The Dividing Line of Soul and Spirit

The Dividing Line of Soul and Spirit…

Hebrews 4:12 says the Word of God pierces even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit. The Amplified translates this as “penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit."

What does this mean—the dividing line of soul and spirit?

The word translated “soul” is psyche. BlueLetterBible.org (a great study tool) shows this word is used in the Bible as follows:

Strong’s Concordance defines the word as “breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentiment principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from … the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from … mere vitality, even of plants.” 

This word, Strong’s notes, exactly corresponds to the Hebrew word nephesh, which is used in Scripture to mean “soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion … the inner being of a man … seat of appetites … seat of emotions and passions, activity of mind … activity of the will.”  This word means bodily or mental appetites—our emotions, our mental reasoning.

Meanwhile, the word translated “spirit” is pneuma, and this is the same word used to denote the Holy Spirit as well as the spirit in man. Its biblical usage is as follows:

And Strong’s Concordance defines the word as “current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:—ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.”

The word pneuma is from the word pneo, which means “to breathe hard, i.e. breeze:—blow”

As you can see, it can be difficult in our rational minds (soul) to distinguish between soul and spirit. Both the soul (psyche) and spirit (pneuma) are eternal—unlike our physical bodies which decay and return to dust. But the soul and spirit are not the same. 1 Thessalonians 5:23, for example, notes the distinction (emphasis added): “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In his study guide on Hebrews 4, Pastor David Guzik puts it this way:

Certainly, there is some distinction between soul and spirit. "The New Testament use of pneuma for the human spirit focuses on the spiritual aspect of man, i.e. his life in relation to God, whereas psycherefers to man's life irrespective of his spiritual experience, i.e. his life in relation to himself, his emotions and thought. There is a strong antithesis between the two in the theology of Paul." (Guthrie)

But the stress of this passage isn't to spell out a theology of the difference between soul and spirit….  

However, it is important to understand what the Bible means when it speaks of and makes a distinction with soul and spirit. The Bible tells us that people have an "inner" and an "outer" nature (Genesis 2:7, 2 Corinthians 4:16). The inner man is described by both the terms spirit (Acts 7:59, Matthew 26:41, John 4:23-24) and soul (1 Peter 2:11, Hebrews 6:19, Hebrews 10:39). These two terms are often used synonymously, but not always. We can say that soul seems to focus more on individuality and life (often being defined as the mind, the will, and the emotions). The spirit seems to focus more on supernatural power and life in an individual….  

Because the soul and spirit both have reference to the "inner man," they are easily confused. Often an experience which only "blesses" the soul is supposed to be something which builds up the spirit. There is nothing wrong with "soulish" excitement and blessing, but there is nothing in it that builds us up spiritually. That is why many Christians go from one exciting experience to another but never really grow spiritually - the ministry they receive is "soulish." This is why the Word of God is so powerful and precise; it can pierce even to the division of soul and spirit, which isn't easy to do.

Here’s the amazing truth Hebrews 4:12 conveys: The Word of God cuts deep and exposes and distinguishes a diving line between soul and spirit—even when we in our rational minds are unable to do so.

This is why it is so critical that we follow the Word over our own understanding, reasoning, emotions, and even our own wills.