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. Psalm 9:17; Psalm 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)."

Occurrences in the Old Testament

The word sheol occurs 65 times in the Old Testament.

Genesis 37:35; Genesis 42:38; Genesis 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; Job 11:8; Job 14:13; Job 17:13, 16; Job 21:13; Job 24:19; Job 26:6 Psalm 6:5; Psalm 9:17; Psalm 16:10; Psalm 18:5; Psalm 30:3; Psalm 31:17; Psalm 49:14-15; Psalm 55:15; Psalm 86:13; Psalm 88:3; Psalm 89:48; Psalm 116:3; Psalm 139:8; Psalm 141:7 Proverbs 1:12; Proverbs 5:5; Proverbs 7:27; Proverbs 9:18; Proverbs 15:11, 24; Proverbs 23:14; Proverbs 27:20; Proverbs 30:16

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Song of Solomon 8:6 Isaiah 5:14; Isaiah 14:9, 11, 15; Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 28:18; Isaiah 38:10, 18; Isaiah 57:9 Ezekiel 31:15, 16; Ezekiel 31:17; Ezekiel 32:21, 27 Hosea 13:14 Amos 9:2 Jonah 2:2 Habakkuk 2:5

See also

• Hades
• Tartarus