Reason #2 – “Soul” in Ezekiel refers to the whole person, not just the spirit of man, and so does not refer to eternal death.
Those who wrongly assume “death” means spiritual death in Ezekiel 18, make the same wrong assumption where the “soul” is mentioned. An erroneous understanding is built from the first assumption. It is reasoned that if this passage presents spiritual life and death, then the word “soul” must be the part of man subject to spiritual life and death. And if works play a part in this spiritual life and death, then it is reasoned this must confirm works play a part in the salvation of Old Testament people. Here it is presented in another way.
| Assumption #3 | Works leading to life or death must be the Old Testament plan of salvation |
| Assumption #2 | “Soul” must be the part of man subject to spiritual death |
| Assumption #1 | “Death” must be spiritual |
This reasoning is a “house of cards.” Once it is understood that Ezekiel 18 refers to physical life and death (Assumption #1), then it is easy to understand why the works produced in the context of this passage have nothing to do with justification unto eternal life.
By necessity, those who see the passage in terms of spiritual life and death believe the word “soul” must refer to the second part of man’s trichotomy (spirit, soul, body – cp. 1 Thessalonians 5:23) or a combination of soul and spirit. However, once again, this forces a meaning on the passage without consideration of the context. The Hebrew word “nephesh” is often, but not always, translated into the English word “soul.” It is used in a variety of contexts in the Old Testament. Here are a few examples of places where it is translated “soul” in the Old Testament.
In some places it refers to the individual man.
(Exodus 1:5) “And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.”
(Exodus 12:4) “And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.”
(Ezekiel 13:18) “And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?”
In other places, it is translated “soul” where man exercises certain powers or performs certain actions.
(Genesis 27:4) “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.”
(1 Samuel 1:26) “And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.”
(Ezekiel 4:14) “Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.”
And yet in other places, “nephesh” is translated “soul” to refer to mortal man, subject to physical death, salvation, and prolonged life.
(Genesis 12:13) “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.”
- Notice Abraham’s soul referred to his physical life in this context.
(1 Samuel 24:11) “Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet thou huntest my soul to take it.”
- Notice David is referred to his physical life.
(Ezekiel 18:27) “Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.”
- Notice it is the wicked man who turns away from his wickedness that saves his soul alive.
It is entirely consistent with the system of physical promises and physical punishments given to the nation Israel for death of the “soul” in Ezekiel 18 to mean physical death. Even if one would like to take the contrary position, there is little if not less evidence, to support the concept of “soul” being the part of man subject to spiritual death in this context.
