47. Spirit means a person’s life. This can be seen from everyday speech, in which a person is said to yield up the spirit when he dies. Consequently spirit in this sense means the life in respiration. The word “spirit” is also derived from the Latin verb “to respire.” So it is that in Hebrew there is one word for spirit and wind.

There are two wellsprings of life in a person. One is the motion of the heart, and the other the respiration of the lungs. The life springing from the respiration of the lungs is properly meant by spirit, and also by the soul. That these operate in concert with a person’s thinking in accord with his intellect, but that life springing from the motion of the heart operates in a person in concert with his will’s love — this will be seen in its right place.

[2] That a person’s life is meant by spirit in the Word is clear from the following:

You gather their spirit, they die, and return to...dust. (Psalms 104:29)

He remembered that they were flesh, spirit that passes away and does not come again. (Psalms 78:39)

When his spirit departs, he will return to (the) earth. (Psalms 146:4)

Hezekiah lamented that the life of his spirit would depart (Isaiah 38:16).

...the spirit of Jacob...revived. (Genesis 45:27)

...his molded image is a lie, and there is no spirit in (it). (Jeremiah 51:17)

...said the Lord Jehovih to the (dry) bones: “...I will put spirit in you, that you may live....” “...Come from the four winds, O spirit, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.” ...and spirit came into them, and they lived again.... (Ezekiel 37:5-6, 9-10)

(Jesus) took (the daughter) by the hand...and her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. (Luke 8:54-55)