SHEOL

she'ol ^7585^, "Sheol." The 66 occurrences of this word are distributed throughout every period of biblical Hebrew.

First, the word means the state of death: "For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" <Ps. 6:5>; cf. <18:5>. It is the final resting place of all men: "They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave <Job 21:13>. Hannah confessed that it was the omnipotent God who brings men to she'ol (death) or kills them <1 Sam. 2:6>. "Sheol" is parallel to Hebrew words for "pit" or "hell" <Job 26:6>, "corruption" or "decay" <Ps. 16:10>, and "destruction" <Prov. 15:11>.

Second, "Sheol" is used of a place of conscious existence after death. In the first biblical appearance of the word Jacob said that he would "go down into the grave unto my son mourning" <Gen. 37:35>. All men go to "Sheol"-- a place and state of consciousness after death <Ps. 16:10>. The wicked receive punishment there <Num. 16:30; Deut. 32:22; Ps. 9:17>. They are put to shame and silenced in "Sheol" <Ps. 31:17>. Jesus alluded to Isaiah's use of she'ol <14:13-15> in pronouncing judgment on Capernaum <Matt. 11:23>, translating "Sheol" as "Hades" or "Hell," meaning the place of conscious existence and judgment. It is an undesirable place for the wicked <Job 24:19> and a refuge for the righteous <Job 14:13>. Thus "Sheol" is also a place of reward for the righteous <Hos. 13:14>; cf. <1 Cor. 15:55>. Jesus' teaching in <Luke 16:19-31> seems to reflect accurately the Old Testament concept of she'ol; it is a place of conscious existence after death, one side of which is occupied by the suffering, unrighteous dead separated by a great chasm from the other side peopled by the righteous dead enjoying their reward.

(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)