The Mistranslation of Sheol & Hades
The Deleted Doctrine of Sheol & Hades
The Deleted Doctrine
of Sheol & Hades
Part 2: Occurrences in the Torah
Introduction
There are 50 instances of the Hebrew word ‘Sheol’ in the Old Testament, and 11 instances of the Greek word ‘Hades’ in the New Testament. Both words refer to the same ‘place of the dead ones’, and we see ‘Hades’ being used in the Greek Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) where ‘Sheol’ is in the Hebrew.
Four instances in Genesis
We’ll look at these first four instances of ‘Sheol’ together, as they are used in a very similar context to each another.
BSB
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.
BSB
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.
BSB
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.
BSB
But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”
BSB
But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”
BSB
But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”
BSB
Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’
BSB
Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’
BSB
Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’
BSB
…sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.
BSB
…sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.
BSB
…sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.
“to Sheol”
שְׁאֹ֑לָה (šə·’ō·lāh)
Noun - common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death), place of the dead ones
“to Sheol”
שְׁאֹ֑לָה (šə·’ō·lāh)
Noun - common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death), place of the dead ones
“to Sheol”
שְׁאֹ֑לָה (šə·’ō·lāh)
Noun - common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death), place of the dead ones
In each of these passages Jacob’s words are that the deep mourning over the death of his youngest sons would not leave him until he died, and at death he would leave this world and enter the place of the dead ones – Sheol – just like all those who had died before him.
A brief overview of the context of these passages:
Jacob refuses to be comforted by the apparent death of Joseph (after his sons had deceived him about the condition of Joseph who they had sold to Midianite traders).
Jacob earnestly desires to avoid the same calamity coming upon Benjamin (if he was taken down to Egypt at Joseph’s request, but didn’t return).
Jacob’s words had been spoken by to Joseph by Jacob’s sons while in Egypt, and they reported the events back to Jacob.
Judah recounts his guarantee for the life of Benjamin, alluding to Jacob’s words
Jacob refuses to be comforted, instead insisting that he will live out his days in mourning, and then at death, enter the place of the dead ones – Sheol – just like all those who had died before him.
Was it merely ‘the grave’ that Jacob was referring to as the KJV translates?
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.
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.
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.
If Jacob had been referring to the earthly abode of his deceased body he would surely have used the word for ‘tomb’, as this is what he had prepared in advance of his death.
When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please tell Pharaoh that my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.”
When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please tell Pharaoh that my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.”
When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please tell Pharaoh that my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.”
“in the tomb”
בְּקִבְרִ֗י (bə·qiḇ·rî)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher
“in the tomb”
בְּקִבְרִ֗י (bə·qiḇ·rî)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher
“in the tomb”
בְּקִבְרִ֗י (bə·qiḇ·rî)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 6913: A grave, sepulcher
So Jacob’s sons did as he had charged them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
So Jacob’s sons did as he had charged them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
So Jacob’s sons did as he had charged them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
Jacob could also have used the word for ‘cave’ if he was merely referring to the place of his bodily grave.
“him in the cave”
בִּמְעָרַ֖ת (bim·‘ā·raṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4631: A cavern
“him in the cave”
בִּמְעָרַ֖ת (bim·‘ā·raṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4631: A cavern
“him in the cave”
בִּמְעָרַ֖ת (bim·‘ā·raṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4631: A cavern
Jacob however uses the word ‘Sheol’ to refer to the place of disembodied souls, literally the place of the dead ones. Sheol was the destination of all people, because it was the death that resulted from sin, and because all had sinned therefore all were under this curse.
This curse of sin and death was even over the believing ones (the seed of Abraham) until the Christ the redeemer came and made atonement and rescued them from that place. All humanity was in slavery to death, because before redemption came there was no alternative place for their souls to go.
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
On this mountain He will swallow up the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the Lord has spoken. And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
On this mountain He will swallow up the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the Lord has spoken. And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
On this mountain He will swallow up the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the Lord has spoken. And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”
It was to Satan that these keys of death had temporarily been given, until Christ would crush the serpents head.
This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
…I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
…I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
…I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
So even though Jacob was a believer in Messiah Christ, he died “without having received the things they were promised”.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised.However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised.However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the promised land as a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith Sarah, even though she was barren and beyond the proper age, was enabled to conceive a child, because she considered Him faithful who had promised. And so from one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised.However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.
Two instances in Numbers
BSB
But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.
BSB
But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.
BSB
But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.
BSB
They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.
BSB
They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.
BSB
They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.
These two scriptures deal with the threat of judgement on Dothan and Abiram, and the fulfilment of that threat in the death of these two men, their households and all their possessions.
Koran, Dathan and Abiram had conducted a rebellion against Moses, after accusing Moses and Aaron of taking excessive power and authority over the people. Moses told them that God would reveal who belonged to Him, and to whom He was with. When Dathan and Abiram were summoned by Moses they refused to come and gather at the Tent of Meeting.
“Tell the congregation to move away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
“Tell the congregation to move away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
“Tell the congregation to move away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
When Dathan and Abiram came and stood outside their tents with their wives and children Moses told the people how God would show his favor and judgment.
When Dathan and Abiram came and stood outside their tents with their wives and children Moses told the people how God would show his favor and judgment.
“If these men die a natural death, or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”
“If these men die a natural death, or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”
“If these men die a natural death, or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”
The sign of judgment on these men and their families was an un-natural or super-natural death, a divine intervention that would lead to the death of every one of them.
As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.
As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.
As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly.
And we see that this is what happened, for they went to their deaths in an instant as the ground opened up and they fell to their deaths. Clearly they would have died quickly in such an event, and their bodies were likely crushed to death deep within the ground.
But there is more to their death than the outward physical end of their bodily life. These people went ‘down…into Sheol’, meaning they suffered the result of death (before redemption) in their souls entering into Sheol (the place of the dead ones). This means that these people didn’t enter Hell (the second death, the place of eternal judgement) at their death, but entered the prison house of disembodied souls.
If the intention of the writer was merely to refer to the ground as the burial place of these people, then why would he need to include the words “They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned”? Surely the preceding words “…the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households” would suffice to explain that their bodies were laid in the ground and would soon return to dust.
In this phrase “…go down alive into Sheol” we also learn something important about the cosmological position of Sheol. It was understood cosmologically to be in the heart of the earth, down below and under the earth (earth as in globe, not earth as in soil).
We see this cosmological language in the words of Jesus concerning Himself in His soon to come death.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, so Christ was in ‘the belly of the earth’, in Sheol. Jonah was as good as dead in the fish, yet he was still alive, conscious and able to cry out to God. So also Christ, while in Sheol was not abandoned or forgotten, but was rescued by the Father from amongst the dead ones.
David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope, because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’ Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life,to which we are all witnesses.
David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope, because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’ Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life,to which we are all witnesses.
David says about Him: ‘I saw the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell in hope, because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence.’ Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that He would place one of his descendants on his throne. Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life,to which we are all witnesses.
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit, in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water. And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
Once instance in Deuteronomy
BSB
For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mou
BSB
For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mou
BSB
For a fire has been kindled by My anger, and it burns to the depths of Sheol; it consumes the earth and its produce, and scorches the foundations of the mou
This instance is found in the very well known song of Moses. He recounts the sins of Israel, and God’s sure and certain words of judgement upon them before they had even entered the land. In this song God promises to reject Israel, and provoke them to jealousy “by those who are not a people” (v21). In short this song is about the end of Israel’s days at the gathering in of the remnant, and the eventual judgement upon Israel.
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone; and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word—and to this they were appointed. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
The use of ‘Sheol’ here ties in with this very same message of judgement, for it was in Sheol (the place of the dead ones) that the Israelites of old were located, awaiting the resurrection to glory or judgement.
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
And many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to everlasting life, but others to shame and everlasting contempt.
The ‘sleep’ referred to here is a synonym for ‘death’, the death that took mankind to Sheol.
The use of the phrase ‘it burns to the depths of Sheol’ is supported by John’s vision in the Apocalypse, in which he saw death and Hades (Sheol) thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
Revelation 20:11-15
Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
The indication from Deuteronomy 32:22 is that although the people of Israel were long dead, yet judgement would not escape them, for God’s righteous anger would find them in the depths of Sheol, to be judged and thrown into the lake of fire forever.
Conclusion
We have sees in these seven instances that the word ‘Sheol’ was not used to describe ‘the grave’ or ‘hell’, the places of physical death, but alongside them to add additional context on where the souls of the dead ones continued to dwell.
These seven scriptures aren’t enough to form an understanding of ‘the place of the dead ones’, so studying the other uses of ‘Sheol’ and ‘Hades’, and the references to them will be vital in building upon these seven scriptures.
16 April 2024
