Sheol
/หสiห.ษl/noun
In Hebrew tradition, Sheol is a place of the dead, often depicted as a shadowy underworld.
Did you know?In ancient Hebrew thought, Sheol was not just a place of punishment; it was a shadowy realm where all the dead resided, regardless of their deeds in life.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ลกสl
โto ask or inquire, often in relation to the dead.โ
Ancient Hebrew
Hebrew
ืฉึฐืืืึนื (Sheol)
โthe abode of the dead, a shadowy place where all souls go after death.โ
Biblical Hebrew
Biblical Hebrew
ืฉึฐืืืึนื (Sheol)
โthe underworld, depicted as a place of darkness and silence.โ
Post-Biblical Hebrew
Post-Biblical Hebrew
ืฉึฐืืืึนื (Sheol)
โstill referred to as the realm of the dead, but with evolving connotations in later texts.โ
Medieval Hebrew
Medieval Hebrew
ืฉึฐืืืึนื (Sheol)
โcontinued to represent the grave or underworld, often associated with punishment or rest.โ
Modern English
English
Sheol
โadopted into English as a term for the underworld, retaining its dark and mystical connotations.โ