breath of life

Hebrew neshama (breath of life) and nefesh (soul/life) are closely related — both describe the animating divine principle God breathed into Adam (Genesis 2:7).

Hebrew nefesh/neshamah, Greek psyche, Sanskrit atman, Arabic nafs — all traditions describe the inner animating principle through the metaphor of breath. The soul is what the divine breath makes alive.

Greek psyche (soul) derives from psychein (to breathe); Latin anima from *ane- (to breathe); Sanskrit atman from PIE *etmen- (breath). The equation of soul and breath — also in Hebrew neshama — is both cross-cultural and cross-linguistic.

The soul (nefesh) is what Adam became when God breathed the neshama (breath of life) into him — soul is animated life, the meeting point of divine breath and earthly matter.