Soul is a fundamental concept in the Bible, deeply intertwined with our understanding of human nature and existence. Numerous Bible verses speak about the soul, highlighting its importance and the role it plays in the religious faith and the personal journeys of believers. These verses explore not only the nature and importance of the soul but also its relationship with God, providing guidance on how to nourish and care for one’s soul.
What the Bible Teaches about the Soul
In the Bible, words used to describe the soul often denote aspects such as mind, life, self, person, or heart. The Bible advises that the soul requires spiritual sustenance and nurturing, quite similar to how our bodies necessitate physical nourishment. The Bible characterizes the soul as intimately connected with the individual’s life source, which implies that our behaviour, choices, and overall lifestyle significantly influence the state of our souls. Thus, the soul’s well-being is paramount, and believers are encouraged to take practical steps such as prayer, worship, and engagement in the word of God to foster their soul’s health.
Why the Soul is Valued in the Bible
The Bible places a high value on the soul. In biblical perspectives, the soul symbolizes our innermost being, the very essence of who we are as individuals. It embodies our emotions, desires, and spiritual state. A person’s soul is considered their most valuable possession – a divine endowment that makes us inherently valuable in God’s sight. Moreover, the Bible teaches that God’s ultimate concern is with our souls, meaning we should take great care to nurture and protect them.
Who Nourishes the Soul in the Bible
The Bible emphasizes that God is the true nurturer and protector of our souls. God’s unfailing love and grace are seen as sufficient sustenance for our souls, providing peace, joy, and life unlike any human effort can. Moreover, God’s commands and teachings operate as guidelines to lead believers to a state of soul-filled satisfaction and peace. The faithfulness of God in looking after our souls suggests an intensely personal relationship between God and the individual believer.
When the Bible Shows the Soul’s Significance
The importance of the soul is consistently emphasized throughout the Bible. The Bible presents the soul as indispensable during life’s trials and tribulations, offering solace and providing a greater perspective. The soul’s significance is also acknowledged in discussions about life after death. The Bible communicates that the soul survives physical death, progressing to either an eternity with God or separation from God. Consequently, the health and state of the soul not only impact our earthly lives but also our eternal destiny, as suggested by the Bible.
Where the Soul Finds Rest in the Bible
The Bible illustrates that the soul finds rest in God, a profound sense of peace found through having faith and trusting in Him. God is portrayed as a sanctuary for the weary soul, with His love and promises igniting hope and triggering a profound inner peace irrespective of external conditions. The Bible also underscores the essence of individually understanding and accepting God’s grace as paramount for the soul’s tranquility. Therefore, a believer cultivates a calm and restful soul by entrusting their worries and cares to God.
Below is our full list of bible verses on soul (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Soul
Genesis 2:7
“7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Related Themes: Life Creativity Earth Creation Afterlife
Ecclesiastes 12:7
“7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
Deuteronomy 6:5
“5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”
Ezekiel 18:4
“4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Related Themes: Hell
Matthew 16:26
“26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Related Themes: Life Lust Success Peer Pressure Vanity
Matthew 10:28
“28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Psalm 23:3
“3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Related Themes: Restoration Direction Refreshing Righteousness
Acts 2:27
“27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
Related Themes: Hell Corruption
Psalm 43:5
“5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”
Related Themes: Hope Health Loneliness Anxiety And Depression Hopelessness
Ezekiel 18:20
“20 The soul that sinneth, it 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 upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”
Related Themes: Social Justice Hell Personal Responsibility Responsibility Accountability
1 Corinthians 15:51-55
“51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
Related Themes: Change Afterlife Death Afterlife Glorification
Mark 8:36
“36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
Psalm 11:5
“5 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.”
John 6:40
“40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Related Themes: Resurrection Perseverance
1 John 4:18-19
“18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.19 We love him, because he first loved us.”
Related Themes: Love Fear New Beginnings Trust Self Confidence
Romans 6:23
“23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Related Themes: Life Hell Repentance Sin Omnipotence
2 Timothy 1:7
“7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Related Themes: Fear Self Confidence Business Bullying Self-Control
Genesis 2:17
“17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”
2 Corinthians 5:7
“7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
John 3:16-17
“16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
Related Themes: Trespassing Life Love Money Omnipotence
Revelation 21:8
“8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Related Themes: Hell Abomination Telling The Truth Frustration Adultery
Revelation 20:6
“6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
Related Themes: Afterlife Hell Hope Armageddon
Hebrews 4:11-13
“11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Related Themes: Rest Omnipotence
Psalm 23:2-4
“2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Hebrews 11:6
“6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
Related Themes: Faith Pleasing God Greatness Healing Life
Romans 12:1-2
“1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Jeremiah 39:17-18
“17 But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.”
Psalm 16:10
“10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
Related Themes: Hell Suffering Resurrection Corruption Restoration
Psalm 94:19
“19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.”
Related Themes: Nervousness Joy Letting Go Anxiety And Depression Hope
Psalm 115:3-9
“3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.9 O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.”
Related Themes: Sovereignty Omnipotence
