THE CREATION OF MAN: Genesis 2 expands on the passage in Genesis 1:26-28 in reference to the creation of man and woman: “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. The word “soul” is translated as: life, person, mind, heart, creature, body, etc.
We cannot from this passage infer to any form of sentiment suggesting that man continues after death. The word ‘soul’ combines the ‘breath of life’ and the dust of the ground to refer to a living being. At this stage, there has not been an example of death. Scripture does not imply ‘an immortal soul’. This phrase “living being” – Hebrew ‘nephesh chayim’: can also refer to the animal creation. A ‘living being’ is man or animal as referred to in Genesis 1:20, 21, 30; 7:21-22. Paul quotes Genesis 3:7 and applies this verse to a “natural body”, 1 Corinthians 15:44-45. Hence, the ‘immortality of the soul,’ is an invention outside of the Bible. The “breath of life” is not unique to mankind, but is vital in sustaining “all flesh”, both animal & human. Genesis 7:22, Ecclesiastes 3:19