Lee Anglin · March 19, 2018 at 3:15 pm

Dear Dr. Brueggemann: A pastor 47 years, I have wondered about “nephesh” a long time. It is often translated: “a living soul/being”. Can there be any possible connection to “a bundle of need”? I seem to recall that from somewhere. Or, “an open mouth” as in the chick of a bird in the nest, its mouth larger than its body, almost. I associate it with the creation and our being desperate/our lives depend on God for existence. I, also, associate this with utter dependence, again, God IS our breath and without one breath we perish/no long human. Thank you very much. Lee Anglin