Sheol

"Sheol." The 66 occurrences of this word are distributed throughout every period of biblical Hebrew. First, the word means the state of death: "For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" (Psa 6:5; cf. Psa 18:5). It is the final resting place of all men: "They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave (Job 21:13). Hannah confessed that it was the omnipotent God who brings men to She’ôl (death) or kills them (1Sam 2:6). "Sheol" is parallel to Hebrew words for "pit" or "hell" (Job 26:6), "corruption" or "decay" (Psa 16:10), and "destruction" (Prov 15:11).

Second, "Sheol" is used of a place of conscious existence after death. In the first biblical appearance of the word Jacob said that he would "go down into the grave unto my son mourning" (Gen 37:35). All men go to "Sheol", a place and state of consciousness after death (Psa 16:10). The wicked receive punishment there (Num 16:30; Deut 32:22; Psa 9:17). They are put to shame and silenced in "Sheol" (Psa 31:17). Jesus alluded to Isaiah's use of She’ôl Isa 1:14-15) in pronouncing judgment on Capernaum (Matt 11:23), translating "Sheol" as "Hades" or "Hell," meaning the place of conscious existence and judgment. It is an undesirable place for the wicked (Job 24:19) and a refuge for the righteous (Job 14:13). Thus "Sheol" is also a place of reward for the righteous (Hos 13:14; cf. 1Cor 15:55). Jesus' teaching in Luke 1:16-31 seems to reflect accurately the Old Testament concept of She’ôl; it is a place of conscious existence after death, one side of which is occupied by the suffering, unrighteous dead separated by a great chasm from the other side peopled by the righteous dead enjoying their reward.