Is the concept of the guff biblical? What is the guff?

TL;DR:

The concept of the guff, said to be a place where souls are kept before they are sent to Earth, is found in the Talmud, a rabbinical Jewish book of tradition. The Bible nowhere mentions a guff or similar construct.

what does the bible say?

The word guff is used in the Talmud, which is a collection of Jewish writings explaining the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament. The Talmud asserts that the guff is a place where souls are kept before they are sent to Earth to be born as human beings. According to the Talmud, Messiah will not appear until the guff is empty—until every soul has been born a person. The Talmud is said to be a collection of the teachings of Moses which were handed down over centuries and eventually written down. The guff is a product of this Jewish tradition; the concept does not appear anywhere in the Bible.

from the old testament

God is intimately involved in human life from conception (Psalm 139:15–16),
The Bible seems to indicate several times that the soul and the physical body are created separately (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Isaiah 42:5; Zechariah 12:1; Hebrews 12:9).
There is no mention of the preexistence of souls in the Old Testament.

from the new testament

There is no mention of the preexistence of souls in the New Testament.

implications for today

Based on the absence of any biblical mention of the guff or a repository of souls awaiting birth, we are encouraged to develop a deeper reliance on the Bible alone for theological foundations. This challenges believers to engage critically with extra-biblical traditions and teachings, ensuring alignment with scriptural truths. Where tradition and Scripture conflict, Scripture must take precedence. This understanding also prompts Christians to explain their faith clearly to others, emphasizing that foundational beliefs about the human soul's creation stem directly from biblical revelation rather than from later traditions.

Understanding that God is the sole creator of our souls can profoundly impact how we rest in Him. Instead of contemplating on speculative theories about the soul’s creation, we can find assurance in God's intimate involvement in our existence from conception (Psalm 139:15–16). This truth invites us to rest in His sovereignty and care, trusting that He uniquely crafts each soul with purpose and intentionality. By embracing this biblical perspective, we are liberated from theological uncertainties and can confidently rest in the knowledge that our identities and destinies are securely held in God's hands. Resting in God as the creator of our souls gives us peace and should result in gratitude and worship.

understand

The Talmud asserts that the guff is a place where souls are kept before they are sent to Earth to be born as human being.
The guff is not a biblical concept.
Human souls did not preexist.

reflect

How does the absence of biblical support for the concept of the guff challenge or reinforce your understanding of theological truth derived solely from Scripture?
How can comparing everything with the Bible for theological understanding deepen your faith and relationship with God?
How does a deeper understanding of God's sovereignty over creation, including the creation of our souls, cause you to respond to Him?

engage

Among Christians, there are two widely accepted theories as to how the human soul is created, and neither includes the guff. The first is Traducianism, which says that the soul is created just as the body is created: by the union of mother and father. In Traducianism, the soul is inextricably linked to the physical body. The problem with this theory is that the Bible seems to indicate several times that the soul and the physical body are created separately (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Isaiah 42:5; Zechariah 12:1; Hebrews 12:9). The other theory is Creationism, which states that every time a sperm and egg come together to create an embryo, God creates a soul and places it with that embryo. We know that God is intimately involved in human life from conception (Psalm 139:15–16), so this seems to fit.
The argument against the Creationism theory is that Genesis seems to indicate that God is done creating (Genesis 2:2–3). The verse says God "rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done." The Hebrew word shabath, which means "desist" or "repose," is translated "rested" in this verse. Scholars tend to think that it indicates a permanent resting from creative work. However, God certainly can continue to create new souls if He wishes to do so. The truth is, we just don't know for certain how new souls are created. What we do know is that Scripture never mentions any repository of souls like the guff. There is no reason to think that God has a storehouse of human souls waiting for bodies.
What principles should guide Christians in navigating the tension between tradition and Scripture when addressing theological concepts not explicitly mentioned in the Bible, like the guff?