11 נַפְשׁ/וֹ֙ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities.
- Isaiah 53:12 נַפְשׁ֔/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- Isaiah 55:2 נַפְשְׁ/כֶֽם n c bs cs + sfx pers 2mp Why do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which doesn't satisfy? listen diligently to me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
- Isaiah 55:3 נַפְשְׁ/כֶ֑ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 2mp Turn your ear, and come to me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
- Isaiah 56:11 נֶ֗פֶשׁ n c bs Yes, the dogs are greedy, they can never have enough; and these are shepherds who can't understand: they have all turned to their own way, each one to his gain, from every quarter.
- Isaiah 58:3 נַפְשֵׁ֖/נוּ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cp Why have we fasted, [say they], and you don't see? [why] have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find [your own] pleasure, and exact all your labors.
- Isaiah 58:5 נַפְשׁ֑/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?
- Isaiah 58:10 נַפְשֶׁ֔/ךָ וְ/נֶ֥פֶשׁ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms conj + n c bs cs and if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall your light rise in darkness, and your obscurity be as the noonday;
- Isaiah 58:11 נַפְשֶׁ֔/ךָ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms and Yahweh will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in dry places, and make strong your bones; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters don't fail.
- Isaiah 61:10 נַפְשִׁ/י֙ n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
- Isaiah 66:3 נַפְשָׁ֥/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog's neck; he who offers an offering, [as he who offers] pig's blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations:
Jeremiah 58 verses
- Jeremiah 2:24 נפש/ו נַפְשָׁ/הּ֙ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms n c bs cs + sfx pers 3fs a wild donkey used to the wilderness, that snuffs up the wind in her desire; in her occasion who can turn her away? all those who seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
- Jeremiah 2:34 נַפְשׁ֥וֹת n c bp cs Also in your skirts is found the blood of the souls of the innocent poor: you did not find them breaking in; but it is because of all these things.
- Jeremiah 3:11 נַפְשָׁ֖/הּ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3fs Yahweh said to me, Backsliding Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah.
- Jeremiah 4:10 הַ/נָּֽפֶשׁ ptcl def.art + n c bs Then said I, Ah, Lord Yahweh! surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, You shall have peace; whereas the sword reaches to the life.
- Jeremiah 4:19 נַפְשִׁ֔/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I can't hold my peace; because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
- Jeremiah 4:30 נַפְשֵׁ֥/ךְ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2fs You, when you are made desolate, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with scarlet, though you deck you with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with paint, in vain do you make yourself beautiful; [your] lovers despise you, they seek your life.
- Jeremiah 4:31 נַפְשִׁ֖/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her who brings forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, who gasps for breath, who spreads her hands, [saying], Woe is me now! for my soul faints before the murderers.
- Jeremiah 5:9 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
- Jeremiah 5:29 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Shall I not visit for these things? says Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
- Jeremiah 6:8 נַפְשִׁ֖/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, a land not inhabited.
- Jeremiah 6:16 לְ/נַפְשְׁ/כֶ֑ם prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 2mp Thus says Yahweh, Stand you in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way; and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls: but they said, We will not walk [therein].
- Jeremiah 9:9 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Shall I not visit them for these things? says Yahweh; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
- Jeremiah 11:21 נַפְשְׁ/ךָ֖ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, You shall not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, that you not die by our hand;
- Jeremiah 12:7 נַפְשִׁ֖/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs I have forsaken my house, I have cast off my heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.
- Jeremiah 13:17 נַפְשִׁ֖/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret for [your] pride; and my eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because Yahweh's flock is taken captive.
- Jeremiah 14:19 נַפְשֶׁ֔/ךָ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms Have you utterly rejected Judah? has your soul loathed Zion? why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, and, behold, dismay!
- Jeremiah 15:1 נַפְשִׁ֖/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Then said Yahweh to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind would not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
- Jeremiah 15:9 נַפְשָׁ֛/הּ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3fs She who has borne seven languishes; she has given up the spirit; her sun is gone down while it was yet day; she has been disappointed and confounded: and the residue of them will I deliver to the sword before their enemies, says Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 17:21 בְּ/נַפְשֽׁוֹתֵי/כֶ֑ם prep + n c bp cs + sfx pers 2mp Thus says Yahweh, Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;
- Jeremiah 18:20 לְ/נַפְשִׁ֑/י prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Shall evil be recompensed for good? for they have dug a pit for my soul. Remember how I stood before you to speak good for them, to turn away your wrath from them.
- Jeremiah 19:7 נַפְשָׁ֑/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp I will make void the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place; and I will cause them to fall by the sword before their enemies, and by the hand of those who seek their life: and their dead bodies will I give to be food for the birds of the sky, and for the animals of the earth.
- Jeremiah 19:9 נַפְשָֽׁ/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters; and they shall eat everyone the flesh of his friend, in the siege and in the distress, with which their enemies, and those who seek their life, shall distress them.
- Jeremiah 20:13 נֶ֥פֶשׁ n c bs cs Sing to Yahweh, praise you Yahweh; for he has delivered the soul of the needy from the hand of evil-doers.
- Jeremiah 21:7 נַפְשָׁ֑/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp Afterward, says Yahweh, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, even such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life: and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
- Jeremiah 21:9 נַפְשׁ֖/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out, and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey.
- Jeremiah 22:25 נַפְשֶׁ֔/ךָ n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of them of whom you are afraid, even into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of the Chaldeans.
- Jeremiah 22:27 נַפְשָׁ֖/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp But to the land whereunto their soul longs to return, there shall they not return.
- Jeremiah 26:19 נַפְשׁוֹתֵֽי/נוּ n c bp cs + sfx pers 1cp Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn't he fear Yahweh, and entreat the favor of Yahweh, and Yahweh repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus should we commit great evil against our own souls.
- Jeremiah 31:12 נַפְשָׁ/ם֙ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp They shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow to the goodness of Yahweh, to the grain, and to the new wine, and to the oil, and to the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
- Jeremiah 31:14 נֶ֥פֶשׁ n c bs cs I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, says Yahweh.
- Jeremiah 31:25 נֶ֣פֶשׁ נֶ֥פֶשׁ n c bs n c bs For I have satiated the weary soul, and every sorrowful soul have I replenished.
- Jeremiah 32:41 נַפְשִֽׁ/י n c bs cs + sfx pers 1cs Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
- Jeremiah 34:16 לְ/נַפְשָׁ֑/ם prep + n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp but you turned and profaned my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom you had let go free at their pleasure, to return; and you brought them into subjection, to be to you for servants and for handmaids.
- Jeremiah 34:20 נַפְשָׁ֑/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp I will even give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life; and their dead bodies shall be for food to the birds of the sky, and to the animals of the earth.
- Jeremiah 34:21 נַפְשָׁ֑/ם n c bs cs + sfx pers 3mp Zedekiah king of Judah and his princes will I give into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life, and into the hand of the king of Babylon's army, who have gone away from you.
- Jeremiah 37:9 נַפְשֹֽׁתֵי/כֶם֙ n c bp cs + sfx pers 2mp Thus says Yahweh, Don't deceive yourselves, saying, The Chaldeans shall surely depart from us; for they shall not depart.
- Jeremiah 38:2 נַפְשׁ֛/וֹ n c bs cs + sfx pers 3ms Thus says Yahweh, He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes forth to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey, and he shall live.
- Jeremiah 38:16 הַ/נֶּ֤פֶשׁ נַפְשֶֽׁ/ךָ ptcl def.art + n c bs n c bs cs + sfx pers 2ms So Zedekiah the king swore secretly to Jeremiah, saying, As Yahweh lives, who made us this soul, I will not put you to death, neither will I give you into the hand of these men who seek your life.
About this entry
At a glance — auto-summarized from this page’s data, not written by a person. Every figure links to its source below. This summary describes the numbers; it doesn’t interpret them.
“soul” is the headline sense of the Hebrew noun נפש (nephesh). It also covers “self”, “life”, and “creature”, alongside “soul” — see its full sense range. With 683 verses in 31 books, it is one of the most common word in the Hebrew Bible. Debuting at Genesis 1:20, it then recurs through the corpus. Related forms include נפש and נפיש. See the sense tree, 683-verse concordance, and the renderings breakdown below.
Gloss history
Strong's 1890 vs modern scholarship
Strong's · 1890
any
Modern gloss
soul
Strong's 1890 sometimes compressed multiple senses — or homonymous roots — under one number, and used 19th-century English phrasing that no longer carries the same connotation. The modern gloss reflects current BDB scholarship; open the Lexicon Entry tab for the full sense breakdown.
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About this word
Strong's H5315 catalogs a Hebrew word from the Hebrew Old Testament.
These counts are not copied from any lexicon or concordance. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged Hebrew Old Testament. What Lemma adds →
- 683
- distinct verses
- The word appears in 683 distinct verses.
- 31 / 39
- OT books
- The word appears in 31 of 39 Old Testament books.
- #65
- by frequency
- Top 100 most frequent Hebrew words (rank 65 of 8,640 Hebrew words by occurrence).
View all 683 occurrences in the concordance →
By section of the Old Testament
By traditional corpus
Conventional, traditional groupings — biblical authorship is debated, so this is a traditional corpus grouping, not an authorship claim. Each share is this word’s portion of its verses in that division of the Hebrew canon. Each figure is a share of the word’s 683 distinct verses.
- Writings (Ketuvim) 269 verses · 39%
- Prophets (Nevi'im) 237 verses · 35%
- Torah (Pentateuch) 177 verses · 26%
How translations render this word
Counts come from each version’s own published word-to-Strong’s tagging or interlinear alignment — an approximate guide to how each version renders this word, not a word-level alignment the data otherwise carries. Because each total is that version’s own tagged count, the per-version totals vary from one another and need not match the appearance or distinct-verse counts above. These counts may also differ from a printed concordance because Lemma counts each distinctly tagged rendering and does not collapse phrase taggings into a single head-word total. This is a fixed set of word-tagged versions (KJV, ASV, BSB, ULT) and does not change with the reading translation you choose elsewhere. Each version’s license is shown beside its name below (and on Sources).
- King James Version: Soul 314×, Life 73×, Souls 34×
- American Standard Version: Soul 279×, Life 71×, Souls 31×
- Berean Standard Bible: Soul 173×, Life 112×, Lives 31×
- unfoldingWord Literal Text: Soul 282×, Life 159×, Person 53×
King James Version Public Domain
Renders H5315 across 738 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 115 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 15 further occurrences.
American Standard Version Public Domain
Renders H5315 across 737 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 161 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
Berean Standard Bible Public Domain
Renders H5315 across 666 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 73 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings. Not rendered by a distinct English word in 85 further occurrences.
unfoldingWord Literal Text CC BY-SA 4.0
Renders H5315 across 751 tagged occurrences — most commonly:
Plus other, less common renderings. Plus 55 renderings that appear only once — usually multi-word phrases or single function words the recovered tagging swept in, not distinct renderings.
34 senses and sub-senses in the full BDB
What do BDB’s symbols mean?
BDB uses these scholarly abbreviations:
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 𝔊 | the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation, LXX) |
| 𝔙 | the Vulgate (the Latin translation) |
| 𝔖 | the Syriac version (the Peshitta) |
| 𝔗 | the Targum (the Aramaic translation) |
| ψ | the Psalms |
| √ | root (the underlying root or stem) |
| ‖ | parallel passage (a synonymous or contrasted parallel) |
| † | the dagger: every passage where the word occurs is cited |
The 34 senses and sub-senses the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon distinguishes for this word, in lexicon order (not ranked by frequency), with BDB’s own verbatim wording and sub-sense lettering. Shown in Hebrew script with BDB’s own scholarly abbreviations. The condensed entry is in the Lexicon Entry tab. See also the Forms in the corpus table below.
- 1. = that which breathes, the breathing substance or being = ψυχή, anima, the soul, the inner being of man:
- a. disting. from בָּשָׂר: מִנֶּפֶשׁ וְעַד בָּשָׂר Is 10:18; הַנֶּפֶשׁ עִם הַבָּשָׂר Dt 12:23; from שְׁאֵר Pr 11:17; from בֶּטֶן body ψ 31:10. e.g. Isaiah 10:18
- b. both the inner נפשׁ and the outer בשׂר are conceived as resting on a common substratum: אַךְ בְּשָׂרוֹ עָלָיו יִכְאָ֑ב וְנַפְשׁוֹ עָלָיו תֶּאֱבָֽל׃ Jb 14:22 only his flesh upon him is in pain, and his soul upon him mourneth; cf. ψ 42:5, 7; 131:2; Jb 30:16; La 3:20 [v. עַל 1 d], all poetical (cf. 6 c). e.g. Job 14:22
- c. נ׳ departs at death and returns with life: וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת נַפְשָׁהּ כִּי מֵתָה Gn 35:18 (E) and it came to pass when her soul was going forth (for she died); נָֽפְחָה נַפְשָׁהּ Je 15:9 she breathed out her soul, cf. 1 K 17:21, 22; Jb 11:20; 31:39. e.g. Genesis 35:18
- d. often desired that the נפשׁ may be delivered: from Sheʾôl ψ 16:10; 30:4; 49:16; 86:13; 89:49; Pr 23:14; from שַׁחַת, the pit of Sheʾôl, Is 38:17 Jb 33:18, 22, 28, 30. e.g. Psalms 16:10
- 2. The נפשׁ becomes a living being: by God’s breathing נשׁמת חיים into the nostrils of its בשׂר; of man Gn 2:7 (J); by implication of animals also Gn 2:19 (J); so ψ 104:29, 30 cf. 66:9 man is נֶפֶשׁ חַיָּה, a living, breathing being Gn 2:7 (J); elsewhere נפשׁ חיּה always of animals Gn 1:20, 24, 30; 9:12, 15, 16 (all P), Ez 47:9; so נפשׁ החיּה Gn 1:21; 9:10 (both P), Lv 11:10, 46 (H); נפשׁ השׁרצת Lv 11:46 (H); נפשׁ כל חי Jb 12:10. נפשׁ is frequently used with the verb חיה: †וחיתה נפשׁ Gn 12:13; 19:20 (both J), 1 K 20:32 (E), ψ 119:175; Je 38:17, 20; †חֵי נַפְשְׁךָ 1 S 1:26; 17:55; 20:3; 25:26 2 S 11:11; 14:19; 2 K 2:2, 4, 6; 4:30 (all JE); cf. †יְחַיֶּה נ׳ 1 K 20:31 (E), Ez 18:27 ψ 22:30; also Gn 19:19 Is 55:3; Pr 3:22. e.g. Genesis 2:7
- 3. The נפשׁ (without חיה noun or verb) is specif.:
- a. a living being whose life resides in the blood [so in Arabic WeSkizzen iii. 217 G. Jacob Arab. Dicht. iv. 9 f.] (hence sacrificial use of blood, and its prohib. in other uses; first in D), Dt 12:23, 24 only be sure that thou eat not the blood, for the blood is the living being (הַדָּם הוּא הַנֶּפֶשׁ); and thou shalt not eat the living being with the flesh (הַנֶּפֶשׁ עִם הַבָּשָׂר); thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water; this enlarged in H, Lv 17:10, 11, 12, 14 and in P Gn 9:4, 5, cf. Je 2:34. e.g. Deuteronomy 12:23
- b. a serious attack upon the life is an attack upon this inner living being 2 S 1:9 Je 4:10; Jon 2:6 ψ 69:2; 124:4, 5; Jb 27:3. e.g. 2 Samuel 1:9
- c. נפשׁ is used for life itself 171 times, of animals Pr 12:10, and of man Gn 44:30 (J); נפשׁ תחת נפשׁ life for life Ex 21:23 (E), Lv 24:18 (H), 1 K 20:39, 42; 2 K 10:24; נפשׁנו תחתיכם Jos 2:14 (J); נפשׁ בנפשׁ Dt 19:21; בנפשׁ for the life of 2 S 14:7 Jon 1:14; שׂם נפשׁ בכף put life in one’s own hand Ju 12:3 1 S 19:5; 28:21 Jb 13:14; חרף נפשׁו למות Ju 5:18 risked his life to die; †בנפשׁ at the risk of life Nu 17:3 (P), 2 S 23:17 = 1 Ch 11:19(×2), 1 K 2:23 Pr 7:23; La 5:9; †בקּשׁ נפשׁ Ex 4:19 (J), 1 S 20:1; 22:23(×2) 23:15; 25:29 2 S 4:8; 16:11; 1 K 19:10, 14; Je 4:30; 11:21; 19:7, 9; 21:7; 22:25; 34:20, 21; 38:16; 44:30(×2) 46:26; 49:37 ψ 35:4; 38:13; 40:15; 54:5; 63:10; 70:3; 86:14; Pr 29:10; †שׁאל נ׳ 1 K 3:11 = 2 Ch 1:11, 1 K 19:4 = Jon 4:8; †הִכָּה נפשׁ smite mortally Gn 37:21 (J), Dt 19:6, 11; Je 40:14, 15; †לקח נ׳ 1 K 19:4; Jon 4:3 ψ 31:14; Pr 1:19; †הִצִּיל נֶפֶשׁ מִמָּוֶת deliver life from death Jos 2:13 ψ 33:19; 56:14; †מלּט נפשׁ 1 S 19:11 2 S 19:6(×4) 1 K 1:12(×2) Je 48:6; 51:6, 45; Ez 33:5; Am 2:14, 15 ψ 89:49; 116:4; †פדה נ׳ 2 S 4:9 1 K 1:29 ψ 34:23; 49:16; 55:19; 71:23; †שׁמר נ׳ ψ 25:20; 97:10; Jb 2:6 Pr 13:3; 16:17; 19:16; 22:5. e.g. Proverbs 12:10
- 4. The נפשׁ as the essential of man stands for the man himself:
- a. paraphrase for pers. pron. especially in poetry and ornate discourse, 70 times; (1) נַפְשִׁי = me: אל תבא נפשׁי Gn 49:6 let me not enter (poem in J); תָּמֹת נ׳ מות ישׁרים Nu 23:10 let me die, etc. (poem); תָּמוֹת נַפְשִׁי Ju 16:30 (J); אמרה נפשׁי La 3:24 I say. (2) נַפְשְׁךָ = thee: לְאֻמִּים תַּחַת נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ Is 43:4 peoples instead of thee; אָֽמְרוּ לְנַפְשֵׁךְ 51:23. (3) נַפְשׁוֹ = he: נפשׁו בטוב תלין ψ 25:13 he will not dwell in good circumstances. (4) נַפְשֵׁנוּ = we: נַפְשֵׁנוּ כְּצִפּוֹר נִמְלְטָה מִפַּת יוֹקְשִׁים ψ 124:7. (5) נַפְשָׁם = they, them: נַפְשָׁם בַּשְּׁבִי הָלָ֑כָה Is 46:2 they are gone into captivity; אוי לנפשׁם Is 3:9. e.g. Genesis 49:6
- b. = reflexive, self, 53 times: אסר על נפשׁ bind oneself Nu 30:3, 5(×2), 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12; לְעַנֹּת נ׳ Nu 30:14 to afflict oneself. (1) נַפְשִׁי = myself: לא אדע נ׳ Jb 9:21; Ct 6:12 I know not myself. (2) נַפְשְׁךָ = thyself: שׁמר נ׳ Dt 4:9 keep thyself. (3) נַפְשׁוֹ = himself: אהב כנ׳ 1 S 18:1, 3; 20:17 loved as himself. (4) נַפְשָׁהּ = herself: צדּקה נ׳ Je 3:11 justified herself. (5) נַפְשָׁם = themselves: הציל נ׳ deliver themselves Is 47:14; Ez 14:14, 20. (6) נַפְשְׁכֶם, נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם = yourselves: אַל־תַּשִּׁאוּ נ׳ Je 37:9 deceive not yourselves, also 42:20; 44:7; ענּה נ׳ Lv 16:29, 31; 23:27, 32; Nu 29:7 (P); נשׁמרתם לנ׳ Dt 4:15; Jos 23:11 (D). (7) נַפְשׁוֹתֵינוּ = ourselves: על נ׳ Je 26:19 against ourselves. e.g. Numbers 30:3
- c. = person of man, individual, 144 times, first in D2; especially in H, P, and kindred writers: (1) c. אָדָם: נ׳ אדם Lv 24:17 opp. נ׳ בהמה 24:18 (both H), and so נ׳ אדם human persons Nu 31:35, 40, 46 (P) 1 Ch 5:21; Ez 27:13. Elsewhere without אדם: נ׳ ברכה Pr 11:25 one who blesses; נ׳ רְמִיָּה Pr 19:15 idle person; נ׳ תחת נ׳ person in place of person, Jb 16:4; כפּר על נ׳ Ex 30:15, 16; Nu 15:28; 31:50 (all P) Lv 17:11 (H). †(2) נפשׁ = person, any one: Dt 24:7; 27:25; Pr 28:17; Ez 18:4(×3) 33:6; elsewhere only H P: Lv 2:1; 4:2, 27; 5:1, 2, 4, 15, 17, 21; 7:18, 20, 21, 25, 27; 23:29, 30(×2); Nu 5:6, 15:27, 30; 19:22; 31:19, 28; 35:11, 15, 30(×2); Jos 20:3, 9 (all P), Lv 17:10, 12, 15; 20:6(×2) 22:6, 11 (all H); נכרתה הנ׳ הַהִוא מן that person shall be cut off from: only in Gn 17:14; Ex 12:15, 19; 31:14; Lv 7:20, 21, 27; Nu 9:13; 15:30, 31; 19:13, 20 (all P), Lv 19:8; 22:3 (both H). †(3) נפשׁ coll. for persons, in enumerations: Dt 10:22; Jos 10:28, 30, 32, 35, 37(×2), 39; 11:11 (all D2) Je 43:6; 52:29, 30(×2); Ez 22:25; elsewhere only Gn 12:5; 46:15, 18, 22, 25, 26(×2), 27(×2); Ex 1:5(×2); 12:16; Nu 31:35, 40 (all P). †(4) נְפָשׁוֹת persons Gn 36:6 Ex 12:4; 16:16 Nu 19:18 (all P), Lv 18:29; 20:25; 27:2 (all H), 2 K 12:5; Pr 11:30; 14:25; Ez 13:18(×3); 19(×2); 20(×2); 17:17; 18:4; 22:27 (נפשׁים 13:20 v. supr.). †(5) נפשׁ = deceased person, sometimes c. מֵת, נֶפֶשׁ מֵת Nu 6:6 (P), נַפְשֹׁת מֵת (𝔊 𝔖 נֶפֶשׁ) Lv 21:11 (H); usually without מֵת, נפשׁ (ה)אדם Nu 9:6, 7; 19:11, 13 (P); or simply נפשׁ, Lv 19:28; 21:1; 22:4 (all H) Nu 5:2; 6:11; 9:10 (all P); elsewhere only Hag 2:13. e.g. Leviticus 24:17
- 5. נפשׁ = seat of the appetites, in all periods (46 times)—
- a. hunger: נ׳ רְעֵבָה hungry soul ψ 107:9; Pr 27:7; with noun or verb of שׂבע satisfy Is 56:11; 58:10; Je 50:19; Ez 7:19 ψ 63:6; 107:9; Pr 13:25; 27:7; מתוק לנ׳ Pr 16:24 sweet to the taste. e.g. Psalms 107:9
- b. thirst: נ׳ עֲיֵפָה weary soul Pr 25:25; Je 31:25; נ׳ כארץ עיפה ψ 143:6; צמאה נ׳ ψ 42:3; 63:2. e.g. Proverbs 25:25
- c. appetite in general: אֹיְבַי בנ׳ יַקִּיפוּ עָלָיו ψ 17:9 my enemies compass me about with greed; הִרְחִיבָה שְׁאוֹל נַפְשָׁהּ וּפָֽעֲרָה פִיהָ Is 5:14 Sheʾôl enlarged her appetite, etc., cf. Hb 2:5; Pr 23:2 בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ; Ec uses נפשׁ only in the sense of a, b, c; the נפשׁ craves, lacks, and is filled with good things: Ec 2:24; 4:8; 6:2, 3, 7, 9; 7:28. e.g. Psalms 17:9
- 6. נ׳ = seat of emotions and passions (151 times)—
- a. desire: †אִוְּתָה נ׳ soul desires Dt 12:20; 14:26 1 S 2:16 2 S 3:21; 1 K 11:37; Jb 23:13 Pr 13:4; 21:10; Mi 7:1; תַּאֲוַת נ׳ ψ 10:3; Is 26:8; †אַוַּת נ׳ Dt 12:15, 20, 21; 18:6 1 S 23:20; Je 2:24; so also לנפשׁ according to one’s desire Dt 21:14 ψ 78:18; Je 34:16; כנפשׁ Dt 23:25; האח נפשׁנו ah, our desire ψ 35:25; בנפשׁ at one’s desire ψ 105:22; Ez 16:27; נ׳ יָֽצְאָה בְדַבְּרוֹ Ct 5:6; †נשׂא נ׳ lift up the soul, desire Dt 24:15 2 S 14:14 (read אליהם, not אלהים), ψ 24:4; 25:1; 86:4; 143:8; Pr 19:8; Je 22:27; 44:14; Ho 4:8. e.g. Deuteronomy 12:20
- b. abhorrence, loathing: געלה נ׳ soul abhorreth Lv 26:11, 15, 30, 43 (H) Je 14:19; וגם נ׳ בחלה בי Zc 11:8 and their soul also fell a loathing against me. e.g. Leviticus 26:11
- c. sorrow and distress: †מרי נ׳ bitter, gloomy, discontented of soul Ju 18:25 (E) 2 S 17:8; Jb 3:20; Pr 31:6; †מר נ׳ 1 S 22:2 cf. Jb 7:11; 10:1; Is 38:15; Ez 27:31; עָֽגְמָה נ׳ Jb 30:25 grieved; אגמי נ׳ sad of soul Is 19:10; תבכה נ׳ my soul shall weep Je 13:17; נ׳ ירעה his soul trembleth Is 15:4; צרת נ׳ distress of soul Gn 42:21 (E). e.g. Judges 18:25
- d. joy: נ׳ תגיל my soul rejoiceth ψ 35:9; Is 61:10; שׂמּח נ׳ rejoice the soul ψ 86:4; also ψ 94:19; 138:3; Pr 29:17. e.g. Psalms 35:9
- e. love: אהבה נ׳ my soul loveth Ct 1:7; 3:1, 2, 3, 4; יְדִדוּת נ׳ darling of my soul Je 12:7; דבקה נ׳ ב׳ his soul clave unto Gn 34:3 (J), c. אחרי ψ 63:9; חשׁקה נ׳ ב׳ soul is attached to Gn 34:8 (P). e.g. Song of Solomon 1:7
- f. alienation, hatred, revenge: †תֵּקַע נ׳ מן the soul is alienated from Je 6:8; Ez 23:17, 18; נקעה נ׳ מן Ez 23:18, 22, 28; שְׂנֻאי נ׳ hated of soul 2 S 5:8 (Qr); שׂנאה נ׳ ψ 11:5 Is 1:14. e.g. Jeremiah 6:8
- g. other emotions and feelings: השׁיב נ׳ bring back soul La 1:11, 19 (i.e. revive, cf. c. שׁוּב 1 K 17:21 f.), hence fig. refresh, cheer, v 16 ψ 19:8 Pr 25:13; Ru 4:15; שׁובב נ׳ ψ 23:3; מַחְמַל נ׳ your souls’ compassion Ez 24:21; קצרה נ׳ soul was impatient Nu 21:4 (E), Ju 10:16; 16:16; Zc 11:8; כי אאריך נ׳ that I should prolong my patience Jb 6:11; ידעתם את־נ׳ הגר ye know the feeling of the stranger Ex 23:9 (RD). e.g. Lamentations 1:11
- 7. נפשׁ is used occasionally for mental acts + לבב (see 10); poss. also alone, owing to unconscious assimilation by late writers; but most, if not all, exx. may be otherwise explained: נפשׁי ידעת מאד ψ 139:14 my soul knoweth well (or I know well; cf. 4 a); בלא דעת נ׳ לא טוב Pr 19:2 that the soul be without knowledge is not good (but RVm desire without knowledge, cf. 6 a); דעה חכמה לנ׳ Pr 24:14 know wisdom for thy soul (or according to thy desire, cf. 6 a); אל תדמי בנ׳ Est 4:13 think not in thy soul (or in thyself, cf. 4 b); כמו שׁער בג׳ Pr 23:7 as he reckoneth in his soul (but RV in himself, cf. 4 b); מה תאמר נ׳ 1 S 20:4 (but AV RV foll. 𝔊 ἐπιθυμεῖ = תְּאַוֶּה; v. 6 a). e.g. Psalms 139:14
- 8. נפשׁ for acts of the will is dub.: אם ישׁ נפשׁכם (את) if it is your purpose Gn 23:8 (P) 2 K 9:15 (or if it is your desire, 6 a); בחרה נ׳ my soul chooseth Jb 7:15; מאנה נ׳ my soul refuseth Jb 6:7 ψ 77:3; נ׳ חפצה their soul delighteth in Is 66:3; נ׳ רצתה my soul delighteth in Is 42:1; (all perhaps emotional, 6 b, d, g). e.g. Genesis 23:8
- 9. נפשׁ = character is still more dub.: לֹא־יָֽשְׁרָה נ׳ בּוֹ Hb 2:4 his soul is not right in him (but 𝔊 οὐκ εὐδοκεῖ ἡ ψυχή μου ἐν αὐτῷ [εὐδοκεῖ = רצתה], v. 6); נַפְשִׁי לֹא מְטֻמָּאָה Ez 4:14 my soul hath not (or I have not, 4 a) been polluted. e.g. Habakkuk 2:4
- 10. נ׳ in D, when used with לבב, is assim. to it, and shares with it the meanings of 7, 8, 9; and so in later writers influenced by D (unless we may think that ל׳ is used of intellect, while נ׳ is used of the feelings): thus, בכל לבב ובכל נפשׁ (see לבב): c. דרשׁ Dt 4:29; 2 Ch 15:12; עשׂה Dt 26:16; אהב Dt 6:5; 13:4; 30:6; ידע Jos 23:14; עבד Dt 10:12; 11:13; Jos 22:5; שׁמע בקלו Dt 30:2; שׁוב אל Dt 30:10 1 K 8:48 = 2 Ch 6:38, 2 K 23:25; שׁמר מצות 2 K 23:3 = 2 Ch 34:31; הלך לפני 1 K 2:4; and Dt 11:18; 1 S 2:35 1 Ch 22:19; 28:9 Je 32:41 ψ 13:3 Pr 2:10; 24:12. e.g. Deuteronomy 4:29
- —In three cases is generally found closer approach to supposed radical meaning breath:—
- a. שׁמן וקטרת ישׂמח לב ומתק רעהו מעצת נפשׁ Pr 27:9. Ges (after Döderlein) renders מעצת נ׳ more than odorous trees, so later edds., even Buhl; but 𝔙 De SS transp. וּמֶתֶק נ׳ מֵעֲצַת רֵעֵהוּ. 𝔊 Hi Bi ומתקרעה = the soul is rent asunder by cares. In any case נפשׁ is ‖ לב, cf. 10. e.g. Proverbs 27:9
- b. נַפְשׁוֹ גֶּחָלִים תְּלַהֵט Jb 41:13 his breath kindleth coals (of the crocodile). The piece is one of the latest in the book; primitive meaning hardly in such a passage; context favours ref. to passion or fury; perhaps sub 6 f, his passion or fury kindleth coals. e.g. Job 41:13
- c. בָּתֵּי הַנֶּפֶשׁ Is 3:20 perfume boxes; meaning evident from context; but not necessarily scent (breath)-boxes; may be 6 a, boxes of desire, or 5, boxes exciting the sense of smell; = smelling boxes or bottles. No sufficient evid. in BH, therefore, for meaning breath, odour.—See, for complete study of נֶפֶשׁ (all passages), BrJBL 1897, 17 ff. e.g. Isaiah 3:20
Senses from the full Brown-Driver-Briggs lexicon (Brown, Driver, Briggs; Oxford 1906 — public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). Full attribution on Sources.
Word origin
n.f. Gn 49:6 (so even Gn 2:19 Nu 31:28 1 K 19:2 v. Albr ZAW xvi (1896), 42 SS) soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion (Ecclus 3:18; 4:1(×2), 2(×2) 13:12; 14:11);—נ׳ Gn 1:20 +; נָ֑פֶשׁ Gn 37:21 +; sf. נַפְשִׁי Gn 12:13 +; pl. נְפָשׁוֹת Ez 13:18 + 13 times; נְפָשֹׁת Ex 12:4; Lv 27:2; cstr. נַפְשׁוֹת Gn 36:6 + 4 times; נַפְשֹׁת Lv 21:11; נְפָשִׁים Ez 13:20 (but read חָפְשִׁים, v Co Berthol Toy); sf. נַפְשׁוֹתָם 2 S 23:17 +; נַפְשֹׁתָם Nu 17:3 +: —
— Brown-Driver-Briggs (Oxford 1906, public domain), digitized via Sefaria, supplemented by the OpenScriptures HebrewLexicon (CC BY 4.0). See Sources.
Derived from נפש (nâphash) (H5314) — to refresh.
Jastrow Dictionary
A second Hebrew/Aramaic lexicon for comparison, covering Aramaic and post-biblical (Talmudic, Targumic, Midrashic) usage that the biblical-Hebrew BDB does not. Matched by lemma rather than by Strong’s number, so a lemma may carry more than one Jastrow headword (shown separately below), and the entries cover usage well beyond the Bible.
נָפֵשׁ
- (נָפַשׁ, b. h. Nif.) breathing, resting.—Pl. נְפֵשִׁים, נְפֵשִׁין, נְפֵי׳. Tanḥ. Vaëra 6 (expl. ישעו, Ex. V, 9) אל יהיו משתעשעין כלומר אל יהיו נ׳ (not ואל יהון) let them not play, that is, let them not rest (on the Sabbath); Ex. R. s. 5. e.g. Exodus 5:9
נְפֵשׁ
- , v. נְפֵישׁ
נֶפֶשׁ
- preced. wds.)
- 1. resting place, esp. a structure next to or over a tomb. Ohol. VII, 1 נ׳ אטומה a solid tomb-structure (to which there is no access). Shek. II, 5 מותר המת בונין לו נ׳ וכ׳ from what is left over of the appropriation for funeral expenses, we build a monument &c.; (Gen. R. s. 82 בַּיִת). Tosef. Erub. VI (V), 4, sq.; Erub. 55ᵇ (contrad. to קבר).—Pl. נְפָשׁוֹת. Ib. V, 1 נ׳ sepulchres (containing a place of shelter). Y. Shek. II, 47ᵃ top; Gen. R. l. c. אין עושין נ׳ וכ׳ no monuments need be put up for the righteous, v. זִכָּרוֹן. Tosef. Ohol. XVII, 4 חוקת נ׳ שבא"י וכ׳ the presumption in the case of sepulchres in Palestine is that they are levitically clean, except those marked.
- 2. soul, life; person; will, desire, disposition. B. Mets. IV, 6 שאינו אלא נ׳ רעה for it (the refusal of a coin on the ground of a slight abrasion) proves merely a malevolent soul (illiberality in dealing); ib. 52ᵇ, v. קְהֵי. Gen. R. s. 14 (names of the soul) נ׳ רוח וכ׳. Ib. נ׳ זו הדם nefesh means blood (life). Ib. (ref. to Gen. II, 7, a. VII, 22) כאן הוא עושה נשמה נ׳ וכ׳ here the text calls the soul (נשמה) nefesh, and there, ruaḥ (spirit); ib. s. 32.—Snh. IV, 5 נ׳ אחת one (person’s) life. Y. Taan. III, beg. 66ᵇ מכיון שנתנו ב"ד נַפְשָׁן וכ׳ as soon as the court has declared its will to do a thing. Nidd. 65ᵇ, a. fr. בעל נ׳ one who is master over his desire, a conscientious man.—Ber. 44ᵇ כל נ׳ משיב את הנ׳ all life (animal food) restores life; וכל קרוב לנ׳ וכ׳ and what is nearest life (the neck which contains the jugular vein) &c.—Y. Keth. V, 30ᵇ top דברים שהן קיום נ׳ things required for sustaining life. Yoma 74ᵇ אבידת נ׳, v. אֲבֵירָה; a. v. fr.—דחה נ׳, v. דָּחָה.—Sifra M’tsorʿa, Zab., Par. 3, ch. VI ואם נַפְשְׁךָ לומר וכ׳ (= ואיבעית אימא, v. בְּעֵי) or if you prefer (another argument); Ḥull. 78ᵇ bot. Ib. מה ואם נפשך לומר why should you prefer another argument?, i.e. what objection can there be to the argument offered before?—(מ)מה נפשך, v. מָה.—Ḥull. IV, 7 (77ᵃ) נ׳ היפה one not fastidious.—B. Bath. 89ᵃ נ׳ מאזנים the opening in which the tongue of scales rests (agina).—Pl. as ab. דיני נ׳, v. דִּין II. Snh. l. c. עדי נ׳ witnesses in capital cases.—Yoma VIII, 6 ספק נ׳ the possibility of danger to human life; Sabb. 129ᵃ; a. fr. e.g. Genesis 2:7
נְפַשׁ
- 1. monument. Pesik. B’shall., p. 79ᵇ ועבדון ליה נ׳ וכ׳ and they erected a monument to him (the dog that saved their lives), and to this day they call it נ׳ דכלבא the dog’s monument. Y. Erub. V, 22ᵇ bot. נ׳ דסיריקין, v. סְרִיקִין; a. e.
- 2. soul, will &c. (v. preced.). Targ. Gen. I, 20. Ib. XXIII, 8; a. fr.—Cant. R. to II, 16, v. נְסַב. Sabb. 129ᵃ בשר נ׳ חלף נ׳ meat (is a necessary of life), life for life, v. preced.—נח נַפְשֵׁיה, v. נוּחַ ch. Pes. 68ᵇ נַפְשָׁאִי, v. חֲדֵי. Ib. אדעתא דנפשיה with the intention of benefiting himself. Sot. 16ᵇ, a. e. לא תפיק נַפְשָׁךְ, v. נְפַק; a. v. fr.—Pl. נַפְשָׁן, נַפְשָׁתָא. Targ. Jud. XVIII, 25 (ed. Lag. sing.). Targ. Gen. XIV, 21; a. fr.—[Targ. Y. Lev. XXVI, 15 נַפְשָׁתֵיכוֹן (sing.).]—Y. Ab. Zar. III, 42ᶜ, v. סְכן II.
A Dictionary of the Targumim, the Talmud Babli and Yerushalmi, and the Midrashic Literature (Marcus Jastrow; London, Luzac, 1903) — Public Domain. Digitized via Sefaria. Digitized via Sefaria. Full attribution on Sources.
Forms in the corpus
The 228 distinct written forms H5315 takes in the Hebrew Bible, most frequent first — each parse links to that state’s occurrences in the concordance. Hebrew forms include their vowel points and cantillation, so a single lemma takes many written forms.
The 60 most common forms are shown; 168 rarer forms follow in the full concordance.
Same root — word family
Other BDB entries built from the same root as H5315, grouped by Strong’s listed origin. These share a root / origin per the lexicon — not necessarily a shared meaning. Each links to that word’s own entry.
Derives from
Proper names from this root
People and places named from this root — a name, not an additional meaning of the word.
Compare all same-root words → 1 of the same-root words is a proper name (a person or place). They share a root, not necessarily a meaning.
Septuagint verse parallels
This word appears in 615 verses that also exist in the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint), out of the 683 Hebrew verses it occurs in. You can read those verses in Greek by switching the Old Testament edition to the Septuagint.
Read these verses in the Septuagint
- Genesis 1:20
- Exodus 1:5
- Leviticus 2:1
- Numbers 5:2
- Deuteronomy 4:9
- Joshua 2:13
- Judges 5:18
- Ruth 4:15
- 1 Samuel 1:10
- 2 Samuel 1:9
- 1 Kings 1:12
- 2 Kings 1:13
This is a verse-level parallel only — the same verses exist in both the Hebrew and Greek Old Testaments. No word-level Hebrew↔Greek correspondence is claimed: the data carries no such alignment, so no Greek word is shown as this Hebrew word’s translation. Coverage is not total — the Septuagint omits the deuterocanon and renumbers the Psalms, so some Hebrew verses have no direct Greek parallel.
