Abode of the dead

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Dead, Abode of The

Several terms are used to denote the abode of the dead in the Hebrew Bible

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Dead, Abode of The

The most common is šĕʾôl. Both šĕʾôl and māwet, “Death” are often used in Hebrew to refer to the realm of death as well as to the personified chthonic power behind death and all that is associated with it.

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Dead, Abode of The

Hebrew ʾereṣ is simply “earth” yet, as with Ug ʾarṣ and Akk erṣetu, it too can designate the netherworld. The words šaḥat and bôr both refer to the abode of the dead as the “Pit.” Hebrew ʾăbaddôn is another poetic name for the underworld usually translated “Perdition” or “(place of) Destruction.”

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Dead, Abode of The

Several terms are used to describe the abode of the dead in the NT as well. The word hadēs most commonly translates šĕʾôl in the LXX and is used ten times in the NT. It shares many of the physical characteristics of Sheol, and it too can designate either the underworld or the personified lord of the underworld. The NT also refers to the abode of the dead as the “Abyss” (abussos). 2 Pet 2:4 mentions Tartaros, which is well known from Greek mythology for its great depth. GEHENNA is also used to describe the eschatological hell of fire where the ungodly are punished after death.

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Dead, Abode of The

Interestingly, Sheol is not found in any of the cognate languages. There is no description of any extrabiblical myths about Sheol as we have with other chthonic figures mentioned in the Hebrew Bible such as Mot and Reshep.