How Elohim Designed Us

This post and the following seven or so posts were originally designed for jail ministry. I am changing the original information here because I have certain limitations there. For those who are being released from jail and reading this version, the Hebrew word for God is Elohim.

There are differences of opinion among Christian denominations when interpreting Scripture regarding how Elohim designed us. Some of this may be a difference between eastern (Hebrew) and western (Greek) thought, or it is a difference in how various Scriptures are interpreted. The three elements we think of regarding man’s design are body, soul, and spirit; most people consider them to be three separate things.

Man’s Creation

Adam’s body was originally made from the dust of the earth, and we will return to dust when we die.

• Genesis 2:7 then the Lord Elohim formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (ruach = breath, wind, spirit), and the man became a living creature (nephesh = soul).

In this verse, the three elements – the body, soul, and spirit – are there, but the Hebrew concept of the soul is hidden in English because we don’t see the Hebrew word nephesh for soul. Instead, we see “living creature.”

Hebrew Thought

Man’s spirit comes from Elohim. In Hebrew thought, the body and spirit come together, and the end result is the soul. The body and a person’s spirit are operating together to generate the mind, will, and emotions – the logic, thoughts, and intentions of the heart.

• Genesis 3:19 … for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.
• Ecclesiastes 12:5-8 … they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself along, and desire fails, because man is going to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets— ⁶ before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, ⁷ and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Elohim who gave it.

The Tent of the Body

Our body is the tent for man’s spirit, as well as the temple of Elohim’s Spirit. Some would say that it is also a tent for the soul. First Thessalonians 5:23 and Matthew 10:28, which are written in Greek, separate the spirit, soul, and body.

Greek Thought

Can you see the difference between the Hebrew concept previously mentioned and the Greek thought in these verses below?

• 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the Elohim of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit (pneuma = breath, spirit, mind) and soul (psuchē = breath or soul) and body (soma) be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua Messiah (Jesus Christ). ²⁴ He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
• Matthew 10:28 Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

The Tent of the Holy Spirit

Again, our body is a tent for the Holy Spirit.

• 2 Corinthians 5:2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling.
• 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Do you not know that you are Elohim’s temple and that Elohim’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys Elohim’s temple, Elohim will destroy him. For Elohim’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from Elohim? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought with a price. So glorify Elohim in your body.

How can you glorify Elohim in your body? Don’t you think this is speaking of what we put into it or do to it? Ask for Elohim’s help to glorify Him in your body if necessary.

The Soul

Our minds, wills, and emotions are regulated by the soul; some would say they make up the soul. This includes the functions of our brains, as well as the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

• Acts 8:22-23 Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.
• Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. ²⁰ These are what defile a person…”
• Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
• Psalm 143:3 For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
• Psalm 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Our Spirit

Our spirit is the breath of Elohim and lamp of the Lord. It needs to be renewed because of sin.

• Job 32:8 But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
• Proverbs 20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.
• Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O Elohim, and renew a right spirit within me.
• Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!
• Matthew 26:41 …The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
• Romans 8:16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of Elohim,

Sometimes, Scripture refers to the heart and soul as two separate things, but it is separating the mind, will and emotions from the thoughts and intentions of the heart – or separating the physical from the spirit and our thoughts.

• Matthew 22:36-40 Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” ³⁷ And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your Elohim with all your heart (kardia) and with all your soul (psuchē = breath or soul) and with all your mind (dianoia). ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) descended on Yeshua when He was baptized, and Yeshua promised to send the Holy Spirit to His disciples. He gives the Holy Spirit to all believers today as well.

• Isaiah 11:2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
• John 1:32-33 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him (Yeshua).
• John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
• John 16:13-15 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
• Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
• Acts 2:2-4 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
• Acts 10:44-45 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised (Jews) who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.

Laying a Foundation

Understanding how Elohim designed us lays a foundation for how we should control and take care of our bodies, minds, and spirits. How we treat ourselves impacts the lies and/or truths we believe, where our allegiance lies — how we interact with our Creator, how Satan and his demons affect us — our ability to wage spiritual warfare, our ability to put to death the desires of the flesh, how we manage our mental health, how we live our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit, and where we spend eternity.