an old English word of Saxon origin (Germ. geist), equivalent to soul or spirit, occurs as the translation of the Heb.
ðֶôֶùׁ
, ne'phesh, and the Greek
ðíåῦìá
, both signifying breath, life, spirit, or living principle, by which and similar terms they are elsewhere rendered (Job_11:20; Jer_15:9; Mat_27:50; Joh_19:30). It frequently occurs in the N.T. in the sacred name "Holy Ghost." SEE SPIRIT. Other phrases in which it occurs are those rendered to "give up the ghost," etc., all simply signifying to die, e.g.
âָּéִ
, to expire (Lam_1:19; Gen_25:17; Gen_35:29; Gen_49:33; Job_3:11; Job_10:18; Job_13:19; Job_14:10)
ÝêðíÝù
to breathe out, etc., one's life (Mar_15:37; Mar_15:39; Luk_23:46);
ἐêøý÷ù
, to breathe out one's last (Act_5:5; Act_5:10; Act_12:23). Many commentators suppose, from the original terms used in the Gospels (
Üöῆêå ôὸ ðíåῦìá
, Mat_27:50;
ðáñÝäùêå ôὸ ðíåῦìá
, Joh_19:30), something preternatural in Christ's death, as being the effect of his volition. But there is, nothing in the words of Scripture to countenance such an opinion, though our Saviors volition must be supposed to accompany his offering himself for the sins of the world. The Greek words rendered yielded up, and gave up, are no other than such as is frequently used, both in the Septuagint (Gen_35:18; comp. Psa_31:5; Ecc_12:7) and the classical writers, of expiration, either with the spirit or the soul (Josephus, Ant. 5:2, 8; 7:13, 3; Alian, H. An. 2:1; Herod. 4:190. SEE SPECTRE.