The Tanach and the word Sheol:

The word that has been translated "hell" comes from the original Hebrew word "Sheol". The KJV and others made the mistake of translating this pit, grave, and hell as if this word is speaking about three various locations to the unknowing reader. The ASV did the better job of leaving this word as Sheol in the Tanach, which all the other versions should have done to prevent some confusion.

Sheol:

Hell: Definition #1 The place of the dead, or of souls [well define this soon as well] after death; the grave; corresponding to Sheol and Hades. Websters New Collegiate Dictionary 1951

The problem with the above is that in modern terms this word is only thought of to be the underground location of tortured sinners waiting for judgment or even the final destination of sinners. The dictionary has other definitions such as: a dungeon, gambling house, and a receptacle. The three things mentioned all are being translated from the same word Sheol. All three agree to mean the grave. It is only when we try to see the modernized concept of "hell" that these three words fall out of agreement. The Babylonian "hell" also puts the word "hell" out of harmony from the original Hebrew word Sheol. As you read the following verses remember that the actual place is Sheol.

A person MUST remember that we should read the Scriptures from the perspective of the (then) present audience would have received it in their perspective. A serious mistake arises when we think of Scriptures in a modernized western perspective verses a ancient Hebraic perspective as according to Scripture.

Before I get started I will like to state that there are NO references in all of the Tanach (Old Testament) that represents the modern idea of "hell". Also please dont assume that I am not stating the entire context to hide something as is usually the case with those promoting false doctrines. I dont want to use up the space that would be required to do such a thing and hope that you will examine the surrounding context for yourself. PLEASE do, so that you can see that the context is in perfect harmony with what is being stated here. Lets see how the saints described the place "Sheol" for themselves.

Jacob mentioned that his sorrows would bring him down to "Sheol". This is translated as grave in the KJV as you can see here and with future references, all scriptures can be easily understood as the grave verses the idea of the modern "hell".

Deuteronomy 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, And burns to the lowest Sheol, And devours the earth with its increase, And sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.

This verse does not mention anything about a place where people are being cooked call "hell". G-d is speaking about his anger consuming th whole earth including the lowest grave.

2 Samuel 22:6/Psalms 18:5 The cords of Sheol were round about me; The snares of death came upon me.

David surely was not speaking about the modern "hell" but as he stated the snares of "death" that would lead him to the "grave" (Sheol) The KJV actually translated this "hell", what a mistake. Its this type of translating that confuses people into thinking of an actually "hell".

Job 14:12-13 So man lies down [dies] and rises not: Till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake [come back to life], Nor be roused out of their sleep [death][ study "sleep" in NT].

13. Oh that you would hide me in SHEOL, That you would keep me secret, until your wrath be past, That you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!

HOW could this passage make any sense if the concept of being in heaven or hell were true? Job says a person does not awake [being alive just as those Yahshua resurrected from sleep in the NT] until the heavens are gone. He even states to be hid in SHEOL which would be in contradiction to the modern "hell" but in perfect harmony with "grave". Even the KJV translators knew better enough to translate this "grave" though they could have spared the confusion by simply using "Sheol" at all times.

Job 17:13-16 If I look for Sheol as my house; If I have spread my couch in the darkness; If I have said to corruption, You are my father; To the worm, You are my mother, and my sister; Where then is my hope? And as for my hope, who shall see it? It shall go down to the bars of Sheol, When once there is rest in the dust [Not activity in heaven or hell].

Job 24:19-20 Drought and heat consume the snow waters: So does Sheol those that have sinned. The womb will forget him; The worm shall feed sweetly on him; He shall be no more remembered; And unrighteousness shall be broken as a tree.

Dont confuse what is being said by adding the Babylonian confusion (interpretations that weve been taught) to plain statements. Sheol "grave" consumes people who have sinned [decay] just as heat consume snow away. Worms feed on bodies in the grave. By adding Babylonian confusion people get all mixed up about such a simple statement. The grave will not consume believers because G-ds resurrection power will bring us back to life.

Job 26:6 Sheol is naked before G-d, And Abaddon has no covering.

Translated as hell in KJV. This verse shows no support for the modern concept.

Psalms 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: In Sheol who shall give thee thanks?

Daivd speaks of all being in Sheol and not being able to thank G-d. Why would he mention people not being able to praise G-d in Sheol if only the wicked went to "hell" which is derived from the word "Sheol". Not being able to praise Him in Sheol would not make sense even if you followed the confusion of there being two compartments in Sheol. Why would a person not being able to praise Him in the supposed second compartment?

Psalms 9:17 The wicked will be [haphak: turned about, turned, changed, return, pervert] to Sheol, Even all the nations that forget God.

The body of a person is consumed in Sheol the same way a nation would be consumed (taken out of existence) that forgets G-d. Again no need to force the modern confusion.

Psalms 49:14-15 They are appointed as a flock for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall have dominion in the morning [over death]; And their form shall be for Sheol to consume, That there be no habitation for it. But G-d will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol [in the resurrection]; For he will receive me.

Psalms 141:7 As when one plows and cleaves the earth, Our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

Indeed it is at the grave that our bones are placed.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in Sheol, WHERE YOU GO.

This is absolutely contrary to the idea of being in heaven or hell when you die. This verse states what it means and means what it says. Once we die, we are dead period. It is only by the resurrection power of G-d that we will be made alive again to eternal life or damnation.

Isaiah 38:10 I [Isaiah] said, In the cutting off of my days I shall go into the gates of Sheol: I am deprived of the residue of my years.

Isaiah (nor any other believer) said nothing about going to heaven when he died.

The following scriptures translated "hell" in the KJV can easily be understood as the "grave".Psalms 16:10, 55:15, 86:13, 139:8, Proverbs 1:12, 5:5, 7:27, 9:18, 15:11, 15:24, 23:14, 27:20, 30:16, Isaiah 28:15, 57:9, Habakkuk 2:5

Please pay close attention to the figurative style the context is being written in surrounding these passages: Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 31.

Now if you made the mistake of adding the Babylonian lie of there being two compartments in Sheol you need to reread all of these scriptures (and all others on this topic) again! Nowhere in the Scriptures is there a concept of there being two separate compartments to Sheol. PLEASE do not make the mistake of jumping to the story of the rich and Lazarus as a support to this idea. I will deal with that story in another article but that story does not prove two separate compartments in Sheol, it does not prove going to heaven or hell when you die, nor does it prove consciousness after death.

Take the "Sheol" test! Translate everytime you see pit,grave, and hell (in the Tanach) into "Sheol" and see how your perspective changes. Another test would be to translate the pit,grave, and hell (in the Tanach) into just the "grave" and then do it again with the Babylonian concept of "hell" and see which one fits into ALL the scriptures freely and which one takes serious gymnastics to fit in and try to explain away.

I would highly suggest studying the Tanach FIRST to see the perspective the old saints came from. That SAME perspective was followed by Yahshua, the disciples, and Shaul (Paul).