Man not only has three parts within his spirit, but his soul also consists of three components.   These parts have three main functions: the Mind is the leading part, followed by the Will and the Emotions.

The parts of the soul are the inward parts.

Psalm 51:6 declares “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts…”

Knowledge is a function of the Mind. The soul needs knowledge.

Proverbs 19:2

² Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, and he sins who hastens with his feet.

Proverbs 24:14

¹⁴ So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; if you have found it, there is a prospect, and your hope will not be cut off.

Psalm 139:14 says the soul knows.

¹⁴ I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

Psalm 13:2 says the soul counsels, which refers to the mind.

² How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?

Lamentations 3:20 says the soul can remember.

²⁰ My soul still remembers and sinks within me.

From these verses, we can see that a part of the soul knows, considers, and remembers. This part is called the Mind.

Job 7:15 says the soul chooses.

¹⁵ So that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than my body.

To choose something is a decision made by the act of Will.

Job 6:7 says the soul refuses.

⁷ My soul refuses to touch them; they are as loathsome food to me.

To choose and refuse are both functions of the Will.

1 Chronicles 22:19 says, “set your soul to seek”

¹⁹ Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. 

Just as we set our Minds to think, so we set our soul to seek.

These verses prove that the Will must be a part of the soul.

Psalm 42:1 show that love is something in the soul.

¹ As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.

The Bible speaks of many expressions of our Emotions: love, hate, joy, and grief.

Song of Solomon 1:7

⁷ Tell me, O you whom I love, where you feed your flock, where you make it rest at noon. For why should I be as one who veils herself by the flocks of your companions?

2 Samuel 5:8

⁸ Now David said on that day, “Whoever climbs up by way of the water shaft and defeats the Jebusites (the lame and the blind, who are hated by David’s soul), he shall be chief and captain.” Therefore they say, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

Psalm 107:18

¹⁸ Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.

1 Samuel 1:18

¹⁸ And she said, “Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.” So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

Since love and hatred are expressions of Emotions, these verses prove that Emotions must be part of the soul.

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your living word. We praise You for Your revelations. Through them, we may know and understand ourselves in the light of Your truth.

In Him,

Marion