Genesis 37:35
And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
Hebrew word · Strong H7585
What does Sheol mean?
Sheol is the Hebrew word for the place of the dead. In the Old Testament it is where everyone goes down at death — righteous and wicked alike. The King James translates it “hell”, “grave” or “pit”, roughly as often “grave” as “hell”, which explains many differences between English versions.
שְׁאוֹל
shᵉʼôwl · transliteration · sheh-ole' · pronunciation
- In Strong’s lexicon
- Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates
- In the King James
- hell31
- grave28
- pit3
- Appears in
- 63 verses
The meaning of Sheol in the Bible
Sheol appears in 63 verses. Jacob, believing Joseph dead, says: “I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning” (Genesis 37:35). It is described as a dark, silent place beneath the earth, where no one praises God. Yet the Old Testament also affirms that God reigns even there: “if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there” (Psalm 139:8).
Little by little, hope grows: “thou wilt not leave my soul in hell” (Psalm 16:10). The New Testament quotes that verse about the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 2:27), and the Greek word that corresponds to Sheol is hades.
Where Sheol appears
Psalms 16:10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalms 139:8
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
Jonah 2:2
And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Sheol the same as hell?
- Not exactly. In the Old Testament, Sheol is the place or state of the dead in general. The idea of final judgment and punishment becomes clearer in the New Testament, with the word gehenna.
- What is the difference between Sheol and Hades?
- They are the same idea in two languages: Sheol is the Hebrew word, hades the Greek. The ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament used hades to render sheol.
More Bible words
- Shalom
- Yahweh (YHWH)
- Hallelujah
- Selah
- Elohim
- Agape
- Adonai
- Hosanna
- Amen
- Abba
- Immanuel
- Tetelestai
- Kairos
- El Shaddai
- Maranatha
- Ebenezer
- Jehovah Jireh
- Jehovah Rapha
- El Roi
- Metanoia
- Jehovah Nissi
- Hesed
- Rhema
- Koinonia
- Logos
- Nephilim
- Number 7
- Number 3
- Number 12
- Number 40
- 666
- 444
- 333
- 222
- 111
- Iniquity
- Gentleness
- Longsuffering
- Grace
- Lasciviousness
- Concupiscence
- Strife
- Covetousness
- Reproach
- Redemption
- Godliness
- Burnt offering
- Sodomite
- Heretic
- Exhort
- Equity
- Would to God
- Stiff-necked