Is the soul ties teaching Biblical and do they really exist?

I have noticed that this teaching has become quite pervasive now: as we speak, I am listening to a message/sermon and the speaker is talking about within another topic. The teaching is used in many sermons but even when I have heard people explain it, I cannot see it from the Bible somehow. They quote from the Bible but I cannot see how the verses they quote mean that soul ties exist and remain as a permanent state unless they are "broken" by special prayer. The teaching seems to involve suppositions, anecdotes/scenarios and imagination (I understand that your unhealed emotions can make you long for a friend or love interest from the past and that physical "affection" causes bonds but how do you know you are in a spiritual "tie" for sure?) Are these things real and am I really missing something if I do not understand it and it does not seem to be be clear from the Bible to me?

I've never heard of "soul ties" before, but the guys at the Got Questions ministry have apparently. Here's what they have to say about them:

What does the Bible say about soul ties?

Question: "What does the Bible say about soul ties?"

Answer: The phrase “soul ties” is not in the Bible; rather, the idea of soul ties is a man-made speculation which some teachers superimpose onto Scripture in an attempt to explain certain human behaviors. Soul ties are said to be connections from one person's soul to (or into) another person's soul, a concept that has no basis in Scripture.

The Bible does speak of close friendships, such as that of David and Jonathan. “The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18:1 KJV). This is simply a way of expressing Jonathan’s total commitment to, and deep friendship with, David. To try to make this passage teach a mystical binding of the actual soul is unwarranted.

The Bible also warns against entering ungodly relationships. “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. … do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths” (Proverbs 1:10, 15). This passage and others like it caution us against the wrong types of friends but stop short of describing any type of spiritual union of souls.

We also have clear warning against fornication in Scripture. “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’” (1 Corinthians 6:16). Note that the body is joined; the Bible says nothing of the souls being joined.

The Bible presents evil as addictive; however, nowhere does the Bible speak of “fragmented” souls or “dividing” one’s soul. In short, the Bible gives us clear direction for our lives, and we know the remedy for sin is to confess it and forsake it (1 John 1:9; John 8:11). There is no need for overly complex human theories such as “soul ties.”

Here's the link to this article (where you will also find additional articles concerning this topic): https://www.gotquestions.org/soul-ties.html

~Deut
p.s. - "Soul Ties" sound like something that may have originated in some type of Eastern religion, so I would be extremely discerning and cautious about them as a Christian.

........John 7
........24 ..Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
........

...it does not seem to be be clear from the Bible to me?

Can you give me an example of the kind of scripture you are talking about.

I have noticed that this teaching has become quite pervasive now: as we speak, I am listening to a message/sermon and the speaker is talking about within another topic. The teaching is used in many sermons but even when I have heard people explain it, I cannot see it from the Bible somehow. They quote from the Bible but I cannot see how the verses they quote mean that soul ties exist and remain as a permanent state unless they are "broken" by special prayer. The teaching seems to involve suppositions, anecdotes/scenarios and imagination (I understand that your unhealed emotions can make you long for a friend or love interest from the past and that physical "affection" causes bonds but how do you know you are in a spiritual "tie" for sure?) Are these things real and am I really missing something if I do not understand it and it does not seem to be be clear from the Bible to me?

Soul ties are real. They can be formed through a godly marriage (husband and wife) and through sex or friendships. An example of a good/godly soul tie was between Jonathan and David in the bible. An example of a bad soul tie is having sex with someone outside of marriage. You become linked with that person and it has to be broken or else it can ruin you. Here's more example


A soul tie is like a linkage in the soul realm between two people. It links their souls together, which can bring fourth both beneficial results or negative results.


The positive effect of a soul tie: In a godly marriage, God links the two together and the Bible tells us that they become one flesh. As a result of them becoming one flesh, it binds them together and they will cleave onto one another in a unique way. The purpose of this cleaving is to build a very healthy, strong and close relationship between a man and a woman.


Matthew 19:5, "And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh."


Soul ties can also be found in close strong or close friendships. They are not just limited to marriage, as we can see with King David and Jonathan:


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."


The negative effect of a soul tie: Soul ties can also be used for the devil's advantage. Soul ties formed from sex outside of marriage causes a person to become defiled:


Genesis 34:2-3, "And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her. And his soul cleaved unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spoke kindly unto the damsel."


This is why it is so common for a person to still have 'feelings' towards an ex-lover that they have no right to be attracted to in that way. Even 20 years down the road, a person may still think of their first lover... even if he or she is across the country and has their own family, all because of a soul tie!


Demonic spirits can also take advantage of ungodly soul ties, and use them to transfer spirits between one person to another. I remember one young man I led through a deliverance; he was facing severe demonic visitations and torment all thanks to an ungodly soul tie. I led him to broke the soul tie, and the attacks stopped completely!


Ezekiel 23:17, "And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them."


There is more information on soul ties and how to break them in the teaching on Soul