To add נַפְשׁ֔וֹ (nephesh), translated his soul (Tanakh, KJV) or his life (NET note 28), to my consideration I must include the next clause as well.
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| Isaiah 53:10bc (Tanakh) Table | Isaiah 53:10bc (NET) | Isaiah 53:10bc (NETS) |
Isaiah 53:10bc (Elpenor English) |
| when thou shalt make his soul (נַפְשׁ֔וֹ) an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, | once restitution is made [NET note 28: if you/she makes, a reparation offering, his life (nephesh, נפשו)], he will see descendants and enjoy long life, | If you offer for sin, you (ψυχὴ ὑμῶν) shall see a long-lived offspring. | If ye can give an offering for sin, your soul (ψυχὴ ὑμῶν) shall see a long-lived seed: |
The rabbis’ choice of the Greek word ψυχὴ in the Septuagint supports the originality of some form of נַפְשׁ֔וֹ (nephesh) here. But ὑμῶν (a form of ὑμεῖς) translates as your soul rather than his soul or his life. And in English translation ψυχὴ ὑμῶν (your soul) is the subject of the next clause rather than the direct object of the previous one. If the rabbis had understood נַפְשׁ֔וֹ (nephesh) as a direct object one would have expected ψυχήν in the accusative case in Greek.
I only brought up the English translation of the Septuagint because the very next word ὄψεται is a 3rd person singular form of ὁράω, and not the 2nd person plural form ὄψεσθε one would expect. In other words ὄψεται is in complete agreement with the English translations—he shall see (Tanakh, KJV), he will see (NET)—of the very next word in the Masoretic text יִרְאֶ֥ה (ra’ah). The English translations of the Septuagint do not reveal this disagreement between subject—your soul—and predicate—[he, she, it] shall see.
I made a table below of those occurrences of נֶפֶשׁ (nephesh) in Genesis through Deuteronomy plus Isaiah which were translated from the Masoretic text with a personal pronoun into English. My method was haphazard enough at times that I hesitate to claim that this list is exhaustive even in the limited scope mentioned above. It is representative. A subset of that table follows, including only those occurrences translated with the 3rd person singular pronoun in the Tanakh or NET (found often only in the notes of the NET).
| Reference | Chabad.org | Tanakh | NET | Septuagint BLB | Septuagint Elpenor |
| Isaiah 53:10 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his life [note 28] | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
| Genesis 34:3 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his soul [note 5] | ψυχῇ Δινας | ψυχῇ Δείνας |
| Genesis 34:8 | נַפְשׁוֹ֙ | The soul | his soul [note 19] | ψυχῇ | ψυχῇ |
| Genesis 35:18 | נַפְשָׁהּ֙ | her soul | her life [note 37] | ψυχήν | ψυχήν[1] |
| Genesis 37:21 | נָֽפֶשׁ | his life | his life | ψυχήν | ψυχήν[2] |
| Genesis 42:21 | נַפְשׁ֛וֹ | his soul | his soul [note 45] | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Genesis 44:30 | וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ | his soul | his very life | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ |
| בְנַפְשֽׁוֹ | the lad’s soul | his son’s life | τῆς τούτου ψυχῆς | τῆς τούτου ψυχῆς | |
| Exodus 21:30 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his life | his life | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Exodus 30:12 | נַפְשׁ֛וֹ | his soul | his life | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Numbers 30:2 (30:3) | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | himself | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Numbers 30:4 (30:5) | נַפְשָׁ֔הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | |
| Numbers 30:5 (30:6) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:6 (30:7) | נַפְשָֽׁהּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:7 (30:8) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:8 (30:9) | נַפְשָׁ֑הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:9 (30:10) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:10 (30:11) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:11 (30:12) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:12 (30:13) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | n/a | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Deuteronomy 18:6 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his soul [note 9][3] | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 5:14 | נַפְשָׁ֔הּ | herself | its throat | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 15:4 | נַפְשׁ֖וֹ | his life | his inner being [note 7] | ψυχὴ αὐτῆς | ψυχὴ αὐτῆς |
| Isaiah 29:8 | נַפְשׁוֹ֒ | his soul | his stomach | n/a | n/a |
| וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ | his soul | his thirst | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | |
| Isaiah 44:20 | נַפְשׁוֹ֙ | his soul | himself | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 53:11 | נַפְשׁוֹ֙ | his soul | n/a | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 53:12 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his life [note 36] | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 58:5 | נַפְשׁ֑וֹ | his soul | Himself [note 10] | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ |
In general נפשו was translated his soul/life and נפשה her soul/life. I’ll consider the exceptions below.
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| Genesis 34:3 (Tanakh) | Genesis 34:3 (NET) | Genesis 34:3 (NETS) |
Genesis 34:3 (Elpenor English) |
| And his soul (נַפְשׁ֔וֹ) did cleave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spoke comfortingly unto the damsel. | Then he (nephesh, נפשו) became very attached to Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. | And he attended to the person (ψυχῇ) of Dina (Δινας) the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the maiden and spoke with her according to the maiden’s mind. | And he was attached to the soul (ψυχῇ) of Dina (Δείνας) the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and he spoke kindly to the damsel. |
The rabbis who translated the Septuagint understood נַפְשׁ֔וֹ (nephesh) here as Dinah’s soul (BLB: ψυχῇ Δινας; Elpenor: ψυχῇ Δείνας) rather than Shechem’s soul.
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| Genesis 34:8 (Tanakh) | Genesis 34:8 (NET) | Genesis 34:8 (NETS) |
Genesis 34:8 (Elpenor English) |
| And Hamor spoke with them, saying ‘The soul (נַפְשׁוֹ֙) of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter. I pray you give her unto him to wife. | But Hamor made this appeal to them: “My son Shechem is in love with your daughter [NET note 19: Shechem my son, his soul (nephesh, נפשו) is attached to your daughter]. Please give her to him as his wife. | And Hennor spoke with them, saying, “My son Sychem has selected your daughter with his soul (ψυχῇ); give her to him as a wife. | And Emmor spoke to them, saying, Sychem my son has chosen in his heart (ψυχῇ) your daughter; give her therefore to him for a wife, |
Did the Masoretes change נפשה to נפשו in verse 3 to conform to Hamor’s statement about his son’s soul in verse 8? Or did the rabbis who translated the Septuagint make a theological judgment call here? It is one thing for Hamor to say that the soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter, and quite another for the Holy Spirit (in the narrative portion of the text) to confirm that his soul did cleave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob after he had raped her. Frankly, I don’t know. I try to keep both possibilities in mind. The NETS translation—“and spoke with her according to the maiden’s mind”—appears to be a more accurate translation of the Greek—καὶ ἐλάλησε(ν) κατὰ τὴν διάνοιαν τῆς παρθένου αὐτῇ—than the English Elpenor—and he spoke kindly to the damsel.
There is a similar issue in Isaiah.
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| Isaiah 15:4 (Tanakh) | Isaiah 15:4 (NET) | Isaiah 15:4 (NETS) |
Isaiah 15:4 (Elpenor English) |
| And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life (נַפְשׁ֖וֹ) shall be grievous unto him. | The people of Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far away as Jahaz. For this reason Moab’s soldiers shout in distress; their courage wavers [NET note 7: his inner being (nephesh, נפשו) quivers for him]. | Because Hesebon and Eleale have cried out, her voice is heard as far as Iassa; therefore the loins of Moabitis cry aloud; her (αὐτῆς) soul (ψυχὴ) will know. | For Esebon and Eleale have cried: their voice was heard to Jassa: therefore the loins of the region of Moab cry aloud; her (αὐτῆς) soul (ψυχὴ) shall know. |
So again, did the Masoretes change נפשה to נפשו to fit better with the armed soldiers of Moab? Or did the rabbis translate נפשו ψυχὴ αὐτῆς because they interpreted this as a reference to all in Moab?[4] Again, I don’t know how to tell in isolation like this, but now I have two occurrences where the rabbis who translated the Septuagint may have translated נפשו with feminine associations. Given the limited scope of my investigation that could be telling.
Here is the opposite issue.
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| Isaiah 5:14 (Tanakh) | Isaiah 5:14 (NET) | Isaiah 5:14 (NETS) |
Isaiah 5:14 (Elpenor English) |
| Therefore hell hath enlarged herself (נַפְשָׁ֔הּ), and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. | So Death will open up its throat (nephesh, נפשה), and open wide its mouth; Zion’s dignitaries and masses will descend into it, including those who revel and celebrate within her. | And Hades has enlarged its (αὐτοῦ) appetite (ψυχὴν) and opened its mouth without ceasing; and her glorious ones and her great and her rich and her pestilent shall go down. | Therefore hell has enlarged its (αὐτοῦ) desire (ψυχὴν) and opened its mouth without ceasing: and her glorious and great, and her rich and her pestilent men shall go down [into it]. |
Here it seems all too obvious that the rabbis who translated the Septuagint changed the pronoun to αὐτοῦ (a masculine/neuter form of αὐτός) because ᾅδης (NETS: Hades; English Elpenor: hell) is masculine in Greek. I think the English translation its (though a legitimate rendering of αὐτοῦ) stems from a more modern sensibility which denies hell, death or Hades a masculine or feminine soul/life. That English translation may or may not reflect what the rabbis had in mind, not to mention the Holy Spirit.
The main issue in Isaiah 53:10, however, is not the gender of the 3rd person pronoun employed to translate נפשו (nephesh). Rather, in the Septuagint נפשו (nephesh) was translated with a 2nd person plural pronoun. So I made another table below that listed the 2nd person occurrences from my original limited set. Again, it is probably representative rather than exhaustive. To my eye נפשך seemed most similar to נפשו.
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| Genesis 27:31 (Tanakh) | Genesis 27:31 (NET) | Genesis 27:31 (NETS) |
Genesis 27:31 (Elpenor English) |
| And he also made savoury food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father: ‘Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul (נַפְשֶֽׁךָ) may bless me.’ | He also prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Esau said to him, “My father, get up and eat some of your son’s wild game. Then you can bless me [NET note 61: so that your soul (nephesh, נפשך) may bless me].” | And he too prepared victuals and presented them to his father and said to his father, “Let my father rise and eat of his son’s game, so that your (σου) soul (ψυχή) may bless me.” | And he also had made meats and brought them to his father; and he said to his father, Let my father arise and eat of his son’s venison, that thy (σου) soul (ψυχή) may bless me. |
The Hebrew word נפשך (nephesh), however, was never translated ψυχὴ ὑμῶν in the tables I’d created. So I worked backwards, found that נפשכם was translated ψυχὴ ὑμῶν and made the table below.
| Reference | Chabad.org | Tanakh | NET | Septuagint BLB | Septuagint Elpenor |
| Isaiah 53:10 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his life [note 28] | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 26:15 | נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם | your soul | n/a | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
| Deuteronomy 11:13 | נַפְשְׁכֶֽם | your soul | your…being | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Deuteronomy 11:18 | נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם | your soul | your…being | ψυχὴν ὑμῶν | ψυχὴν ὑμῶν |
| Deuteronomy 13:3 (13:4) | נַפְשְׁכֶֽם | your soul | your…being | ψυχῆς ὑμῶν | ψυχῆς ὑμῶν |
| Isaiah 55:2 | נַפְשְׁכֶֽם | your soul | your appetite [note 8] | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
| Isaiah 55:3 | נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם | your soul | you | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
Here, in more detail, is the first example that was also translated ψυχὴ ὑμῶν.
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| Leviticus 26:15 (Tanakh) | Leviticus 26:15 (NET) | Leviticus 26:15 (NETS) |
Leviticus 26:15 (Elpenor English) |
| and if ye shall reject My statutes, and if your soul (נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם) abhor Mine ordinances, so that ye will not do all My commandments, but break My covenant; | if you reject my statutes and abhor my regulations so that you do not keep all my commandments and you break my covenant— | but refuse to comply with them, and your (ὑμῶν) soul (ψυχὴ) be angered by my judgments so that you do not carry out all my commandments so that you scatter my covenant to the wind, | but disobey them, and your (ὑμῶν) soul (ψυχὴ) should loathe my judgments, so that ye should not keep all my commands, so as to break my covenant, |
So did the Masoretes change נפשכם to נפשו to match the next verses better?
|
Masoretic Text |
Septuagint | ||
| Isaiah 53:11, 12 (Tanakh) | Isaiah 53:11, 12 (NET) | Isaiah 53:11, 12 (NETS) |
Isaiah 53:11, 12 (Elpenor English) |
| He shall see of the travail of his soul (נַפְשׁוֹ֙), and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities [Table]. | Having suffered, he will reflect on his work, he will be satisfied when he understands what he has done. “My servant will acquit many, for he carried their sins | from the pain of his (αὐτοῦ) soul (ψυχῆς), to show him light and fill him with understanding, to justify a righteous one who is well subject to many, and he himself shall bear their sins [Table]. | the travail of his (αὐτοῦ) soul (ψυχῆς), to shew him light, and to form [him] with understanding; to justify the just one who serves many well; and he shall bear their sins. |
| Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul (נַפְשׁ֔וֹ) unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors [Table]. | So I will assign him a portion with the multitudes, he will divide the spoils of victory with the powerful, because he willingly submitted [NET note 36: because he laid bare his life (nephesh, נפשו)] to death and was numbered with the rebels, when he lifted up the sin of many and intervened on behalf of the rebels.” | Therefore he shall inherit many, and he shall divide the spoils of the strong, because his (αὐτοῦ) soul (ψυχὴ) was given over to death, and he was reckoned among the lawless, and he bore the sins of many, and because of their sins he was given over [Table]. | Therefore he shall inherit many, and he shall divide the spoils of the mighty; because his (αὐτοῦ) soul (ψυχὴ) was delivered to death: and he was numbered among the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and was delivered because of their iniquities. |
Frankly, I would be more convinced, perhaps completely persuaded, if ὄψεσθε, the 2nd person plural form of ὁράω, had followed ψυχὴ ὑμῶν in Isaiah 53:10 rather than ὄψεται, the 3rd person singular form. I don’t read this as a mistake. The rabbis who translated the Septuagint knew Koine Greek better than I do. I read this as their scruple not to alter the original text any more than they felt was absolutely necessary, even at the expense of good Koine Greek.
I’ll conclude this essay with Jesus’ understanding (Matthew 20:25-28 NET):
You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be[5] your servant [Table], and whoever wants to be first among you must be[6] your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life (ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ) as a ransom for many.
The phrase and to give his life (καὶ δοῦναι τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ) is so much more than a poetic allusion to Jesus’ death. His death is only the beginning of his soul/life: I tell you the solemn truth, He told his disciples, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain.[7] And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.[8]
If I’ve learned anything from this exercise it is this: when the soul/life in question is God’s, I should think of it as functionally equivalent to αἰώνιος ζωὴ (eternal life). Jesus lived, walked, was led by the Holy Spirit. He, as a human being, was filled continuously with God’s own love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. His soul/life is “the absolute and unequivocal denial of the probability of [the desires of the flesh] EVER OCCURING at any moment or time in the future.”[9] This is what He gave as a ransom for many; namely, for all and to all who take Him at his word.
The tables mentioned above follow.
| Reference | Chabad.org | Tanakh | NET | Septuagint BLB | Septuagint Elpenor |
| Isaiah 53:10 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his life [note 28] | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
| Genesis 12:13 | נַפְשִׁ֖י | my soul | my life | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Genesis 19:17 | נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ | thy life | your lives | σεαυτοῦ ψυχήν | σεαυτοῦ ψυχήν |
| Genesis 19:19 | נַפְשִׁ֑י | my life | my life | ψυχήν μου | ψυχήν μου |
| Genesis 19:20 | נַפְשִֽׁי | my soul | my soul [note 61] | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Genesis 27:4 | נַפְשִׁ֖י | my soul | my soul [note 10] | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Genesis 27:19 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy soul | your soul [note 34] | ψυχή σου | ψυχή σου |
| Genesis 19:25 | נַפְשִׁ֑י | my soul | my soul [note 45] | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Genesis 27:31 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy soul | your soul [note 61] | ψυχή σου | ψυχή σου |
| Genesis 32:30 (32:31) | נַפְשִֽׁי | my life | my soul [note 79] | μου ἡ ψυχή | μου ἡ ψυχή |
| Genesis 34:3 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his soul [note 5] | ψυχῇ Δινας | ψυχῇ Δείνας |
| Genesis 34:8 | נַפְשׁוֹ֙ | The soul | his soul [note 19] | ψυχῇ | ψυχῇ |
| Genesis 35:18 | נַפְשָׁהּ֙ | her soul | her life [note 37] | ψυχήν | ψυχήν |
| Genesis 37:21 | נָֽפֶשׁ | his life | his life | ψυχήν | ψυχήν |
| Genesis 42:21 | נַפְשׁ֛וֹ | his soul | his soul [note 45] | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Genesis 44:30 | וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ | his soul | his very life | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ |
| בְנַפְשֽׁוֹ | the lad’s soul | his son’s life | τῆς τούτου ψυχῆς | τῆς τούτου ψυχῆς | |
| Genesis 49:6 | נַפְשִׁ֔י | my soul | my soul | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Exodus 4:19 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy life | your life | ψυχήν | ψυχήν[10] |
| Exodus 15:9 | נַפְשִׁ֔י | my lust | my desire | ψυχήν μου | ψυχήν μου |
| Exodus 21:30 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his life | his life | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Exodus 30:12 | נַפְשׁ֛וֹ | his soul | his life | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Exodus 30:15 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶֽם | your souls | your lives | ψυχῶν ὑμῶν | ψυχῶν ὑμῶν |
| Exodus 30:16 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶֽם | your souls | your lives | ψυχῶν ὑμῶν | ψυχῶν ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 11:43 | נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם | yourselves | yourselves | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 11:44 | נַפְשֹׁ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם | yourselves | yourselves | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 16:29 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֗ם | your souls | yourselves | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 16:31 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם | your souls | yourselves | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 17:11 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם | your souls | your lives | ψυχῶν ὑμῶν | ψυχῶν ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 20:25 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֜ם | your souls | yourselves | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 23:27 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם | your souls | yourselves | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 23:32 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם | your souls | yourselves | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 26:11 | נַפְשִׁ֖י | My soul | my soul [note 19] | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Leviticus 26:15 | נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם | your soul | n/a | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
| Leviticus 26:30 | נַפְשִׁ֖י | My soul | my soul [note 51] | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Leviticus 26:43 | נַפְשָֽׁם | their soul | their soul [note 73] | ψυχῇ αὐτῶν | ψυχῇ αὐτῶν |
| Numbers 11:6 | נַפְשֵׁ֥נוּ | our soul | our souls [note 19] | ψυχὴ ἡμῶν | ψυχὴ ἡμῶν |
| Numbers 16:38 (17:3) | בְּנַפְשֹׁתָ֗ם | their lives | their lives | ψυχαῗς αὐτῶν | ψυχαῗς αὐτῶν |
| Numbers 21:5 | וְנַפְשֵׁ֣נוּ | our soul | our souls [note 12] | ψυχὴ ἡμῶν | ψυχὴ ἡμῶν |
| Numbers 23:10 | נַפְשִׁי֙ | me | me | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Numbers 29:7 | נַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם | your souls | yourselves | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Numbers 30:2 (30:3) | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | himself | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Numbers 30:4 (30:5) | נַפְשָׁ֔הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | |
| Numbers 30:5 (30:6) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:6 (30:7) | נַפְשָֽׁהּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:7 (30:8) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:8 (30:9) | נַפְשָׁ֑הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:9 (30:10) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:10 (30:11) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:11 (30:12) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | herself | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 30:12 (30:13) | נַפְשָׁ֖הּ | her soul | n/a | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς | ψυχῆς αὐτῆς |
| Numbers 31:50 | נַפְשֹׁתֵ֖ינוּ | our souls | ourselves | περὶ ἡμῶν | περὶ ἡμῶν |
| Deuteronomy 4:9 | נַפְשְׁךָ֜ | thy soul | your soul [note 13] | ψυχήν σου | ψυχήν σου |
| Deuteronomy 4:15 | לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶ֑ם | yourselves | your souls [note 23] | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν | ψυχὰς ὑμῶν |
| Deuteronomy 4:29 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy soul | your…soul | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Deuteronomy 6:5 | נַפְשְׁךָ֖ | thy soul | your…being | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Deuteronomy 10:12 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy soul | your…being | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Deuteronomy 11:13 | נַפְשְׁכֶֽם | your soul | your…being | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Deuteronomy 11:18 | נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם | your soul | your…being | ψυχὴν ὑμῶν | ψυχὴν ὑμῶν |
| Deuteronomy 12:15 | נַפְשְׁךָ֜ | thy soul | you | ἐπιθυμίᾳ σου | ἐπιθυμίᾳ σου |
| Deuteronomy 20:20 | נַפְשְׁךָ֖ | thy soul | my soul [note 29] | ψυχή σου | ψυχή σου |
| נַפְשְׁךָ֖ | thy soul | your soul [note 30] | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου | |
| Deuteronomy 12:21 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy soul | you | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Deuteronomy 13:3 (13:4) | נַפְשְׁכֶֽם | your soul | your…being | ψυχῆς ὑμῶν | ψυχῆς ὑμῶν |
| Deuteronomy 13:6 (13:7) | כְּנַפְשְׁךָ֖ | thine own soul | n/a | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῇ σου |
| Deuteronomy 14:26 | נַפְשְׁךָ֜ | thy soul | you | ψυχή σου | ψυχή σου |
| נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ | thy soul | you | ψυχή σου | ψυχή σου | |
| Deuteronomy 18:6 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his soul [note 9] | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ |
| Deuteronomy 26:16 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy soul | your…soul | ψυχῆς ὑμῶν | ψυχῆς ὑμῶν |
| Deuteronomy 30:2 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy soul | your…being | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Deuteronomy 30:6 | נַפְשְׁךָ֖ | thy soul | your…being | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Deuteronomy 30:10 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy soul | your…being | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Isaiah 1:14 | נַפְשִׁ֔י | my soul | I | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Isaiah 3:9 | לְנַפְשָׁ֔ם | their soul | their soul [note 23] | ψυχῇ αὐτῶν | ψυχῇ αὐτῶν |
| Isaiah 5:14 | נַפְשָׁ֔הּ | herself | its throat | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 15:4 | נַפְשׁ֖וֹ | his life | his inner being [note 7] | ψυχὴ αὐτῆς | ψυχὴ αὐτῆς |
| Isaiah 26:8 (26:9) | נָֽפֶשׁ | our soul | [our?] being [note 12] | ψυχὴ ἡμῶν | ψυχὴ ἡμῶν |
| Isaiah 26:9 | נַפְשִׁ֚י | my soul | my soul [note 13] | n/a | n/a |
| Isaiah 29:8 | נַפְשׁוֹ֒ | his soul | his stomach | n/a | n/a |
| וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ | his soul | his thirst | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | |
| Isaiah 38:15 | נַפְשִֽׁי | my soul | my soul [note 27] | ψυχῆς | ψυχῆς[11] |
| Isaiah 38:17 | נַפְשִׁי֙ | my soul | my soul [note 31] | ψυχήν | ψυχήν[12] |
| Isaiah 42:1 | נַפְשִׁ֑י | my soul | I | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Isaiah 43:4 | נַפְשֶֽׁךָ | thy life | your life | κεφαλῆς σου | κεφαλῆς σου |
| Isaiah 44:20 | נַפְשׁוֹ֙ | his soul | himself | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 46:2 | וְנַפְשָׁ֖ם | themselves | Their soul/life [note 6] | αὐτοὶ | αὐτοὶ |
| Isaiah 47:14 | נַפְשָׁ֖ם | themselves | themselves | ψυχὴν αὐτῶν | ψυχὴν αὐτῶν |
| Isaiah 51:23 | לְנַפְשֵׁ֖ךְ | thy soul | you | ψυχῇ σου | ψυχῇ σου |
| Isaiah 53:11 | נַפְשׁוֹ֙ | his soul | n/a | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ | ψυχῆς αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 53:12 | נַפְשׁ֔וֹ | his soul | his life [note 36] | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴ αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 55:2 | נַפְשְׁכֶֽם | your soul | your appetite [note 8] | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
| Isaiah 55:3 | נַפְשְׁכֶ֑ם | your soul | you | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν | ψυχὴ ὑμῶν |
| Isaiah 58:3 | נַפְשֵׁ֖נוּ | our soul | ourselves | ψυχὰς ἡμῶν | ψυχὰς ἡμῶν |
| Isaiah 58:5 | נַפְשׁ֑וֹ | his soul | Himself [note 10] | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ | ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ |
| Isaiah 58:10 | נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ | thy soul | your being [note 24] | ψυχῆς σου | ψυχῆς σου |
| Isaiah 58:11 | נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ | thy soul | your appetite [note 27] | ψυχή σου | ψυχή σου |
| Isaiah 61:10 | נַפְשִׁי֙ | my soul | my being [note 26] | ψυχή μου | ψυχή μου |
| Isaiah 66:3 | נַפְשָׁ֥ם | their soul | their being [note 10] | ψυχὴ αὐτῶν | ψυχὴ αὐτῶν |
Tables comparing Genesis 34:3; 34:8; Isaiah 15:4; 5:14; Genesis 27:31 and Leviticus 26:15 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing Genesis 34:3; 34:8; Isaiah 15:4; 5:14; Genesis 27:31 and Leviticus 26:15 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Matthew 20:27 in the NET and KJV follow.
| Genesis 34:3 (KJV) | ||
| And his soul did cleave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spoke comfortingly unto the damsel. | And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel. | Then he became very attached to Dinah, Jacob’s daughter. He fell in love with the young woman and spoke romantically to her. |
| καὶ προσέσχεν τῇ ψυχῇ Δινας τῆς θυγατρὸς Ιακωβ καὶ ἠγάπησεν τὴν παρθένον καὶ ἐλάλησεν κατὰ τὴν διάνοιαν τῆς παρθένου αὐτῇ | καὶ προσέσχε τῇ ψυχῇ Δείνας τῆς θυγατρὸς ᾿Ιακὼβ καὶ ἠγάπησε τὴν παρθένον καὶ ἐλάλησε κατὰ τὴν διάνοιαν τῆς παρθένου αὐτῇ |
| And he attended to the person of Dina the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the maiden and spoke with her according to the maiden’s mind. | And he was attached to the soul of Dina the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and he spoke kindly to the damsel. |
| Genesis 34:8 (KJV) | ||
| And Hamor spoke with them, saying ‘The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter. I pray you give her unto him to wife. | And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. | But Hamor made this appeal to them: “My son Shechem is in love with your daughter. Please give her to him as his wife. |
| καὶ ἐλάλησεν Εμμωρ αὐτοῗς λέγων Συχεμ ὁ υἱός μου προείλατο τῇ ψυχῇ τὴν θυγατέρα ὑμῶν δότε οὖν αὐτὴν αὐτῷ γυναῗκα | καὶ ἐλάλησεν ᾿Εμμὼρ αὐτοῖς λέγων· Συχὲμ ὁ υἱός μου προείλετο τῇ ψυχῇ τὴν θυγατέρα ὑμῶν· δότε οὖν αὐτὴν αὐτῷ γυναῖκα |
| And Hennor spoke with them, saying, “My son Sychem has selected your daughter with his soul; give her to him as a wife. | And Emmor spoke to them, saying, Sychem my son has chosen in his heart your daughter; give her therefore to him for a wife, |
| Isaiah 15:4 (KJV) | ||
| And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him. | And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him. | The people of Heshbon and Elealeh cry out; their voices are heard as far away as Jahaz. For this reason Moab’s soldiers shout in distress; their courage wavers. |
| ὅτι κέκραγεν Εσεβων καὶ Ελεαλη ἕως Ιασσα ἠκούσθη ἡ φωνὴ αὐτῶν διὰ τοῦτο ἡ ὀσφὺς τῆς Μωαβίτιδος βοᾷ ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῆς γνώσεται | ὅτι κέκραγεν ᾿Εσεβὼν καὶ ᾿Ελεαλή, ἕως ᾿Ιασσὰ ἠκούσθη ἡ φωνὴ αὐτῶν· διὰ τοῦτο ἡ ὀσφὺς τῆς Μωαβίτιδος βοᾷ, ἡ ψυχὴ αὐτῆς γνώσεται |
| Because Hesebon and Eleale have cried out, her voice is heard as far as Iassa; therefore the loins of Moabitis cry aloud; her soul will know. | For Esebon and Eleale have cried: their voice was heard to Jassa: therefore the loins of the region of Moab cry aloud; her soul shall know. |
| Isaiah 5:14 (KJV) | ||
| Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. | Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. | So Death will open up its throat, and open wide its mouth; Zion’s dignitaries and masses will descend into it, including those who revel and celebrate within her. |
| καὶ ἐπλάτυνεν ὁ ᾅδης τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ διήνοιξεν τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ τοῦ μὴ διαλιπεῗν καὶ καταβήσονται οἱ ἔνδοξοι καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι καὶ οἱ πλούσιοι καὶ οἱ λοιμοὶ αὐτῆς | καὶ ἐπλάτυνεν ὁ ᾅδης τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ διήνοιξε τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ τοῦ μὴ διαλιπεῖν, καὶ καταβήσονται οἱ ἔνδοξοι καὶ οἱ μεγάλοι καὶ οἱ πλούσιοι καὶ οἱ λοιμοὶ αὐτῆς |
| And Hades has enlarged its appetite and opened its mouth without ceasing; and her glorious ones and her great and her rich and her pestilent shall go down. | Therefore hell has enlarged its desire and opened its mouth without ceasing: and her glorious and great, and her rich and her pestilent men shall go down [into it]. |
| Genesis 27:31 (KJV) | ||
| And he also made savoury food, and brought it unto his father; and he said unto his father: ‘Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me.’ | And he also had made savoury meat, and brought it unto his father, and said unto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. | He also prepared some tasty food and brought it to his father. Esau said to him, “My father, get up and eat some of your son’s wild game. Then you can bless me.” |
| καὶ ἐποίησεν καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέσματα καὶ προσήνεγκεν τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἶπεν τῷ πατρί ἀναστήτω ὁ πατήρ μου καὶ φαγέτω τῆς θήρας τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ ὅπως εὐλογήσῃ με ἡ ψυχή σου | καὶ ἐποίησε καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέσματα καὶ προσήνεγκε τῷ πατρὶ αὐτοῦ. καὶ εἶπε τῷ πατρί· ἀναστήτω ὁ πατήρ μου καὶ φαγέτω ἀπὸ τῆς θήρας τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, ὅπως εὐλογήσῃ με ἡ ψυχή σου |
| And he too prepared victuals and presented them to his father and said to his father, “Let my father rise and eat of his son’s game, so that your soul may bless me.” | And he also had made meats and brought them to his father; and he said to his father, Let my father arise and eat of his son’s venison, that thy soul may bless me. |
| Leviticus 26:15 (KJV) | ||
| and if ye shall reject My statutes, and if your soul abhor Mine ordinances, so that ye will not do all My commandments, but break My covenant; | And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: | if you reject my statutes and abhor my regulations so that you do not keep all my commandments and you break my covenant— |
| ἀλλὰ ἀπειθήσητε αὐτοῗς καὶ τοῗς κρίμασίν μου προσοχθίσῃ ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν ὥστε ὑμᾶς μὴ ποιεῗν πάσας τὰς ἐντολάς μου ὥστε διασκεδάσαι τὴν διαθήκην μου | ἀλλὰ ἀπειθήσητε αὐτοῖς καὶ τοῖς κρίμασί μου προσοχθίσῃ ἡ ψυχὴ ὑμῶν, ὥστε ὑμᾶς μὴ ποιεῖν πάσας τὰς ἐντολάς μου, ὥστε διασκεδάσαι τήν διαθήκην μου |
| but refuse to comply with them, and your soul be angered by my judgments so that you do not carry out all my commandments so that you scatter my covenant to the wind, | but disobey them, and your soul should loathe my judgments, so that ye should not keep all my commands, so as to break my covenant, |
|
Matthew 20:27 (KJV) |
|
| and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— | And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: |
| Stephanus Textus Receptus | ||
| καὶ ὃς ἂν θέλῃ ἐν ὑμῖν εἶναι πρῶτος ἔσται ὑμῶν δοῦλος | και ος εαν θελη εν υμιν ειναι πρωτος εστω υμων δουλος | και ος εαν θελη εν υμιν ειναι πρωτος εστω υμων δουλος |
[1] The Elpenor Septuagint had ἐν τῷ ἀφιέναι αὐτὴν τὴν ψυχήν (in her giving up the ghost). The her (αὐτὴν) followed the verb ἀφιέναι rather than the noun ψυχήν.
[2] The Elpenor Septuagint had οὐ πατάξωμεν αὐτὸν εἰς ψυχήν (Let us not kill him). The him (αὐτὸν) followed the verb πατάξωμεν rather than the noun ψυχήν.
[3] The NET translators chose by his own free will for “according to all the desire of his soul” (Note 9).
[4] Cf. Isaiah 15:3a (Elpenor Septuagint) – ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις αὐτῆς περιζώσασθε σάκκους (Gird yourselves with sackcloth in her streets)
[5] The NET parallel Greek text, NA28 and Byzantine Majority Text had ἔσται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus had εστω (KJV: let…be).
[6] The NET parallel Greek text and NA28 had ἔσται here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus and Byzantine Majority Text had εστω (KJV: let…be).
[9] See: A Shadow of the Good Things, Part 6
[10] The Elpenor Septuagint had γὰρ πάντες οἱ ζητοῦντές σου τὴν ψυχήν (for all that sought thy life). The thy (σου) followed the verb ζητοῦντές rather than the noun ψυχήν.
[11] The Elpenor Septuagint had καὶ ἀφείλατό μου τὴν ὀδύνην τῆς ψυχῆς (and removed the sorrow of my soul). The my (μου) followed the verb ἀφείλατό rather than the noun ψυχῆς.
[12] The Elpenor Septuagint had εἵλου γάρ μου τὴν ψυχήν (For thou hast chosen my soul). The my (μου) followed the verb εἵλου (and γάρ [For], which seems to be a matter of Koine Greek syntax: clauses don’t begin with γάρ) rather than the noun ψυχήν.