Sheol — Meaning in the Bible
A Hebrew word for the place or realm of the dead, often translated "the grave", "the pit" or left as "Sheol".
How Sheol relates to later teaching about judgment is a matter of interpretation; this entry describes its use in the passages.
What it means
Jacob said he would go down to Sheol mourning for Joseph. The psalms describe Sheol as a place of silence, yet God is present even there. Genesis 37:35Psalm 6:5Psalm 139:8
Psalm 16:10 says "you will not leave my soul in Sheol"; Peter quotes it (in Greek, Hades) about Jesus' resurrection. Psalm 16:10Acts 2:27–31
Key passages
- Genesis 37:35 — Jacob's grief.
- Psalm 16:10 — Not abandoned to Sheol.
- Psalm 139:8 — If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
- Acts 2:25–31 — Peter quotes Psalm 16.
Original language
A Strong’s number is a reference identifier, not a complete definition: what a word means in a passage depends on its context. Lexical data: STEPBible.org, based on work at Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0).
How translations differ
- Versions differ: "Sheol", "the grave", "the pit", "the realm of the dead" or (in older versions) "hell". Psalm 16:10Genesis 37:35