Greek · G5590, G4982 · unreviewed
ψυχὴν σῶσαι
Soul · to save
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ψυχή G5590 soul
Pronunciation psychḗ
The animating life-principle that encompasses will, desires, and affections as the seat of personal identity
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σώζω G4982 to save
Pronunciation sṓzō
Salvation encompasses past redemption, present grace, and future glory—three temporal dimensions of deliverance.
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What does ψυχὴν σῶσαι (psychēn sōsai) mean in the Bible?
ψυχή · σώζω is a Greek word meaning "to save life, preserve a person".
Full entry for ψυχὴν σῶσαι (G5590, G4982) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
to save life, preserve a person
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
Nominative · Singular · Feminine Matt 6:25 · Matt 12:18 · Matt 26:38 · Mark 14:34 · Luke 1:46 · Luke 12:23 · John 12:27 · Acts 3:23 · Acts 4:32 · Acts 20:10 · Rom 13:1 · 1 Thess 5:23 · Heb 10:38 · 3 John 1:2 · Rev 16:3 15×
Nominative · Plural · Feminine Acts 2:41 · Acts 27:37 · 1 Pet 3:20 3×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine Matt 16:26 · Mark 8:37 · Mark 12:30 · Acts 27:22 · Rom 16:4 · Eph 6:6 · Col 3:23 · Heb 4:12 · Heb 6:19 · Heb 10:39 · 1 Pet 2:11 · Rev 18:14 12×
Genitive · Plural · Feminine Acts 27:10 · 2 Cor 12:15 · Heb 13:17 · 1 Pet 1:9 · 1 Pet 2:25 5×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Matt 6:25 · Matt 22:37 · Luke 10:27 · Luke 12:19 · Luke 12:22 · Acts 2:43 · Phil 1:27 · Phil 2:30 8×
Dative · Plural · Feminine Matt 11:29 · Acts 7:14 · Heb 12:3 3×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Matt 2:20 · Matt 10:28 · Matt 10:39 · Matt 16:25 · Matt 16:26 · Matt 20:28 · Mark 3:4 · Mark 8:35 · Mark 8:36 · Mark 10:45 · Luke 2:35 · Luke 6:9 · Luke 9:24 · Luke 12:20 · Luke 14:26 · Luke 17:33 40×
Accusative · Plural · Feminine Luke 21:19 · Acts 14:2 · Acts 14:22 · Acts 15:24 · Acts 15:26 · 1 Thess 2:8 · Jas 1:21 · 1 Pet 1:22 · 1 Pet 4:19 · 2 Pet 2:14 · 1 John 3:16 · Rev 6:9 · Rev 8:9 · Rev 18:13 · Rev 20:4 15×
Vocative · Singular · Feminine Luke 12:19 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 102 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 51 future 31 present 11 perfect 8 imperfect 1
Voice
passive 53 active 49
Mood
indicative 51 infinitive 24 subjunctive 10 imperative 10 participle 7
NT Occurrences
Matthew 1:21 σώσει future active indicative prospective Matthew 8:25 σῶσον aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 9:21 σωθήσομαι future passive indicative prospective Matthew 9:22 σέσωκέν perfect active indicative resultant Matthew 9:22 ἐσώθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 10:22 σωθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Matthew 14:30 σῶσόν aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 16:25 σῶσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 19:25 σωθῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive Matthew 24:13 σωθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Matthew 24:22 ἐσώθη aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 27:40 σῶσον aorist active imperative imperative Matthew 27:42 ἔσωσεν aorist active indicative completed Matthew 27:42 σῶσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Matthew 27:49 σώσων future active participle participle Mark 3:4 σῶσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Mark 5:23 σωθῇ aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Mark 5:28 σωθήσομαι future passive indicative prospective Mark 5:34 σέσωκέν perfect active indicative resultant Mark 6:56 ἐσῴζοντο imperfect passive indicative background Mark 8:35 σῶσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Mark 8:35 σώσει future active indicative prospective Mark 10:26 σωθῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive Mark 10:52 σέσωκέν perfect active indicative resultant Mark 13:13 σωθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Mark 13:20 ἐσώθη aorist passive indicative completed Mark 15:30 σῶσον aorist active imperative imperative Mark 15:31 ἔσωσεν aorist active indicative completed Mark 15:31 σῶσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Mark 16:16 σωθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Luke 6:9 σῶσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 7:50 σέσωκέν perfect active indicative resultant Luke 8:12 σωθῶσιν aorist passive subjunctive subjunctive Luke 8:36 ἐσώθη aorist passive indicative completed Luke 8:48 σέσωκέν perfect active indicative resultant Luke 8:50 σωθήσεται future passive indicative prospective Luke 9:24 σῶσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 9:24 σώσει future active indicative prospective Luke 13:23 σῳζόμενοι present passive participle participle Luke 17:19 σέσωκέν perfect active indicative resultant
+62 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Cross-Language Connections
Hebrew roots and equivalents that share conceptual or etymological ground with this Greek word.
נֶפֶשׁ nafsho H5315 Related Hebrew
properly, a breathing creature , i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality ; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental)
רוּחַ rûaḥ H7307 Related Hebrew
wind ; by resemblance breath , i.e. a sensible (or even violent) exhalation ; figuratively, life , anger , unsubstantiality ; by extension, a region of the sky ; by resemblance spirit , but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions)
חַי ḥay H2416 Related Hebrew
alive ; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong ; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
1 Corinthians 10 — Learn from Israel, Flee Idolatry, and Seek the Good of Others for God’s Glory 1 Corinthians 15 — Christ Is Risen, the Dead Will Be Raised, and Death Will Be Destroyed Acts 11 — Jerusalem Recognizes God’s Grace to the Gentiles Acts 14 — Through Many Hardships into the Kingdom Acts 15 — The Gospel of Grace Clarified and the Gentiles Received Acts 16 — The Gospel Enters Macedonia: Opened Hearts, Broken Chains, and Household Faith Acts 20 — Paul’s Farewell Charge to Shepherd the Church of God Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God Acts 4 — Christ Alone Saves and His Witnesses Speak Boldly Colossians 3 — Raised with Christ: Putting Off the Old Life and Putting On the New John 10 — The Good Shepherd, the Door, and the Son One with the Father John 12 — The Anointed King, the Lifted-Up Son of Man, and the Hour of Glory John 13 — The Servant-Lord, the Washed Disciples, and the New Command of Love John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 17 — Faithful Servants, Grateful Cleansing, and the Coming Kingdom Luke 18 — Persistent Faith, Humble Mercy, and the King on the Road to Jerusalem Luke 23 — The Innocent King Condemned, Crucified with Transgressors, and Buried in Hope Luke 6 — The Lord of the Sabbath Forms a Kingdom People Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Luke 8 — The Word Heard, the Kingdom Revealed, and the Lord’s Authority Displayed Luke 9 — The Christ Revealed, the Cross Announced, and the Jerusalem Road Begun Mark 10 — The Way of the Servant King: Marriage, Children, Wealth, Cross, Ransom, and Sight Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 13 — Watch and Endure: Temple Judgment, Gospel Witness, Tribulation, the Son of Man, and Readiness Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial Mark 3 — The Servant-King Confronted: Sabbath Mercy, Demonic Accusation, and the Family of God Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Mark 6 — Rejected Prophet, Sending Lord, Wilderness Shepherd, and Divine Son on the Sea Mark 8 — Seeing Jesus Clearly: Bread, Blindness, Confession, Cross, and Discipleship Matthew 1 — The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus the Messiah Matthew 10 — The Mission of the Twelve, Costly Witness, and Allegiance to Christ Matthew 14 — The Death of John, the Compassion of Jesus, and the Son of God over Bread, Sea, and Fear Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 19 — Marriage from Creation, Children Received, Riches Renounced, and the Reward of Following Christ Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 6 — Hidden Righteousness, the Father’s Reward, and Seeking First the Kingdom Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest Philippians 2 — The Mind of Christ and the Humility of Gospel Witness Romans 10 — Christ the End of the Law and the Righteousness Received by Faith Romans 11 — The Remnant, the Grafted Gentiles, and the Mercy of God Toward Israel Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day Romans 9 — God’s Faithfulness, Sovereign Mercy, and Israel’s Stumbling Over Christ
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain