This is a non-sectarian discussion of the meaning of the original Hebrew of key Genesis verses. Genesis 2:7 NASB A living being– In the Hebrew text, these significant words are nepeš ḥayyâ (for us, sounds like nefesh hayyah). Genesis 2:7 Then ADONAI, God, formed a person [Hebrew: adam] from the dust of the ground [Hebrew: adamah] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living being. Derived from this two letter parent root is the three letter child root איש (iysh) meaning "man." Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (H5315) . Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. We should note that this verse does not say man has a soul, but that he is one. (Genesis 2:7) The Hebrew word for fire is אש (esh, Strong's #784). Genesis 2:7. Then the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. The phrase in Hebrew is נִשְׁמַת חַיִּים (nishmat chayyim).The Hebrew word typically translated as "spirit" in English is רוּחַ (ruach).Here is a link to a Jewish understanding of the distinctions between neshamah, nefesh, and ruach.. This word in Hebrew, nephesh, is better rendered as "creature" or as the New King James does, "being. Genesis 2: (7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Genesis 2:7 | Man and Fire By Jeff A. Benner. "Nephesh is also used for animals (Genesis 1:20), dead bodies (Numbers 9:6), even dying (Job 11:20; Jeremiah 15:9).. William Gray Taking It Through the Grave Genesis 2:7 Breathed Into – Sometimes the links between the Greek New Testament and the Hebrew Old Testament are quite subtle but exceedingly powerful. Holman Christian Standard Bible Genesis 2:7 (CJB) Then ADONAI, God, formed a person [Hebrew: adam] from the dust of the ground [Hebrew: adamah] and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living being. Genesis 2:7 | Man and Fire (Article) The Hebrew word for fire is אש (esh). The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 - וייצר יהוה אלהים את־האדם עפר מן־האדמה ויפח באפיו נשׁמת... - Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground,... - Interlinear Study Bible Read verse in The Complete Jewish Bible And the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living soul.