Three of these ways are particularly interesting, and they are these: It is used of man as an individual and when it is used that way it is usually translated person, man, any, or soul. Now the second way is, man exercising certain powers. We're going to look at one so that you'll see what I mean and this in Genesis 27:4. Now there it says (Isaac is the speaker and he's speaking to Esau),
That's an example of nephesh being used to show a man exercising a power. Isaac had the power to bless his son. He wanted to eat before he did that. He wanted to feel good. He wanted a certain meal, and so he said, "that my soul may bless you."
