Lexical Exigency

I once found myself wishing, "Wouldn't it be nice if the ancient patriarchs had left behind a dictionary, one outlining what certain terms meant for them?" The theological implications would be immeasurable.

But let us assume that they had made "the great dictionary of theological terminology". Where would they have derived their entries? They would have based each determination on usage. Usage is definition, that is, established patterns lay the boundaries of meaning and even allow for inspirational expansions.

Take for instance "soul". In modern English usage "soul" is used to refer to the 'spirit', but also to rhythmic music that at once states present art while connecting it with deep historical precedent; soul even refers to food that expresses the same as soul music, but as a culinary manifestation; soul even denotes charisma or an uncommonly precocious attitude of wisdom.

Let us take a journey with the word "soul" and see where it leads. We will reference no dictionary, but will instead look to usage as the delineation.

And the LORD GOD formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7)

In the records as they have been transmitted to us, this is the first mention Moses made of "soul". In translation this soul is modified by an adjective, "a living soul", but it Hebrew "nefesh" 'soul' is juxtaposed to "khaya" 'life', "soul life" or 'soul of life'. Humanity's first was born into life as a soul.

That is the mention of the term, but its delineation then follows.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. (Genesis 2:23)

Now we have a definition: "a soul is a life that has both flesh and bones." But no definition would be entirely worthy without examples of current and/or historical usage.

Abram: Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. (Genesis 12:13)

Lot: Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live. (Genesis 19:20)

Isaac: And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die. (Genesis 27:4)

Jacob: And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. (Genesis 32:30)

These examples of the usage of "my soul" demonstrate that "flesh and bones" as well as "alive" are correct denotations. The examples also offer us our first connotation: "subject to death, mortal", insofar as Abram feared he would be killed unless Sarai covered for him, Lot feared death unless he fled from an imminent destruction, Isaac was at an advanced age and sensed his impending demise, and Jacob experienced God face to face and lived to tell the tale.

The power of a definition is that such a description allows us to discern meanings we otherwise might not have taken notice of. Let us first consider the issue of the Tabernacle, the portable temple that Ancient Israel was commanded to make shortly after being led out of bondage in Egypt:

And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 

And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

And thou shalt put the mercy seat above the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 25:1,8,21,22)

In these passages we read of the instance when Jehovah, The LORD, commanded Moses to have Israel make a sanctuary unto Him, the Tabernacle, and Jehovah explained that He would be above the mercy seat and commune with Israel giving commandments unto them.

Now let us see what the power of a good usage-based definition is. In the next citation Jehovah will describe a future intention of His with regards to His "Tabernacle":

And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.

And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.

I am Jehovah your Elohim [the LORD your GOD], which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of our yoke, and made you go upright. (Leviticus 26:11-13)

Did we see it? Did we catch it? Initially Jehovah said he would commune with Israel from above the mercy seat from within the Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary. However, Jehovah then spoke of a future time when He would set His Tabernacle among Israel and, said He, "My Soul shall not abhor you [Israel]." What? Wait! Rewind! According to the author, Moses, "soul" means that the life has flesh and bones and is subject to mortality. Jehovah has now used "Tabernacle" to refer to a time when He would be housed in flesh and bones and, as Moses further recorded, "walk among you", an act that requires legs of flesh and bones. But furthermore, by so specifying "soul", Jehovah as much as stated He would be subject to mortality.

Now I would draw attention to a curious pronouncement made by an angel to King Benjamin, circa 124 B.C.:

For behold, the time cometh, and is not far distant, that with power, the Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk, the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of diseases.

And he shall cast out devils, or the evil spirits which dwell in the hearts of the children of men.

And lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

And he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary.

And lo, he cometh unto his own, that salvation might come unto the children of men, even through faith on his name; and even after all this they shall consider him a man, and say that he hath a devil, and shall sourge him, and shall crucify him.

And he shall rise the third day from the dead; and behold, he standeth to judge the world; and behold, all these things are done that a righteous judgment might come upon the children of men. (Mosiah 3:5-10, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ)

The Book of Mormon prophet, King Benjamin, reported that an angel from the Lord declared this message to him, a message of what The LORD Omnipotent was going to do at that time that He would "go forth among" (i.e. "walk among") the children of men, susceptible to pain, suffering and even death (mortality). The angel used a curious expression, "in a tabernacle of clay". Though "tabernacle of clay" is a unique expression that appears first in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, the expression is Biblically accurate, as we saw in Leviticus 26:11-13.

A definition that is derived from usage and is replete with examples helps not only in the establishing of semantic parameters but also in revealing information that could easily be missed otherwise. We saw how Moses, or dare we say God, defined "soul" to be a "life that has flesh and bones". We saw that "soul" connotes "mortality", that is, a soul is first subject to mortality. Then we examined a key example where this understanding of "soul" revealed what The Lord was conveying to ancient Israel, that there would come a time when He, The Lord God Himself, would assume mortality via flesh and bones. This very precept was made explicit by angelic ministration as expounded in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Readers, such as they may be, will be left to decide for themselves what the significance of these passages is, but however one chooses to see them, one thing is clear--they are actually textual.

One last point: Speaking of that future time when He would be housed in mortality The LORD said "my soul shall not abhor you". I put it to the reader that a forceful negation could be used as an emphatic affirmation. This is not unique to ancient Hebrew and is found in modern languages. The interpretation of "my soul shall not abhor you" may well be "in my mortal body I will demonstrate my ardent love for you." This is a direct reference to the Atonement, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, if the reader will have it.