Life

Life (properly חִי, usually in the plur. with a sing. meaning, חִיַּים; Gr. ζωή), generally of physical life and existence, as opposed to death and non- existence (Ge 2:7; Ge 25:7; Lu 16:25; Ac 17:25; 1Co 3:22; 1Co 15:19; Heb 7:3; Jas 4:14; Re 11:11; Re 16:3). See LONGEVITY. The ancients generally entertained the idea that the vital principle (which they appear to have denoted by the term spirit, in distinction from the soul itself, comp. 1Th 5:23) resided particularly in the blood, which, on that account, the Jews were forbidden to use as food (Le 17:11). See BLOOD. Other terms occasionally rendered "life" in the Scriptures are נֶפֶשׁ (ne'phesh, a living creature), יוֹם (yorn, a day, i.e., a lifetime), βίος (lifetime), πνεῦμα (breath, i.e., spirit), ψυχή (soul, or animating principle).

The term life is also used more or less figuratively in the following acceptations in Scripture:

(1.) For existence, life, absolutely and without end, immortality (Heb 7:16). So also "tree of life," or of immortality, which preserves from death (Re 2:7,14; Ge 2:9; Ge 3:22); "bread of life" (Joh 6:35,51); "way of life" (Ps 16:11; Ac 2:28); "water of life," 1. living fountains of water, perennial (Re 7:17); crown of life, the reward of eternal life (Jas 1:12; Re 2:10). See BOOK; see BREAD; see CROWN; see FOUNTAIN; see TREE, etc.