In the biblical context, the term "spirit" as it relates to man is a multifaceted concept that encompasses the immaterial aspect of human existence. The spirit is often understood as the breath of life given by God, the seat of emotions, will, and moral consciousness, and the part of man that can commune with God.

Creation and Nature of the Spirit

The spirit of man is introduced in the creation narrative. Genesis 2:7 states, "Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life into his nostrils, and the man became a living being." Here, the "breath of life" is often interpreted as the spirit, indicating that it is God-given and essential for life.

The spirit distinguishes humans from other creatures, as it is the divine element that enables a relationship with God. Job 32:8 affirms, "But there is a spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding." This verse highlights the spirit's role in imparting wisdom and understanding, attributes that reflect the image of God in humanity.

The Spirit and Human Experience

The spirit is integral to human experience, influencing emotions, thoughts, and actions. Proverbs 20:27 states, "The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, searching out his inmost being." This suggests that the spirit is a means by which God examines and guides the inner life of a person.

The spirit is also associated with the moral and ethical dimensions of life. In Ezekiel 36:26-27 , God promises, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes and to carefully observe My ordinances." This passage indicates that the spirit is involved in the transformation and renewal of a person's moral character.

The Spirit and the Afterlife

The spirit's role extends beyond physical life, as it is considered the eternal aspect of human existence. Ecclesiastes 12:7 states, "Then the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it." This verse underscores the belief that the spirit returns to God upon death, affirming its divine origin andJob 4:19
How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
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Job 32:8
But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty gives them understanding.
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Psalm 31:5
Into your hand I commit my spirit: you have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
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Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
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Ecclesiastes 1:8
All things are full of labor; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.
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Ecclesiastes 3:21
Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?
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Ecclesiastes 12:7
Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
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Isaiah 26:9
With my soul have I desired you in the night; yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you early: for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
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Zechariah 12:1
The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, said the LORD, which stretches forth the heavens, and lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him.
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Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
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Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
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Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
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Mark 14:38
Watch you and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
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Luke 22:40
And when he was at the place, he said to them, Pray that you enter not into temptation.
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Luke 23:46
And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into your hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
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Luke 24:39
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me have.
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John 3:3-8
Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
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John 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
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Acts 7:59
And they stoned Stephen, calling on God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
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Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
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Romans 2:29
But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
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Romans 7:14-25
For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
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1 Corinthians 2:11
For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God.
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1 Corinthians 6:20
For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
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1 Corinthians 7:34
There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
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1 Corinthians 14:14
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
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2 Corinthians 4:6,7,16
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
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2 Corinthians 5:1-9
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
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Ephesians 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
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Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling;
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1 Thessalonians 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
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James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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5197. hubristes -- a violent, insolent man
... an insolent, insulting, or violent man. Cognate: 5197 (a masculine noun derived
from 5195 ) -- properly, someone "" others by lashing out with a nasty spirit. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5197.htm - 7k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... both in its initiation and every step of the way, is Spirit given . . ... to be seen
as a faith " (O. Michel, ). "Faith is the response, wrought in man, by God ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

4561. sarx -- flesh
... earthly (1), fellow countrymen (1), flesh (129), fleshly (4), life (3), man (1),
mankind ... or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4561.htm - 8k

Thus the Spirit of Man, Cleaving unto the Spirit of God...
... Section 29. Thus the spirit of man, cleaving unto the Spirit of God? 29.
Thus the spirit of man, cleaving unto the Spirit of God ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on continence/section 29 thus the spirit.htm

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have ...
... He is about the greatest work that is now to do in the world, the repairing and
renewing of the ruins and breaches of man's spirit, which was the first breach ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxv if so be.htm

Man the Image of the Creator, and Christ the Head of the Man ...
... Paul's epistles... Chapter VIII."Man the Image of the Creator, and Christ the Head
of the Man Spiritual Gifts. The Sevenfold Spirit Described by Isaiah. ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter viii man the image of.htm

"If So be that the Spirit of God Dwell in You. Now if any Man have ...
... man, first personally in the man Christ, in whom the fulness of the Godhead dwelt
bodily, then graciously in the seed of Christ, in man by his Spirit, and this ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxiv if so be.htm

Continual Union in Spirit with God the End of Man's Creation...
... THE NATURE AND END THEREOF, AND GENERAL DISPOSITION REQUIRED THERETO. CHAPTER I.
Continual union in spirit with God the end of man's creation? Sec. Sec. ...
/.../chapter i continual union in.htm

Of those Things which a Man of God Spake by the Spirit to Eli the ...
... Chapter 5."Of Those Things Which a Man of God Spake by the Spirit to Eli the Priest,
Signifying that the Priesthood Which Had Been Appointed According to ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 5 of those things which.htm

Of the Man Out of whom the Unclean Spirit that was Tormenting Him ...
... And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit: and he cried out,
saying, [1589] What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? ...
/.../augustine/the harmony of the gospels/chapter ii of the man out.htm

Of the Advent of Jesus in the Flesh and Spirit, that He Might be ...
... For, since man is composed of flesh and spirit, and the spirit must earn [831]
immortality by works of righteousness, the flesh, since it is earthly, and ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxv of the advent of.htm

Why it was the Son of God, and not the Father or the Spirit, that ...
... Book IV. Chapter IV."Why it was the Son of God, and not the Father or the Spirit,
that became man: and what having became man He achieved. ...
/.../john/exposition of the orthodox faith/chapter iv why it was the.htm

That this New Birth of the Spirit, or the Divine Life in Man...
... Address 235: That this new birth of the Spirit, or the divine life in man?
That this new birth of the Spirit, or the divine life ...
/.../address 235 0 0 that this new.htm

Can man live without God? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about being a godly man? | GotQuestions.org

Why is Ezekiel called son of man if it is a title for Jesus? | GotQuestions.org

Man: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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