As explained in this answer, many Bible passages use the word “soul” to mean “person”. For example, when God breathed into Adam the breath of life he became a living soul (Genesis 2:7 KJV); when Adam breathed out for the last time he became a dead soul, i.e. he was a dead person. Dead people are unconscious (Ecclesiastes 9:5). When faithful people died in New Testament times they are described as sleeping, because they are waiting for the resurrection when, at the return of Jesus Christ to the earth, he will raise them from the dead and reward them with eternal life (John 5:28-29; 1 Corinthians 15:51-55).

Sometimes people are confused by the figurative language in Revelation where dead souls (people) appear to be conscious. For example:

Revelation 6:9-10 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”

In this verse, words are put in the mouths of the dead to emphasise the eagerness with which the faithful followers of Christ look forward to the promised time of blessing.

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7 Responses to Where does the Bible say that the soul dies when the body dies?

  1. Kim Green says:

    In Luke23:40-43 one of the criminals being crucified alongside Jesus, recognizes Jesus for who he was and says “remember me when you come into your kingdom. And, what did Jesus say? He said “TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE. THIS IS A SOLEMN PROMISE.” You think Jesus was lying? Of course not, he can tell no lies!!! If Jesus said it then it is true!!! Now if how you believe were true then Jesus would have said to the criminal someday you will be with me in paradise.

  2. Steve Martinez says:

    I believe that the soul is intellienge that is instill within the spirit. So when a person dies the spirit goes back from where it came from heaven. So you see the soul is just intellgence which helps the spirit so it can become quicken which means come alive. Because when were born on this earth we are born dead and separated from god so we need intellienge to make it back to heaven. Forgive my spelling

    • Rob J Hyndman says:

      Your beliefs are not consistent with Bible teaching. The Bible teaches that the soul is the person, and it does not teach that we go “back to heaven”. Please base your beliefs on the Bible.

  3. MarieaGrace says:

    ECC. 12 The clay pot breaks and the Spirit goes back to God! Based on the bible.

  4. Wendy Trent says:

    Amen Rob….finally to read something biblical. You sai I don’t hear many people speaking with such knowledge of the original scriptures. I myself study the Hebrew and Greek of the original text, and its so exciting when you discover the true gold nuggets of biblical truth. How many wrongs doctrines I was taught throughout my life, that are now being revealed as untrue through studying the original context of Yeshuas Tora. The whole world calls Him “Jesus” when that isn’t even His real name but a hybrid word, made up through wrong translations and mispronunciations of words. Yeshua bar Yosef is the real and only name He ever knew in His lifetime. The name His parents called Him as well as everyone who knew HIM. Your correct we “sleep” until the day Yeshua returns for His chosen ones!!! Wendy

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