(Heb, "the all-demanding world" = Gr. Hades, "the unknown region"), the invisible world of departed souls. (See Hell.)

The Semitic equivalent of the classical conception of Hades. The word has been derived from a number of roots. The two main probable origins seem to be those from the Assyrian root sha'al ('to consult an oracle'), and shilu ('chamber'). The latter derivation seems somewhat more in accordance with the synonym of pit. In any case, according to this derivation of the word, Sheol was regarded as an underworld of the dead in which the shades lived. Hebrew eschatology, although somewhat obscure in its early phase, probably tended to perpetuate the animistic conception. The habit of burying the family in communal tombs may also have lent some meaning to the word. In Sheol the dead continued to live as on earth. It seems to have been a somewhat common belief that they could be summoned by some process of necromancy (1Sa 2:6). In the absence of any consistent Hebrew eschatology, however, it is impossible to determine whether the dead were believed to be conscious or active. Apparently different opinions existed on this point (cf. Ps 88:13; 94:17; 30:10; Job 14:3, with Eze 32:27). From the latter it would appear that the non-activity of the dead was the more current opinion.

According to Eth. Enoch 22.1

See HELL.