What does Ellen White write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "Meaning of the soul in the Bible; can my soul praise God?"
Answer
In the Bible, the term “soul” (Hebrew *nephesh*, Greek *psuche*) describes a person as a living, breathing being in its organized wholeness of body and life force, rather than a part separated from the body. It is not only possible to praise God with the soul, but it is expressly called for to praise God with “heart, soul, and voice” for His goodness. This praise arises from a close relationship with God and often expresses itself through holy songs and gratitude.
The meaning of the soul as a living being
»We say that the true meaning of soul is a creature that lives by breathing; and since the essential attribute of such a creature is life, life often stands as the correct meaning for soul. When soul is applied to a person, it can be translated as life, soul, human, you, yourself, person, I myself, yourself, etc., depending on the text. ... But we understand that Paul prayed that they might be preserved as beings, body, life, and breath. The word rendered as soul in this text is psuche.«
The call to praise God with the whole soul
»I praise the Lord with heart, soul, and voice, and I pray that He leads all into the whole truth, those who wish to be led. ... "Praise the Lord, my soul, and all that is within me, praise His holy name.«
Strengthening the soul through praise
»Open the windows of the soul heavenward and let the rays of the sun of righteousness in. Do not lament. Do not look at the dark side. Let the peace of God reign in your soul. ... Praise the Lord; speak of His goodness; tell of His power. Sweeten the atmosphere that surrounds your soul. ... Praise Him with heart, soul, and voice.«
Spiritual life and the soul's hymn of praise
»I heard the songs of children and parents: "If the Lord does not build the house, then those who build it work in vain; if the Lord does not guard the city, then the watchman watches in vain." "Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God as long as I exist.«
Obedience and the soul's response
»Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul preserves them." ... "Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me." ... "My soul preserves Your testimonies, and I love them beyond measure.«
Original Sources (English)
Stephan Krol
Founder of EGW Vision
Why I built EGW Vision
Hello, I am Stephan Krol. I started this Ellen White website to make the writings of Ellen G. White and the Adventist pioneers easier to access for everyone.
EGW Vision helps you find topics, statements, and quotes faster, especially when many original sources are not yet fully available in your language. The tool searches semantically, groups relevant content by topic, and presents matching results as clearly as possible in your language.
My hope is that this tool supports personal Bible study, strengthens trust in the original sources, and helps more people discover the message of these writings with clarity, depth, and joy.
