What Soul Ties Mean And What The Bible Teaches Us About It

The term “soul tie” is not a biblical concept, and its origins may be traced back to New Age thinking. The notion originates in secular self-help fads and mainstream psychology. The concept of “soul ties” has gained popularity on TikTok and among Generation Z, who are increasingly searching outside religion for the answers to life’s most profound questions, including the soul ties meaning bible.

Megan Weks, a relationship specialist, explains, “The human mind deliberately and subconsciously seeks sensations of safety and significance by leaning toward structures that offer shape and apparent knowledge.” To find significance in their lives, younger generations are increasingly turning to concepts like the soul tie.

What Are Soul Ties?

Humans established the notion of “soul ties,” which refers to a bond between two people. Some proponents of this concept assert that both participants in a relationship experience a soul-to-soul bond.

Others feel that soul ties relate to a deep connection based on physical and emotional energy. A recurring topic among proponents of this theory is that the relationship between two people is a mystic one.

This so-called soul tie between two people’s souls is frequently established through sexual actions. People frequently utilize the word to promote the idea of finding the person who “completes” them. Other soul ties might be formed between two friends or between people who have known each other in “previous lifetimes.”

Christians who advocate the concept of soul bonds misapply Bible verses to support their position. In addition, these Christians frequently engage in “deliverance” ministries, where they assist individuals to “break” soul ties as part of their struggle against evil spirits. They think that demons may move between soul-bound individuals.

What Does The Bible Say About Soul Ties?

What makes soul ties[1] biblical depends on who makes the connection. The only person with whom individuals may become spiritually one is the Lord. One biblical example can be found in Corinthians 6:17: “Whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.” Upon experiencing salvation, we become “one” with Christ and are in Him.

He places the Holy Spirit within us as His dwelling (John 14:16). Both we and He are centered on Him. John the Apostle elucidated this truth in his writings: “God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us” (1 John 4:13, NLT). Therefore, our souls and spirits are united with Christ and no one else.

Is Marriage The Same As Soul Ties?

Christians who believe in soul ties assert that the Bible makes reference to this ethereal connection. However, their usage of Scripture reveals a superficial familiarity with the Bible.

“That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh,” from Genesis 2:24, is a popular scripture for Christians and non-Christians alike.

Be mindful that the idea of a soul tie between a husband and wife is not mentioned in this text. Instead, the Bible stresses how a man and a woman might become “one body” through their marriage.

The reason God condemns extramarital sex is not that it creates soul bonds but because it is forbidden outside of marriage. He established the institution of marriage, which unites a man and a woman (Mark 10:7–9). This becomes sin, defined as doing something contrary to God’s will.

All sexual activities outside of wedlock are a sin since they go against God’s plan (1 Corinthians 6:15–16). Because individuals are so frequently acting on immoral inclinations in these relationships, harm is done.

Couples do not merge their spirits when they become “one flesh.” In a spouse, one does not discover their “better half,” as the expression goes, because people are not divisible in two. Being “complete” is not a prerequisite for finding a spouse. In Christ, one has everything one needs (Colossians 2:10).

Marriage isn’t a permanent institution since it ends when one of the partners dies, in contrast to the purportedly eternal bond of soul ties that transcends both time and “other lifetimes” (1 Corinthians 7:39). Throughout all of time and space, there are no marriages or sexual encounters (Matthew 22:30).

People are only meant to die once, and after that, they will be judged; therefore, there is no way for them to be tied to someone from a previous life (Hebrews 9:27). As a result, the soul-tying definition of marriage is not equal to the biblical understanding of marriage.

Can Friends Experience Soul Ties?

Christians with deliverance ministries often cite the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Bible. 1 Samuel 18:1 says, “And it came to pass when he had made an end of discourse unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (KJV).

According to those who believe in soul ties, the line in question emphasizes the spiritual “knitting” or “binding” of Jonathan and David. The idea that this line lends support to the concept of “soul ties” is wrong. Close friends, Jonathan and David shared many interests.

Several contemporary Bible translations, including the CSB, express this idea accurately: “When David had finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan was bound to David in close friendship and loved him as much as he loved himself” (1 Samuel 18:1).

The verse was written to highlight their close friendship, but it does not suggest that their souls were inexorably tied in a mystical bond. In contrast, the exceptional relationship between these two men is an example.

It wasn’t a supernatural bond that kept them together, but rather their mutual respect and devotion to God. They were bound together not by blood but by a promise of friendship (1 Samuel 18:3–4; 1 Samuel 20:42).

How Are Soul Ties Formed?

Do you recall a time when you were unable to free yourself from the clutches of someone you knew was bad for you? It’s possible that you had some inkling that they weren’t the one, but you still couldn’t bring yourself to let go.

For emotional reasons, you just couldn’t stop seeing the person. Despite everything they had done to damage you, you still held strong feelings for them. In addition, you were unable to recover from the breakup without first figuring out why you felt so stuck. If you’re wondering why and how these soul ties are formed, here’s how:

Sexual Relationship

Godly soul ties are created through marriage, as stated in Ephesians 5:31, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.” Marriage creates a Godly soul tie between a husband and the woman whom God intended for him (Mark 10:7–9).

Nevertheless, when a person commits sexual sin with another, unholy soul links are created (1 Corinthians 6:16: “What? Know ye not that he who is joined to a harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh”). This harmful soul tie splits the soul. Because their souls are shattered, it is extremely difficult for people who have had several prior relationships to “bond” or be united with anyone.

This is because sex is not only physical; it is also an emotional and spiritual connection, and there is no way to guard a person’s heart against an unholy soul tie when they have sex outside of marriage.

The fact that soul ties exist is also supported by scientific findings. As Marian Jordan Ellis discusses in her book “Sex and the Single Christian Girl,” both males and females produce hormones during sexual activity. Oxytocin is a potent hormone that is secreted by women; this hormone is what drives women to emotionally attach to and adhere to males. The more oxytocin is produced, the more bonding occurs.

Scientists have discovered that the bonding hormone oxytocin is created spontaneously in the brain and released during physical intimacy, particularly during sexual climax. Females develop a deeper level of trust and experience a surge of intense connection. A soul tie describes this psychic and emotional bond.

Unlike oxytocin, which is largely secreted in women’s brains, vasopressin is produced in men. These hormones trigger a man’s attachment to a woman during sexual intercourse. It has been dubbed the “commitment hormone” or the “monogamy molecule” by some.

This chemical increases feelings of loyalty and the desire to commit. A sensation of jealousy and the desire to protect one’s partner result from this feeling.

Close Relationships

The friendship between King David and Jonathan resulted in a good soul tie (1 Samuel 18:1, “And it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.”). On the other hand, toxic bonds between souls can also develop in the midst of unhappy partnerships. A negative soul bond might develop if you idolize that person.

Developing an unhealthy obsession with a rock band is also a way to form a deep emotional bond with its members. This explains why some songs have such a powerful hold on your emotions.

Vows, Commitments, And Agreements

There is no reason to discount the idea of vows or pledges as a way to form a soul bond, given that vows are known to bind the soul (Numbers 30:2) and marriage itself consists of vows and links the two persons together (Ephesians 5:31).

Why Do Soul Ties Matter?

To what extent, then, can sharing an ungodly soul with another person lead? Intimacy and commitment in a marriage may be fostered through the development of soul links. Sexual soul bonds in romantic relationships can be healthy within the context of marriage, but outside of it, they can be harmful to one’s mental, spiritual, and physical health.

In his book Relationship Goals, Michael Todd writes, “Ungodly soul ties can cause delayed destiny, wasted time, emotional stress, trust issues, bitterness, insecurities, and more issues in a person’s life.”

One of the most common reasons why individuals fail to reach the relationship goals God has for us is because they develop ungodly soul ties.

A person’s ability to pursue healthy relationships with the right person and experience God’s best for their life might be hindered if they have created an unholy soul tie with another person.

Soul ties between married couples pull them closer together, whereas those between fornicators can cause a battered and mistreated woman to run to a man she would normally despise and flee from, despite the fact that he doesn’t love her and treats her like trash.

So that you don’t fall for this false teaching, it’s necessary to be aware of how individuals who advocate the concept of soul bonds twist and misapply the Bible.

How Do You Break A Soul Tie?

If you want to free yourself from an ungodly soul tie, repenting or turning away from the person is a good place to start. Confession of sin and repentance toward God are the next stages in freeing one’s soul from attachment to sin. In order to receive God’s forgiveness and healing, the Bible tells us that we should confess our sins to Him and to others.

You should renounce and dissolve the soul bond when you’ve recognized your sin and admitted to forging the relationship. To renounce is to publicly declare that you are no longer aligned with the soul bond you previously acknowledged having created. A person who renounces the soul tie is effectively informing God that they are no longer in agreement with the link that was made.

You need to beg God to break the soul tie for you and then announce it to be broken in the name of Jesus Christ once you have renounced the ungodly soul tie.

It takes the might of the Holy Spirit and God’s love to sever a soul tie, which is a spiritual bond. Anyone who has put their faith in Jesus as Savior already possesses the Holy Spirit. This binding of the soul can be severed by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Summary

Soul ties can bind people together in various ways, but at their core, they serve to connect two souls in the afterlife. This is not a biblical concept, despite the fact that many pastors and Christians talk about it. It’s an unhealthy, dangerously authoritarian concept that gives people too much control over others and is not supported by evidence or the Bible.

In light of this, if you’re ready to move on to a new romantic relationship, you shouldn’t feel shackled by any lingering soul ties. God doesn’t want you to gaze behind you out of worry that someone has stolen your identity or taken something from you that you can never get back.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Signs Of Soul Ties?

Signs of soul ties include deep emotional bonds, intense attachment, feeling responsible for the other’s well-being, difficulty setting boundaries, and experiencing the other’s emotions as one’s own.

What Are The 4 Types Of Soul Ties?

The four types of soul ties encompass: godly ties, characterized by mutual love; ungodly ties, rooted in unhealthy dynamics; romantic ties, forged through deep connections; and ties to objects or places, holding sentimental value.

What Happens After You Break A Soul Tie?

After breaking a soul tie, individuals often experience a period of emotional healing and personal growth as they reclaim their sense of self and establish healthier boundaries. Breaking a soul tie allows for the release of toxic emotional attachments and enables individuals to regain autonomy over their emotions and decisions.

While the process can be challenging and may involve feelings of loss or grief, it ultimately fosters greater independence, emotional resilience, and the opportunity to cultivate healthier relationships built on mutual respect and genuine connection.