ψυχή
“breath, breath of life, life, the vital principle”
Primary meaning: breath, breath of life, life, the vital principle, the soul. Strong's: breath, i.e. (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from G4151 (πνεῦμα), which is the rational and immortal soul; and on the other from G2222 (ζωή), which is mere vitality, even of plants: these terms thus exactly correspond respectively to the Hebrew H05315, H07307 and H02416). Lexical nuances: breath (Lat. anima ), breath of life, life (Hom., al.; in Arist., of the vital principle ): Mt 6:25 , Mk 3:4 10:45 , Lk 12:22 , Jo 10:11 , Ac 20:10 , 24 , II Co 1:23 , Phl 2:30 , I Th 2:8 , al. the soul , as the seat of the will, desires and affections: Mt 26:38 , Mk 12:30 (LXX) 14:34 , Lk 1:46 , Jo 10:24 , Ac 14:2 , Phl 1:27 , al.; ἐκ ψυχῆς , from the heart , heartily : Eph 6:6 , Col 3:23 ; as...
Lexical & Etymological Analysis
Root & Derivation
from G5594 (ψύχω);
Traditional English Renderings (KJV/AV)
Septuagint (LXX) & New Testament Conceptual Bridges
Cross-Testament BridgeHow this lemma bridges Old Testament Hebrew and New Testament Koine Greek through the Septuagint (LXX) translation tradition.
LXX conceptual translation: נֶפֶשׁ (soul, life, living being, person) -> ψυχή (breath, breath of life, life, the vital principle)
LXX conceptual translation: H3842 -> ψυχή (breath, breath of life, life, the vital principle)
Key Biblical Occurrences (8)
Foundational passages where ψυχή (psyche) carries significant theological or narrative weight.