Definitions

1. noun

In the Hebrew Bible, the underworld, or abode of the dead; a place of darkness and shadow, where the spirits of the dead dwell, often associated with God’s realm of death; equivalent to the Greek Hades.

“The ancient Israelites believed that the souls of the righteous would ascend to heaven, while the wicked would descend to Sheol.”

2. proper noun

In the Hebrew Bible, the specific name of the underworld or the place of the dead, particularly in the Old Testament.

“In the Book of Job, Job’s friends try to console him, saying that his suffering is a result of a curse or a sin, and that he will eventually return to Sheol.”