DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOUL AND SPIRIT 靈魂（Soul）與靈（Spirit）的區別

Don Blackwell｜GLOBAL BROADCAST NETWORK

中文翻譯由 Brother Joyce 提供｜Blogger

What is the difference in the soul and the spirit of man?

人的靈魂與靈有什麼區別？

You know, the truth is there's really not a simple answer to this question.

其實，這個問題並沒有一個簡單的答案。

SOUL 靈魂

Here's why—the word soul is used in different ways in the Bible. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for soul is nephesh. This word is translated in the King James version of the Bible by 28 different English words depending on the context.

原因在於，「soul」這個字在聖經中有不同的用法。在舊約中，翻譯為「soul」的希伯來文是 nephesh。這個字在《英王欽定本聖經》中，按照不同的上下文，被翻譯成 28 個不同的英文詞彙。

First, the word "soul" can refer to a person. For example, 1Peter chapter 3 and verse 20 says, "Eight souls were saved by water".

第一，「soul」可以指一個人。例如，彼得前書 3:20 說：「有八個人藉著水得救。」

Secondly, the word "soul" can refer to life itself. In Matthew chapter 2 and verse 20, the Greek word for soul is translated as life. It says that Herod sought to take the life of the baby Jesus. This is the word "suke (soo-khay)", which is the Greek word for soul.

第二，「soul」可以指生命本身。在馬太福音 2:20 中，希臘文中表示 soul 的字被翻譯為「生命」。經文說，希律曾想要取小孩子耶穌的性命。這個字是「suke（soo-khay）」，也就是希臘文中表示 soul 的字。

Thirdly, the word soul can refer to the mind.

第三，「soul」可以指人的心思。

SPIRIT 靈

Likewise, the word spirit is used in different ways. The word spirit can refer to the air we breathe, or it can be a reference to wind.

同樣地，「spirit」這個字也有不同的用法。Spirit 可以指我們所呼吸的空氣，也可以指風。

Sometimes, the word spirit is a reference to a non-physical being. For example, in Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 14, angels are said to be ministering spirits.

有時候，「spirit」是指非物質的存在。例如，希伯來書 1:14 稱天使為「服役的靈」。

Thirdly, the word spirit can refer to a state of mind, such as a spirit of gentleness or a meek spirit. 

第三，「spirit」也可以指一種心境或精神狀態，例如溫柔的心或謙和的靈。

CONCLUSION 結論

And finally, there are times that the words soul and spirit are synonymous and can be used interchangeably to refer to the eternal part of man. For example, Ecclesiastes chapter 12 and verse 7 says, "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God, who gave it". Here, spirit refers to the eternal part of man that will go to God when we die.

最後，有些時候 soul 和 spirit 是同義詞，可以互換使用，用來指人永恆的、非物質的部分。例如，傳道書 12:7 說：「塵土仍歸於地，靈仍歸於賜靈的神。」在這裡，spirit 指的是人永恆的部分；人死後，靈要歸回賜靈的神。

But in Matthew chapter 10 and verse 28, the Bible says, "And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear him who is able to destroy both the soul and body in hell". Here, the word "soul" refers to the eternal part of man that will live forever.

但是在馬太福音 10:28，聖經說：「那殺身體、不能殺靈魂的，不要怕他們；惟有能把身體和靈魂都滅在地獄裡的，正要怕他。」在這裡，「soul」指的是人永恆、持續存在的部分。

And so, the fact is, the soul and the spirit can mean the same thing, or they can mean something completely different. The answer depends upon the context of the word.

所以，事實是：soul 和 spirit 有時可以表示相同的意思，有時也可以表示完全不同的意思。究竟是哪一種意思，必須根據這個字所在的上下文來判斷。