A common theme uniting the world’s religions is the basic distinction between two realms: earthly/heavenly, human/divine, body/soul .The soul, the animating force which makes humans alive, is one of the most interesting words in the Hebrew language: “neshama” (נשמה). This word contains a fascinating secret. “Neshama” is derived from the verb “nasham” (נשם) which means “to breathe.” What is the justification for this connection? Is it because our soul allows us to breathe? No.
The connection is found in the story of the creation of Adam: “Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” (Gen 2:7). Our soul is called a “neshama” because God breathes life (“nasham”) into us at the time of birth. This divine breath is the spark that elevated us from the purely physical to the conscious, spiritual human beings that we are.
The time has come to return to the foundations of language by learning Hebrew. When you know Hebrew, you have the ultimate tool to breathe life back into your study of Scripture. You will be astonished at how understanding Hebrew words will help you become a better reader of the Bible. Enroll today in our Biblical Hebrew course and elevate your spirit!
