Nephesh is often translated soul, but the Hebrew idea is richer and more whole than our word suggests. When God breathed into the man, he became a living nephesh — a living being, a whole animated self. Nephesh is not a ghostly part trapped in a body; it is the living person entire, body and breath and life together.
This is why the Psalms address the nephesh so tenderly and directly — Bless the LORD, O my nephesh; why art thou cast down, O my nephesh? To love God with all your nephesh is to love him with your whole living self. Nephesh reminds us that God cares about the whole person, and that our life and breath are his gift.
Nephesh in Scripture
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.