yhwh life hayyim khayim

the word life ḥayyim khayim denotes first of all the fisical existence which according to scripture begins when the breath or spirit ruakḥ neshamah or nefesh of elohim yhwh  is first inhaled through the nostrils of the created human being adam genesis bereshit 1:30 2:7 7:22 job yiov 33:4 and ceases when yhwh elohim withdraws his breath psalms tehillim 104:29 144:4 job iyob  34:14 ecclesiastes 12:7 

life hayyim is the gracious gift of elohim yhwh job iyov 10:12 psalms tehillim 30:5

 

with elohim yhwh is the fountain of life psalms tehillim 36:9

 

physical life is valued by the hebrew as a precious good given that he may walk before elohim yhwh in the land or in the light of the living psalms tehillim 56:13 116:9 compare isaiah 38:11 job iyov 33:30

 

a long life in ancient times was regarded as the reward of virtue and piety exodus shemot 20:12 deuteronomy devarim 22:7 32:47 psalms tehillim 34:15 proverbs 3:2 4:10 9:11 12:28, 21:21 

the expressions "fountain of life" and "tree of life" (prov. xi. 30, xiii. 12, xv. 4) point to the paradise legend (gen. ii. 9-10) and possibly refer to a higher life 

the brevity of life is a theme frequently dwelt upon by the poets (ps. xxxix. 6 [a. v. 5], xc. 9-10, ciii. 15; job ix. 5, xiv. 1-2).

but it is the ethical view of life which is chiefly hebrew characteristic in that life is sacred and it should accordingly be guarded and treated with due regard and tenderness in every being man or beast (gen. ix. 6; lev. xix. 16; deut. xxii. 7, xxv. 4; see cruelty) 

the "righteous man regardeth the life of his beast" (prov. xii. 10) 

the whole law is summed up in the words: "i have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life" (deut. xxx. 19); 

and the law of conduct toward others is stated in the words: "let thy brother live with thee" (lev. xxv. 35-36, hebr.). 

the entire object of the law is the preservation of life: "ye shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, which if a man do he shall live by [a. v. "in"] them" (lev. xviii. 4, hebr.).

a long life is regarded as heaven's reward for certain virtues he who performs only one meritorious act will have his life prolonged the object of the law is the preservation of life and not its destruction”; 

hence, ordinarily, one should rather transgress acommandment than incur death; only in regard to the three capital sins—idolatry, murder, and incest—should man give up his life rather than desecrate elohim yhwh law  "better to extinguish the light on sabbath than to extinguish life, which is yhwh elohim light" 

life eternal."ḥayye 'olam” 

(eternal life ḥayye 'olam; dan. xii. 2; enoch, xxxvii. 4, xl. 9) occurs often in hebrew terminology as "ḥayye 'olam ha-ba" (the life of the world to come; 

hebrew sayings: "the pious live even in death; the wicked are dead even in life”  

"life" for "eternal life" that is, possess eternal life: (1) elohim (jer. x. 10); (2) the torah (prov. iii. 18); (3) israel (deut. iv. 5); (4) the righteous (prov. xi. 30); (5) paradise (ps. cxvi. 9); (6) the tree of life (gen. ii. 9); (7) the holy land (ezek. xxvi. 20); (8) benevolent works (ps. lxiii. 4 [a. v. 3]); (9) the wise (prov. xiii. 15); (10) 

the fountain of waters in jerusalem (zech. xiv. 8; ab. r. n. xxxiv. "dost thou wish life? look to the fear of elohim, which increases the number of man's days; look for affliction; look to the study of the torah and observe the commandments" (comp. prov. iii. 18, iv. 4, vi. 23, x. 27). 

the torah is called "medicine of life" deut. 45 see also book of life