Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Dgahler782 AT aol.com]

To Dr.Joe Sprinkle: Thx for more on NEFESH. Question: In Gen.2:7 God breathes 
NISHMAT CHAYIM into Adam and only then does he become a NEFESH CHAYAH. An 
animal  clearly is a NEFESH CHAYAH without a NESHAMAH. Does this mean that 
without the NESHAMAH, Adam, the human being, would have remained an inanimate 
NEFESH, i.e. that for humans the NESHAMAH is a prerequisite for being alive?  
Could 
you also give the etymology of NESHAMAH?  Thank you.
Doris