The words nephesh in Hebrew and psuche in Greek mean soul. Soul and spirit have some similar and many different meanings in the Bible. The soul occasionally refers to the life within us. Since this is similar to the spirit, many assume they are the same and make critical errors interpreting Scripture. There are more differences than similarities between the spirit and the soul.
Most scholars agree the soul is the essence of our being, our consciousness.
This is clearly one of the meanings. The soul can also mean our whole being. According to many Scriptures, we are souls. Then fear came upon every soul . . . Once they disobeyed, they were subject to death.