Sheol

Sheol, is a Hebrew word in the Old Testament referring either to the abode of the wicked or to the grave or death.

The KJV renders sheol as hell 31 times, grave 31 times, and pit 3 times. "Thus Sheol can refer either specifically to the abode of the wicked (cf. Ps. 9:17; 55:15), or generally to the grave or death (cf. Isaiah 38:10; Hosea 13:14). It is even used of the belly of the fish in Jonah 2:2, or of a deep pit in Numbers 16:30, 33. Scholars generally have a difficult time deciding when to interpret as 'hell,' which is why the newer translations either transliterate the word (NASB ’95, NRSV), or translate it as grave, death, depths, destruction, or pit (NIV)." [1]

Occurrences in the Old Testament

The word sheol occurs 65 times in the Old Testament.

• Genesis 37:35; 42:38; 44:29, 31
• Numbers 16:30, 33
• Deuteronomy 32:22
• 1 Samuel 2:6
• 2 Samuel 22:6
• 1 Kings 2:6, 9
• Job 7:9; 11:8; 14:13; 17:13, 16; 21:13; 24:19; 26:6
• Psalm 6:5; 9:17; 16:10; 18:5; 30:3; 31:17; 49:14-15; 55:15; 86:13; 88:3; 89:48; 116:3; 139:8; 141:7
• Proverbs 1:12; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:11, 24; 23:14; 27:20; 30:16
• Ecclesiastes 9:10
• Song of Solomon 8:6
• Isaiah 5:14; 14:9, 11, 15; 28:15; 28:18; 38:10, 18; 57:9
• Ezekiel 31:15, 16; 31:17; 32:21, 27
• Hosea 13:14
• Amos 9:2
• Jonah 2:2
• Habakkuk 2:5

See also

• Hades
• Tartarus

External links

• Sheol (basictheology.com)