Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
ψυχω
The verb ψυχω (psucho) means to breathe, or rather to draw breath. Since the need to draw breath demonstrates that the person who does the breathing is in want of something (the deeper the need, the deeper the breathing), the act of breathing is a show of want, and ultimately a frantic taking of resources for oneself (note that the Hebrew word for man or mankind — אנוש, 'enosh — derives from a verb that is identical to the verb אנש, anash, meaning to be sick or weak).
In classical Greek literature, a fire that "draws breath" is one that's needy, and thus getting cooler and thus going out. And water that "draws breath" dries up. In these senses, our verb is applied in its only Biblical occurrence, namely in Matthew 24:12, where Jesus says that lawlessness will cause most people's love to "suffocate".
Our verb's companion verb is πνεω (pneo), which concentrates on expelling breath, or blowing. From this latter verb comes the familiar noun πνευμα (pneuma), usually translated with "spirit", while from our verb ψυχω (psucho) comes the noun ψυχη (psuche), which is often rendered "soul".
Hence a soul is someone's private thing (including one's character, thinking and courage), while a spirit is someone's social thing (kindness, empathy), but please see our article on the latter noun for a brief discussion on why these popular words "spirit" and "soul" are quite disastrous and why translators should diligently avoid them.
The derivatives of our verb ψυχω (psucho) are:
- Together with the preposition ανα (ana), in this case denoting a rising above a situation: the verb αναψυχω (anapsucho), literally denoting a rising from a state of depletion, hence to refresh or invigorate (2 Timothy 1:16 only). From this verb comes:
- The noun αναψυξις (anapsuxis), denoting a refreshment or the act of making or getting refreshed (Acts 3:19 only).
- Together with the preposition απο (apo), meaning from: the verb αποψυχω (apopsucho), denoting a feeble state of mind due to depletion: to be faint of heart (Luke 21:26 only).
- Together with the preposition εκ (ek), meaning out or from: the verb εκψυχω (ekpsucho), meaning to expire or die (Acts 5:5, 5:10 and 12:23 only).
- Together with the preposition κατα (kata), meaning down: the verb καταψυχω (katapsucho), literally to diminish desires, to relieve (Luke 16:24 only).
- The celebrated and much misconceived noun ψυχη (psuche), which simply denotes a being that draws breath (but read our feature article on this word for a lengthy discussion). This noun occurs 105 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and from it come the following compounds:
- Together with the particle of negation α (a): the adjective αψυχος (apsuchos), meaning breathless or inanimate (1 Corinthians 14:7 only).
- Together with the adverb δις (dis), meaning twice: the adjective διψυχος (dipsuchos), literally meaning twice-breathing. It appears that this word was coined by James (following the formula of the next few adjectives), who equaled double-minded people with "double-puffers/panters" (James 1:8 and 4:8 only).
- Together with the adjective ισος (isos), meaning alike or equal: the adjective ισοψυχος (isopsuchos), meaning like-minded, or of the same motivation (Philippians 2:20 only).
- Together with the adjective ολιγος (oligos), meaning small or few: the adjective ολιγοψυχος (oligopsuchos), meaning literally of few or little breath(s). Most commentators interpret this word to mean "fainthearted/fretful" but here at Abarim Publications we guess it denotes narrowness of motivation: "narrow-minded" (1 Thessalonians 5:14 only).
- Together with the preposition συν (sun), meaning together or with: the lovely adjective συμψυχος (sumpsuchos), meaning joined-in-breath or like-minded (Philippians 2:2 only).
- The adjective ψυχικος (psuchikos), which refers to the need or want that motivates a breath-based creature to draw breath. Being needy is what drives the biosphere, but humans have the ability to cultivate needs and ways to meet them by means of working together with other people and create a satisfying culture for all involved.
The adjective ψυχικος (psuchikos) literally describes an animated being: animalistic and naturally selfish human (with cold or no love), while its counterpart, the πνευματικος (pneumatikos) describes the human as part of a social super-organism (in which love is warm). Both these words occur in 1 Corinthians 15:44. Our adjective ψυχικος (psuchikos) is used 6 times; see full concordance.
- The noun ψυχος (psuchos), describes a perceived cold; an experienced lack of warmth or liveliness (John 18:18, Acts 28:2 and 2 Corinthians 11:27 only).
- The adjective ψυχρος (psuchros), also meaning cold. This adjective is used 4 times in three verses; see full concordance.