{"id":20,"date":"2008-08-21T18:57:05","date_gmt":"2008-08-21T18:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/returningking.com\/?p=20"},"modified":"2008-08-21T18:57:05","modified_gmt":"2008-08-21T18:57:05","slug":"spiritual-realms-sheol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/?p=20","title":{"rendered":"Spiritual Realms (Sheol)"},"content":{"rendered":"
This entry is part 2 of 20 in the series Spiritual Realms<\/a><\/div>

Sheol<\/span><\/em><\/a><\/em><\/h1>\n

<\/a>The Term<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n

Sheol<\/em> is a Hebrew term, found, of course, in the Old Testament.\u00a0 <\/span>The term sheol<\/em> literally means “the grave” or “the world of the dead.”\u00a0 <\/span>It is frequently translated into English as “the grave” and at times, “Hell,” though “Hell” is not the best translation for modern English thought.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sheol <\/em>occurs over 60 times in the Old Testament.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a>Conclusions<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h3>\n
Sheol is a place occupied by both the righteous and the unrighteous<\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Righteous in Sheol<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Psalms 49:15 (NIV) But God will redeem my life from the grave [Sheol]; he will surely take me to himself. Selah<\/em><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Psalms 49, written by the “Sons of Korah,” the offspring of a chief Levitical (priestly) family.\u00a0 <\/span>The righteous, in worship, note God’s redemption from Sheol<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Psalms 139:8 (NIV) If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths [Sheol], you are there. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Written by David, the man “after God’s own heart”<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Jonah 2:2 (NIV) He said: “In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave [Sheol] I called for help, and you listened to my cry. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Written by Jonah, God’s prophet<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Hosea 13:14 (NIV) “I will ransom them from the power of the grave[Sheol]; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Here God declares that he will ransom his (righteous) people from Sheol (grave)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Unrighteous in Sheol<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Proverbs 7:27 (NIV) Her house is a highway to the grave[Sheol], leading down to the chambers of death. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Spoken of an adulteress, tempting a young man to be unfaithful<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Psalms 9:17 (NIV) The wicked return to the grave [Sheol], all the nations that forget God. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Isaiah 57:9 (NIV) You went to Molech with olive oil and increased your perfumes. You sent your ambassadors far away; you descended to the grave [Sheol] \u00a0<\/span>itself! <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Spoken to the evil sons of a sorceress<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Ezekiel 32:21 (NIV) From within the grave [Sheol] \u00a0<\/span>the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.’ <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Spoken of the evil “uncircumcised” of Egypt<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Sheol is compartmentalized<\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n

Deuteronomy 32:22 (NASB) For a fire is kindled in My anger, And burns to the lowest part of Sheol, And consumes the earth with its yield, And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. <\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

The NASB is used here instead of the NIV because of the more accurate translation<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>“lowest” is Heb. Tachti<\/em>, which means “lower” or “lowest”<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>NIV translates it “the realm of death” which is less accurate<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>KJV translates it “lowest”<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>YLT translates “unto Sheol – – the lowest”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Thus, Sheol has a “lower” or “lowest” level<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>This indicates something higher than the lowest level must also exist<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Thus, Sheol is compartmentalized<\/span><\/p>\n

Psalms 86:13 (NIV) For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave. <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Here, NIV translates “depths” of the grave<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Again, the underlying Hebrew term is tachti,<\/em> or “lowest”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Again, KJV translates the term “lowest”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>NASB – “depths” with a footnote “lit lowest”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Once again, tachti<\/em> informs us of the “lowest” or “lower” levels of Sheol, indicating a compartmentalization exists in Sheol<\/span><\/p>\n

Sheol is more harsh for the unrighteous than for the righteous<\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Righteous in Sheol<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Hosea 13:14 (NIV) “I will ransom them from the power of the grave[Sheol]; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave [Sheol], is your destruction? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Psalms 49:15 (NIV) But God will redeem my life from the grave [Sheol]; he will surely take me to himself. Selah<\/em><\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>The righteous are promised rescue from Sheol<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Psalms 139:8 (NIV) If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths [Sheol], you are there. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>The righteous (David) promised God’s presence in Sheol<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>The Unrighteous in Sheol<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Psalms 49:14 (NIV) Like sheep they are destined for the grave, [Sheol], and death will feed on them. The upright will rule over them in the morning; their forms will decay in the grave [Sheol], far from their princely mansions. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Deuteronomy 32:22 (NIV) For a fire has been kindled by my wrath, one that burns to the realm of death [Sheol] below. It will devour the earth and its harvests and set afire the foundations of the mountains. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Spoken of idolaters.\u00a0 <\/span>God promises his wrath upon them to follow them into Sheol.<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Job 24:19 (NIV) As heat and drought snatch away the melted snow, so the grave snatches away those who have sinned. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>“snatch away” is Heb. gazal,<\/em> lit. “spoils” or “consumes”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>KJV “drought and heat consume the snow”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>NASB “drought and heat consume the snow”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Thus, this text denotes heat consuming snow, just as it consumes those who sinned in Sheol<\/span><\/p>\n

Sheol is always downward from Earth<\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n

Genesis 37:35 (NIV)
\n35 <\/sup>All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “in mourning will I go down to the grave[Sheol] to my son.” So his father wept for him. <\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

1 Samuel 2:6 (NIV)
\n6 <\/sup>“The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave [Sheol] and raises up. <\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Job 7:9 (NIV)
\n9 <\/sup>As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so he who goes down to the grave[Sheol] does not return. <\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

1 Kings 2:6 (NIV)
\n6 <\/sup>Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave[Sheol] in peace. <\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n
Sheol is a place of consciousness<\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n

Isaiah 14:9 (NIV)
\n9 <\/sup>The grave[Sheol] below is all astir to meet you at your coming; it rouses the spirits of the departed to greet you– all those who were leaders in the world; it makes them rise from their thrones– all those who were kings over the nations. <\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>In Sheol, these former kings know their identities<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>They rise to greet newcomers and gloat over their shared fate<\/span><\/p>\n

Ezekiel 32:21 (NIV) <\/span>
\n21 <\/sup>From within the grave[Sheol] \u00a0<\/span>the mighty leaders will say of Egypt and her allies, ‘They have come down and they lie with the uncircumcised, with those killed by the sword.’ <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Here, God prophesies through Ezekiel to make this statement to Egypt; thus it is God’s statement<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>the dead leaders have conversations with one another<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>They ponder the fates of others<\/span><\/p>\n

Sheol (as everywhere else) is under God’s jurisdiction<\/em><\/span><\/h5>\n

Job 26:6 (NIV)
\n6 <\/sup>Death [Sheol] is naked before God; Destruction lies uncovered. <\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Here is noted that even Sheol lies fully exposed to God<\/span><\/p>\n

Psalms 139:8 (NIV)
\n8 <\/sup>If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths[in Sheol], you are there. <\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>David speaks of God’s presence with his people even in Sheol<\/span><\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 32:22 (NIV)
\n22 <\/sup>For a fire has been kindled by my wrath, one that burns to the realm of death [Sheol]* below. It will devour the earth and its harvests and set afire the foundations of the mountains. <\/span><\/em><\/h4>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Once again, this text is rendered a bit strangely in NIV\u2026 it would more accurately render “the lowest part of Sheol”<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Here, God’s anger is given out in Sheol’s lowest parts, demonstrating his authority there<\/span><\/p>\n

Concluding synopsis:<\/span><\/em><\/h5>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Sheol is a compartmentalized place of the spirits of the dead: <\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>A compartment for the righteous <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>This compartment is peaceful, and bears a promise of those present being redeemed from it<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>This compartment is higher than the compartment for the unrighteous<\/span><\/p>\n

o<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>A compartment for the unrighteous<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>This compartment is one of agony<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>It is a place of fire and heat<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>It is a place said to “feed” upon those present<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a7<\/span>\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>This compartment is lower than the compartment for the unrighteous<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Sheol is a place of consciousness, where those who dwell there have awareness and are able to communicate and ponder their former lives<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Sheol is always noted to be in a downward direction from Earth.\u00a0 <\/span>Thus, the idea of “the underworld” is a biblical concept<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This entry is part 2 of 20 in the series Spiritual Realms<\/a><\/div>

Here, NIV translates “depths” of the grave o Again, the underlying Hebrew term is tachti, or “lowest” Again, KJV translates the term “lowest” NASB – “depths” with a footnote “lit lowest” Once again, tachti informs us of the “lowest” or “lower” levels of Sheol, indicating a compartmentalization exists in Sheol Sheol is more harsh for the unrighteous than for the righteous The Righteous in Sheol o Hosea 13:14 (NIV) “I will ransom them from the power of the grave;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[13,15],"tags":[26,84,93,95,97,112,151,165],"series":[212],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/returningking.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fseries&post=20"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}