The twelfth time Sheol is mentioned in the Bible is in Job 7:9. Chapter 7 is one of the most anguishing parts of Job's discourse, as he pointedly questions the persistent trials he suffered.
As usual, translating from Hebrew, we get:
"The cloud fades - vanishes - so he who goes down to Sheol shall not come up." - Job 7:9
The KJV renders it this way: "As the cloud is consumed and vanisheth away: so he that goeth down to the grave shall come up no more."
This compares the person who goes to Sheol to a fading, vanishing cloud. It is an apt description, since our bodies dissolve and turn to "dust" after death.
Here, like we've seen so far, Sheol clearly means the grave.
Showing posts with label Hebrew. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrew. Show all posts
Friday, February 15, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Sheol - The book of Job
To recap, so far we have learned that Sheol is in the ground and very little more. Our examinations of the first 11 times it is mentioned have yielded "grave" as the best possible translation of this Hebrew word.
Now, we move on to the book of Job, which is a fascinating story of the nature of suffering and what we perceive as personal injustice. Sheol is mentioned 8 times in the Job alone!
Although the majority of Job is considered Hebrew poetry, we can still glean some insights on Sheol and how the Jews viewed it.
Now, we move on to the book of Job, which is a fascinating story of the nature of suffering and what we perceive as personal injustice. Sheol is mentioned 8 times in the Job alone!
Although the majority of Job is considered Hebrew poetry, we can still glean some insights on Sheol and how the Jews viewed it.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Recap of Sheol in Genesis
All 4 times that Sheol is used in Genesis was in the context of a comment by Jacob/Israel who understood it simply to be a place of interrment upon death. No context of burning, fire, cold, wet, dry, or even consciousness or awareness was stated or implied at this point.
Now, Moses wrote the book of Genesis, which took place prior to his birth.
Next, we will look at the remainder of the mentions of Sheol in the Pentateuch (which is simply the five books of Moses - Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy).
Now, Moses wrote the book of Genesis, which took place prior to his birth.
Next, we will look at the remainder of the mentions of Sheol in the Pentateuch (which is simply the five books of Moses - Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy).
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Sheol - Genesis 44:31
The fourth time the word Sheol is used in the old testament is in Genesis 44:31.
"...it will happen when he sees that the youth is not [with us], he will die, and your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant, our father, in sorrow, to Sheol."
In Genesis 44:29, a few passages earlier, Jacob was directly quoted by Judah, who is speaking to his brother Joseph in Egypt. Here in this passage, Judah emphasizes again the consequences of Joseph keeping Benjamin, their youngest brother, in Egypt.
Again, Sheol, in this passage, is referring to the grave, just like it had in the previous 3 verses.
"...it will happen when he sees that the youth is not [with us], he will die, and your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant, our father, in sorrow, to Sheol."
In Genesis 44:29, a few passages earlier, Jacob was directly quoted by Judah, who is speaking to his brother Joseph in Egypt. Here in this passage, Judah emphasizes again the consequences of Joseph keeping Benjamin, their youngest brother, in Egypt.
Again, Sheol, in this passage, is referring to the grave, just like it had in the previous 3 verses.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
A little bit about Sheol
In case you didn't know, the Old Testament of the Christian bible was originally written in Hebrew, not English, by Jews, not Christians.
Every single one of the 65 times you see the word "Hell" in the Old Testament, it is translated from a Hebrew word, Sheol.
Sheol, put simply, referred to the grave. But that's not to say that the Hebrew poetry of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, etc., didn't personify Sheol in some way.
A way we do this in English is to say something like, "If he heard that, he'll be rolling over in his grave." Obviously, we know nobody can roll over in their grave.
The Jews initially really had no concept of an afterlife prior to a general resurrection of the dead. They believed that Sheol was a place where your consciousness (or awareness) wavered in and out in a quasi-dreamlike state. But you neither interacted with, nor perceived others in this state. It was, in all respects, like sleeping.
Yours,
JC Masters
Every single one of the 65 times you see the word "Hell" in the Old Testament, it is translated from a Hebrew word, Sheol.
Sheol, put simply, referred to the grave. But that's not to say that the Hebrew poetry of Psalms, Job, Proverbs, etc., didn't personify Sheol in some way.
A way we do this in English is to say something like, "If he heard that, he'll be rolling over in his grave." Obviously, we know nobody can roll over in their grave.
The Jews initially really had no concept of an afterlife prior to a general resurrection of the dead. They believed that Sheol was a place where your consciousness (or awareness) wavered in and out in a quasi-dreamlike state. But you neither interacted with, nor perceived others in this state. It was, in all respects, like sleeping.
Yours,
JC Masters
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