We should be aware, and concerned, that important information is lost as modern bibles attempt to be modern, and readable.  See my pages Why the KING JAMES BIBLE, and Is the Bible Really the "Word of God"? for more information. 

For example, the modern Bibles or versions, employ the naturalistic rendering, “he breathed his last” versus the KJV, supernatural rendering, “he gave up the Ghost.”  They can “get away with it” because of the dual meaning of both, “pneuma” in the Greek of the New Testament, and its corresponding word in Hebrew in the Old Testament.   

So, how does God wants it rendered?  Within the whole scope of God’s purpose, it is of little or NO importance for us to be aware, that at death, a person “breathes his last.” But, it is enormously important within God’ big purpose that a person realize that at death he or she will “give up the ghost.” His or her soul will continue to live elsewhere! 

God wants each person to be “on notice” that at death their soul and spirit are going to depart for somewhere else.  According to the Bible that “somewhere else” may be very nice or very horrible.  This is why the supernatural rendering used in the KJV is enormously important.  One's eternal destiny is at stake.

Genesis 2:7  KJB:  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. 

Modern Bible:  then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. 

Matthew 27:50  KJB:  Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 

Modern Bible:  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.   

Mark 15:37  KJB:  And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.  

Modern Bible:  And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.   

Mark 15:39  KJB:   And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.  

Modern Bible:  And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

Luke 23:46  KJB:  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.  

Modern Bible:  Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" And having said this he breathed his last.

John 19:30  KJB:  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Modern Bible:  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. 

Acts 5:5  KJB  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

Modern Bible:  When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.

Acts 12:23  KJB:  And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Modern Bible:  Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

Genesis 25:8  KJB:  Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.   

Modern Bible:  Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 35:29 KJB: And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. 

Modern Bible:  And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him. 

I like the term ghost because it seems to me inclusive of both soul and spirit, whereas the term spirit doesn’t seem inclusive.  We humans are body, soul, and spirit, and at death our body stays here, and the other two, supernatural parts, depart.

We sometimes say ideas “pop into our heads.”  But, it is really our human spirit that scans our beings and alerts our souls to things we need to know about.  The New Testament says, For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God (1Corinthians2:11).

Lamentations 1:19  KJB:  I called for my lovers, but they deceived me: my priests and mine elders gave up the ghost in the city, while they sought their meat to relieve their souls.

Modern Bible:  I called to my lovers, but they deceived me; my priests and elders perished in the city, while they sought food to revive their strength.

The term “soul” is another important supernatural term.  Notice in the Genesis 2 and Lamentations 1 passages the KJV uses it; the ESV does not, thus rendering it naturalistically, rather than supernaturally.  Modern Bibles may say “I, or me” instead of “my soul.” “Soul” should remind us of our eternity.”  We are supernatural!  According to a word search of the whole bible on BibleGateway.com, the KJV uses the word "soul" 498 times, the ESV about half as often at 269 times.  BibleGateway.com lets you compare different bibles or versions.  

Regarding out bodies, Christians should avoid cremation, because we are expecting the resurrection of our bodies.  The New Testament book of Romans says, And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body (Romans8:23).  What stunning terms – we “groan within ourselves” waiting for the redemption of our bodies.  And besides this, our bodies are God’s property, not ours.

Hebrews 10:37-39 says in the KJV, For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.  Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The same passage in the ESV, For, "Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

In this case, both versions use “soul.” The ESV is a new, popular version.  Modern versions are supposedly more “user friendly” than the old KJV, but in the comparison above, do you find one version more “readable?” No matter the version, we are dealing with terms and concepts strange to natural, normal lives.

Heart rending:  KJB:  And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.  And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.  And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem (Genesis 35:17-19). 

Time is short, we never know when our “soul will be required.”  We must “believe in the Lord Jesus Christ” to the “saving of the soul (Hebrews 10:37-39).”  Read about him in the New Testament.