Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Rolf Furuli <furuli AT online.no>]

Andrew Smith wrote:

>Dear B-Hebrew People:
>
>I found the following on a web site. I have not heard of "neshama"
>before. Does this word occur in the Tanakh? If so, where?
>
>>>A soul is like a chain with one end linked into the brain and the other
>
>>>to a certain spiritual source. There are five levels of
>>>the soul like the five links in a chain, each one parallel to the
>>>spiritual sphere where it exists. However, we only relate to
>>>the three bottom links as we have no understanding about the two top
>>>ones. The three are 1) Nefesh 2) Ruach 3)
>>>Neshama. The nefesh is the spiritual existence which resides in the
>body
>>>and keeps the physical metabolism working
>>>and the person alive. The ruach is a connection between the neshama and
>
>>>the nefesh. It is the cause of feelings and
>>>personal qualities. The neshama is the spiritual existence which pulls
>>>the man towards G-d, to the performance of good
>>>deeds, to be pious and humble and to seek knowledge and achievement in
>>>spiritual fields. It resides around the head.
>>>When a person dies, it takes seven days before the parts of the soul
>>>understand that it's all over and leave the body. Until
>>>then they hover around the grave and travel to and fro between the
>grave
>>>and the house of the deceased, waiting for the
>>>body to start functioning again. The nefesh does not completely leave
>>>until the body is decomposed.


Dear Andrew,

The word NE:$FMF occurs 24 times, first time in Genesis 2:7. God blew it
into Adam's nostrils, so it is no more mystic than the breath. According to
Gen 7:22 both animals and men have  NE:$FMF. Animals and men also have the
same RUA:X according to Qohelet 3:19.

Regards
Rolf

Rolf Furuli
Lecturer in Semitic Languages
University of Oslo