Bible Studies

MANY LIVING SOULS OF YAHWEH

by Jeff Van Hatten
04/24/25
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Many ask the question “Did God really create everything out of nothing?” And the answer is both yes and no! Yes, there are some things that Elohim simply speaks into being, and other things that he builds, plants, or forms out of things that he has previously spoken into being.

There are three main words in Hebrew to define these methods of creating.
Bara [H1254] which is defined: to create something out of nothing, as something new.
Banah [H1129ה] which is defined: to build, rebuild, or establish; to make, to construct.
Yatsar [H3335] which is defined: to form out of existing materials, to mold into a form as would a potter.

Created
Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning Elohim created [H1254] the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:21 – “Elohim created [H1254] the great sea creatures and every living thing that creeps, so that the water swarmed with all kinds of them, and there was every kind of winged bird; and God saw that it was good.”
The word translated created is the Hebrew word Bara [H1254] and is used throughout the Bible numerous times, including in ten times in Genesis, four times in Psalms, twelve times in Isaiah, and three times in Ezekiel to mention just a few. In each usage, it indicates that Yahweh/Elohim created something out of nothing. Here are a few of those things: the soul of Adam, the soul of the great sea creatures, the destroyer, north and south, new events, light and darkness.

He even creates out of nothing the soul of the people yet to be born!
What? People yet to be born? Aye, indeed – as witnessed by:
Jeremiah 1:5 – “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I separated you for myself.”
1 Peter 1:20 – “Yahweh knew Yeshua before the foundation of the cosmos . . .”
Galatians 1:15 – “Yahweh, picked me out before I was born and called me by his grace . . .”

Formed or Made
Genesis 2:7 – “Yahweh formed [H3335] the man from the soil of the ground. . .”
Genesis 2:19 – “Yahweh formed [H3335] out of the ground every living animal of the field and every bird of the air.”
Genesis 2:22 – “Yahweh made [H1129] a woman from the man’s rib, and brought her to Adam.”
The word translated formed is the Hebrew word Yatsar [H3335] The word translated made is the Hebrew word Banah [H1129].

Unlike those things that are bara out of nothing, things that are yatsar are formed or made out of existing materials – Adam, animals of the field, and birds are made from the ground, or soil. Eve was banah (formed or made) from Adam’s rib.

Yahweh/Elohim formed both man’s and the beast’s bodies from the ground (dust) like a potter forms a clay pot! Mans’ and beast’s bodies were not formed out of nothing, but out of existing ground. Likewise, Yeshua forms more fish and loaves of bread from existing fish and bread (Matthew 14:17-19, 15:34-36; Mark 6:38-41; Luke 9:13-16; John 6:9-11).

But wait, how is it that many of those beings just listed above are formed, built, or made according to the Bible, when scripture has already told us that they are Bara – made out of nothing. Isn't this a huge contradiction? The key to this seeming contradiction is just exactly what is created or formed.

The Bible calls all those things created (bara) a “living [H2416] being [H5315]”, living thing, or living creature – a chay [H2416] nephesh [H5315] – or more accurately described – a living soul! It is the soul that is made out of nothing simply by a command from Elohim, but the body into which the soul is placed is formed or made from an already existing item or material.

There is no contradiction between being created and being formed or made.

Living Souls
Living souls or living beings are those into whom Elohim has breathed the breath of life.

There are two main words in Hebrew to define Living Souls, Living Beings.
Chay [H2416] which is defined: to be alive, to be living.
Nephesh [H5315] which is defined: soul, self, living being, the inner being of man, breathing creature.

Genesis 2:7 – “Yahweh formed the man from the soil of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, so that he became a living [H2416] being [H5315].”

The Three Step Process Of Creating A Human Being
1. The soul is created [H1254 bara] out of nothing as an image of Elohim,
2. The body is formed [H3335 yatsar] or made [H1129 banah] out of the ground and the soul is placed within,
3. The spirit is breathed into the body, and man becomes a living [H2416 chay] soul [H5315 nephesh].
Just as Elohim is three in one, so is man.

Genesis 1:20 – “Let the water swarm with swarms of living [H2416] creatures [H5315].”
Genesis 6:19-20 – “From everything living, from each kind of living [H2416] being [H5315], you are to bring two into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they are to be male and female. Of each kind of bird, each kind of livestock, and each kind of animal creeping on the ground, two are to come to you, so that they can be kept alive.”
The final step in the making of a sea creature, land animal, or bird of the sky is the giving of the spirit, at which time the being also becomes a living soul.

Conclusions
Human beings are not the only created being that is a living soul.
Sea creatures, land animals, and birds of the sky are also living souls.
Just as Elohim is three in one, so are human beings, sea creatures, land animals, and birds of the sky.
There is no contradiction between being created and being formed or made.

Additional Notes
Genesis 1:20-21 Water Beings
Let the water swarm with swarms   of living H2416 creatures H5315
God created the great sea creatures and every living H2416 and moving thing H5315 with which the water swarmed

Genesis 1:30 Animals of the Earth, Birds of the Air
And to all the animals of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to all the creatures that move on the ground– everything that has the breath H5315 of life H2416 in it.

Revelation 5:13 Animals have souls, and can think, reason, sense danger, experience emotions (happiness, love, sorrow, anger, feel passions, make choices or decisions).
“And I heard every created G2938/H2416 being G846/H5315 in heaven, on earth, under the earth and on the sea - yes, everything in them - saying, ‘To the One sitting on the throne and to the Lamb belong praise, honor, glory and power forever and ever’!”

Every creature on earth that has a soul is giving praise to Yahweh/Yeshua!

Final Thought for 2025
• Prophecy continues to unfold as foretold by the Hebrew prophets.
• History is moving extremely quickly towards the prophesied one world government, the one world financial system, and the rise of both the Antichrist and the False Prophet.
• The escalation of wars and rumors of wars continues to unfold, both in the Middle East and around the globe.
• Time is incredibly short – The birth pangs are just over the horizon.
• The great day of Yahweh is getting really near, even at the door. It hastens forth and will not delay.
• Be sure you are believing The Truth, not The Lie, and maintain an attitude of thanksgiving.
• Be sure Yeshua is your Redeemer, King, and High Priest, and your sins are forgiven.