1. Introduction
The Hebrew usages of Hb “nepesh” and Hb “ruakh” are nuanced but important for understanding the OT and NT ideas on a person or living thing. The OT usage of Hb “nepesh” and Hb “ruakh” will be tracked. Then, a short survey will be presented of the translation by LXX into Gr “psyche” and Gr “pneuma.” Finally, the usage of Gr “psyche” and Gr “pneuma” in the NT will be examined.
2. Lexical and Linguistic Background
The term Hb “nepesh” is defined by Strongs as a “breathing creature.” Gesenius further notes this term means breath, soul, or mind, and corresponds to Gr “psyche.” The Hb “nepesh” is used 757 times in the WLC Hebrew OT. The term Hb “ruakh” is defined by BDB Lexicon as “breath, wind, spirit.” According to Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon, Hb “ruakh” is interchangeable with Hb “nepesh” when contextually meaning animal or breath. The term Hb “ruakh” is used 378 times in the WLC Hebrew OT.
3. Hb “nepesh” and Hb “ruakh” in the Bible
The terms Hb “nepesh” and Hb “ruakh,” though sometimes interchangeable, are used in different contexts throughout the Hb OT. The term Hb “nepesh” is used first in Genesis 1:20, “…Let the waters abound with an abundance of living [Hb “nepesh”] creatures…” Then again in Genesis 12:5, “…and the people [Hb “nepesh”] whom they had acquired in Haran…” And finally in Genesis 17:14, “…that person [Hb “nepesh”] shall be cut off from his people…” The majority of usage is outside of Genesis, but these examples help to illustrate the usage.
The term Hb “ruakh” is used first in Genesis 1:2, “…And the Spirit [Hb “ruakh”] of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” This term is used frequently paired with God, denoting the “Spirit of God.” The Hb “ruakh” is also used in Genesis 7:22, “All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit [Hb “ruakh”] of life.” Finally, Genesis 3:8 notes, “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool [lit. “wind,” Hb “ruakh”] of the day…” While the majority of verses lie outside of Genesis, these help to illustrate the usage of Hb “ruakh” throughout the Hb OT.
4. Transitional Developments in later literature (2 paragraphs)
The terms Hb “nepesh” and Hb “ruakh” are translated into the LXX often as the common terms, Gr “psyche” and Gr “pneuma,” respectively. The Gr “psyche” is used 732 times in LXX Greek OT, and the Gr “pneuma” is used 287 times in LXX Greek OT. In the above examples, the terms Hb “nepesh” and hb “ruakh” are translated as follows:
Genesis 1:20: Hb “nepesh” to Gr “psyche;” Genesis 12:5: Hb “nepesh” to Gr “psyche;” Genesis 17:14: Hb “nepesh” to Gr “psyche;” Genesis 1:2: Hb “ruakh” to Gr “pneuma;” Genesis 7:22: Hb “ruakh” to Gr “pnoe;” Genesis 3:8: Hb “ruakh” to Gr “deilinon.”
In the NT, the terms Gr “psyche” and Gr “pneuma” are used 105 and 385 times in the TR Greek NT, respectively. This clearly reflects a theological difference from the LXX Greek OT usage of the terms, flipping the term frequency. OT usages of Gr “psyche” and Gr “pneuma” are 732 and 287, respectively, while in the NT they are 105 and 385, respectively. The LXX Greek OT has clear favoring for Gr “psyche,” possibly reflecting the Hellenized culture, while the TR Greek NT usage favors Gr “pneuma,” likely due to the specific calling back of “Spirit of God,” as previously mentioned.
5. Synthesis And Conclusion
Overall, these terms demonstrate a fascinating shift from OT to NT in the usage of terms. This is to be expected as a part of progressive theology, where God continues to reveal new things about Himself as Scripture was revealed. In the OT, the term “Spirit of God” was used few and far between. However, with Pentecost as a defining moment for the NT church, the new term, “Holy Spirit,” dominated the choice between Gr “psyche” and Gr “pneuma.”
