Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Liz Fried" <lizfried AT umich.edu>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org
> [mailto:b-hebrew-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of Deborah Millier
> Sent: Saturday, August 23, 2003 8:36 AM
> To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
> Subject: [b-hebrew] Re: Nefesh mot
> 
> 
> J. Sprinkle wrote:
> 
> > for he does not possess 
> > a NEPHESH, but he is a 
> > NEPHESH....  NEPHESH in 
> > OT does not often (I'm 
> > tempted to say never) 
> > mean "soul" as opposed 
> > to body.
> 
> This may be true in Gen. 2:7.  But I think we're
> approaching the idea in Gen. 35:18:
> 
> VAY'HI B'TZET NAFSHAH...
> 
> "So it was as her life departed..."
> 
> This account seems to objectify Rachel's NEPHESH from
> some other essential part of her being, ...perhaps her
> body.  But then her body is still her.  And her
> NEPHESH something else.  See what I mean?  I'm not
> saying that the doctrine of the *immortal soul* is
> taught here in Genesis, but that NEPHESH is an
> immaterial part of the human creature, ...I think
> we're at least given a hint in this passage.
> 
> B'RAKHOT,
> -- Michael Millier
> 
Dear Michael,
The nephesh is in the blood.
Liz Fried