When does a human actually receive a soul?

Question

In Judaism it is believed that a human receives a soul when it takes its first breath of air upon being born.

Actually, the hebrew word for soul actually means breath. Taking air into the lungs. Not having a soul means you are dead since you are not breathing. Being alive means you are breathing and taking in air.

Soul - Nephesh

Remember, ancient Hebrews did not convey abstract concepts in their language. So their idea of having a soul was the physical act of breathing and being alive.

Certainly a much simplier way of thinking of things.

What do you think? How relevant is this idea today?

Is an immortal soul then when that breathes forever, as the ancients understood it?

Answer 1

I am so going to get slammed for this...

You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body, temporarily.

Answer 2

There are two primary views on how the soul / spirit is created. (1) Traducianism is the theory that a soul is generated by the physical parents along with the body. Support for Traducianism is as follows: (A) In Genesis 2:7 God breathed the breath of life into Adam, something which did not happen again. (B) Adam had a son in his own likeness (Genesis 5:3). (C) God did no further creating (Genesis 2:2-3). (D) Adam's sin affects all men -- both physically and spiritually -- this makes sense if the body and soul / spirit come from the parents.

(2) Creationism is the view that God creates a new soul / spirit when a human being is conceived. Creationism was held by many church fathers and also has Scriptural support. First, Scripture differentiates the origin of the soul from the origin of the body (Ecclesiastes 12:7, Isaiah 42:5, Zechariah 12:1, Hebrews 12:9). Second, if God creates each individual soul at the moment it is needed, the separation of soul and body is held firm. The ultimate answer to the question is that the soul / spirit does not exist before it inhabits the body. Whether the Traducianist view is correct or the Creationist view is correct, both agree that the soul does not exist prior to conception.

Recommended Resource: In His Image by Brand & Yancey.

Answer 3

This is an interesting one. You make a good point about the first breath not being until one is born. That is a fact. But it is not true that ancient Hebrews did not convey abstract concepts in their language. There are many examples in Genesis alone. Sons of God of just one. There are lots of references that are clearly to abstracts or unseen things. In fact, many of the words can mean either a physical things or if not that, then it means a concept instead.

Answer 4

You know, I've never thought of this before. Maybe at conception? But if humans receive a soul at the moment of conception (and I'm not saying they do or don't), what does that say about abortion?

I think the Jewish idea is much simpler and I like it. After all, God breathed life into Adam. So maybe breathing is the secret route of a soul.

Answer 5

~~~ Emperor ,,,, You are correct,,,, partially. Only a portion of the Soul Stuff enters the flesh at First Breath, ie "Breath of Life". As can be found in most cultures, both Primitive and Civilized, there are Rites of Passage to acquire Adulthood. These correspond directly to Astrological Transits and the Age of the Individual. "The Age of Accountability" (age 5-8yo),,,, or "Puberty"(age 12-15) for example. Hormones go raging because more Soul Stuff is entering into the body for preparation into Adulthood, both Physically and Spiritually. This is an Oversimplification of course. ~~ Namaste`

Answer 6

Sounds good, but I prefer to think that the immortal soul is infused immediately after the meiotic dance is completed and the cell has split, with the polar body headed off to oblivion. That's the moment when the cell begins to be a human being with the complete genetic package so that the only measurable difference between that cell and a fully grown adult is in the number of cells. I believe at that point you have a brand new human being and God recognizes that by giving it a soul.

Answer 7

I think that's a very rational way to consider it. Of course, we are postulating that there is such a thing as a human soul, which I'm not sure about at this stage. I guess it depends on how you define soul. I guess I do believe in it, because I think some people are born without one, just as some are born with other birth defects. But really, this is all speculation to me: I have no beliefs on the matter.

Answer 8

There is an alternative belief that the spirit enters the body at the time of "quickening" ie when the body starts moving. Some believe that the spirit comes and goes during pregnancy 'test driving' the body and getting used to it. The key is that we don't know when a zygote becomes a person and errors should be on the side of safety.

Answer 9

Conception, a baby gets breath (taking in air) in its blood in the womb.

This is a trick of the devil, that is very relevant to today's abortion issue.

Psalm 22:10 From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.

Answer 10

There is never, nor will there ever be, a time when you are not a soul. We are Eternal. We are of The Creator Spirit and we can never be lost. We are Spirits having a Human experience.

Answer 11

Good question.

But I believe the soul enters the body upon conception.