What does the Bible say about soul?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that the soul is the whole living person before God, created by him, accountable to him, and of greater worth than all earthly gain. Genesis 2:7 portrays human life as God’s gift, while Ecclesiastes 12:7 reminds us that at death the spirit returns to God who gave it. Ezekiel 18:4, 20 stresses personal responsibility for sin, yet Christ warns that the greatest danger is not bodily death but God’s judgment of the soul (Matthew 10:28). Therefore we must love the Lord with all our soul (Deuteronomy 6:5), seek him above the world (Matthew 16:26), and rest in the Shepherd who restores his people (Psalms 23:3).
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Ezekiel 18:4
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins, he shall die.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, And the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- Genesis 2:7
Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
- Deuteronomy 6:5
and you shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.
- Matthew 10:28
Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
- Matthew 16:26
For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
- Psalms 23:3
He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
- Ezekiel 18:20
The soul who sins, he shall die: the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be on him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be on him.
- Mark 8:36
For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
- Acts 2:27
Because you will not leave my soul in Hades, Neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- See SPIRIT
- See IMMORTALITY
- See MAN, A SPIRIT
- See RIGHTEOUS, FUTURE STATE OF
- See WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF
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