The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) describes it as the realm of the dead

Hebrew Concept: Sheol

The word Sheol likely derives from the root שָׁאַל (sha'al), meaning "to ask," "to inquire," or "to demand." This root suggests that Sheol is a place that continually "asks for" or "demands" souls—an insatiable realm where the dead go, regardless of righteousness.

Some scholars propose that Sheol may metaphorically represent a realm that "demands" or "seeks" souls, as it is repeatedly described as an ever-present reality for the living and as a destination that always "asks for more."
Biblical Imagery:

Proverbs 30:15-16 describes Sheol as one of the things that "is never satisfied" and always "demands more" (often translated as "the grave" in English Bibles).
Isaiah 5:14 depicts Sheol as having "enlarged its appetite" and "opened its mouth beyond measure," reinforcing the image of a realm that insatiably "asks for" more souls.

The Hebrew word Sheol (שְׁאוֹל), found throughout the Old Testament, carries a nuanced and layered meaning. It is often translated as "the grave," "the pit," or "the realm of the dead," but its true significance is more complex when examined through Hebrew linguistic roots and early sources like the Aramaic Peshitta.

Linguistic Roots and Meaning

Key Hebrew Passages About Sheol
1. Ecclesiastes 9:10 (Kohelet)
Hebrew:
כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־תִּמְצָא יָדְךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּכֹחֲךָ עֲשֵׂה כִּי אֵין מַעֲשֶׂה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן וְדַעַת וְחָכְמָה בִּשְׁאוֹל אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה הֹלֵךְ שָׁמָּה׃

Transliteration:
Kol asher timtza yadcha la'asot bekochacha aseh, ki ein ma'aseh vecheshbon veda'at vechokhmah bishe'ol asher atah holekh shamah.

Literal Translation (from Hebrew):
"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your strength, for there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going."

Key Word: Sheol (שְׁאוֹל) – The unseen realm of the dead; no mention of torment or reward, only inactivity and lack of awareness.
2. Psalm 6:5 (David’s Plea)
Hebrew:
כִּי אֵין בַּמָּוֶת זִכְרֶךָ בִּשְׁאוֹל מִי יוֹדֶה־לָךְ׃

Transliteration:
Ki ein bammavet zikhrecha; bishe'ol mi yodeh lach?

Literal Translation:
"For there is no remembrance of You in death; in Sheol, who will give You praise?"

Insight: Sheol here is associated with forgetfulness, silence, and a break in earthly consciousness.
3. Psalm 88:3 (A Cry from Darkness)
Hebrew:
כִּי שָׂבְעָה בְרָעוֹת נַפְשִׁי וְחַיַּי לִשְׁאוֹל הִגִּיעוּ׃

Transliteration:
Ki sav'ah vera'ot nafshi vechayyai lishe'ol higi'u.

Literal Translation:
"For my soul is full of troubles, and my life has drawn near to Sheol."

Context: The psalmist feels as though life is slipping away into a place of silence and separation.
4. Isaiah 38:18 (Hezekiah’s Prayer)
Hebrew:
כִּי לֹא שְׁאוֹל תוֹדֶךָ מָוֶת יְהַלְלֶךָ לֹא יְשַׂבְּרוּ יֹרְדֵי בוֹר לַאֲמִתֶּךָ׃

Transliteration:
Ki lo she'ol todeka; mavet yehalleleka; lo yesabru yordei vor la'amitecha.

Literal Translation:
"For Sheol cannot thank You; death cannot praise You; those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth."

Key Point: Sheol is presented as a realm of inactivity and silence, where even worship and praise cease.
5. Job 14:13 (Job's Lament)
Hebrew:
מִי־יִתֵּן בִּשְׁאוֹל תַּצְפִּנֵנִי תַּסְתִּירֵנִי עַד־שׁוּב אַפֶּךָ תָּשִׁית לִי חֹק וְתִזְכְּרֵנִי׃

Transliteration:
Mi yiten bishe'ol tatzpineni, tastireni ad-shuv apecha, tashit li chok vetizkereni.

Literal Translation:
"Oh, that You would hide me in Sheol, conceal me until Your wrath has passed; set me a time and remember me."

Insight: Job sees Sheol as a place of hidden rest, away from suffering.
⚖️ Linguistic Insights from Original Hebrew
🛠️ Root Word Analysis:
שְׁאוֹל (She'ol) likely comes from the root sha'al (שאל) meaning "to ask, inquire, or demand."
It is as though Sheol "demands" the dead, continually receiving those who pass away.
🧠 Hebrew Concept:
Unlike Greek Hades, Sheol is not a place of punishment or reward.
It is neutral, more like a collective grave or "the land of no return," similar to Mesopotamian afterlife ideas.
🌑 What Is Sheol Like in the Hebrew Bible?
A Place of Silence: (Psalm 94:17) – No activity or interaction.
A Place of Darkness: (Job 10:21-22) – "A land of darkness and shadow of death."
A Place of Rest (Sleep): (Psalm 13:3) – Death is often described as "sleep."
A Place of Universal Destination: (Ecclesiastes 3:20) – All go there, righteous and wicked alike.
🧐 Is It Like a City?
While Sheol is not literally described as a city, some passages metaphorically suggest it has "gates" or a vast, communal nature:

Isaiah 14:9: "Sheol below is stirred up to meet you."
Proverbs 7:27: "Her house is the way to Sheol."
These descriptions are likely poetic, helping readers grasp the abstract concept of the afterlife.

In short:
In original Hebrew Scripture, Sheol is primarily a silent, dark, and inactive realm—a "place" where the dead rest, without Greek-influenced ideas of torment or reward. It is more like a vast, shadowy grave than a bustling underworld.

Hebrew Concept: Sheol
Meaning: A shadowy, silent realm where all the dead go—both righteous and wicked.
Characteristics:
Silent, dark, and inactive (Ecclesiastes 9:10; Psalm 115:17).
No conscious thought, activity, or interaction.
Often described metaphorically as a large grave rather than a realm of punishment or reward.
Purpose: A place of rest and waiting, not judgment.
Cultural Influence: Rooted in Semitic beliefs, emphasizing mortality and human dependence on God for resurrection and judgment (e.g., Daniel 12:2).

Greek Concept: Hades/Afterlife
Meaning: Hades was the Greek underworld where souls went after death, but unlike Sheol, it was divided into distinct areas based on one’s deeds in life.
Characteristics:
Elysium: A paradise for heroes and virtuous souls.
Tartarus: A place of torment for the wicked.
Asphodel Fields: A shadowy, indifferent realm for ordinary souls.
Purpose: Immediate separation and judgment of souls based on moral conduct.
Cultural Influence: Rooted in Greek philosophy, particularly Platonic ideas of the soul’s immortality and a more transactional view of morality.

Aspect

1. Consciousness

2. Moral Judgment

3. Purpose

4. Origin

Sheol (Hebrew)

1. Unconscious rest; no awareness

2. None until resurrection and judgment.
3. Universal resting place for all.

4. Early Hebrew texts (e.g., Torah, Psalms)

Hades/Greek Afterlife

1. Conscious existence; souls retain awareness.
2. Immediate separation of souls by deeds.
3. Distinct realms of reward or punishment.
4. Greek mythology and later philosophical thought (Plato)

Conclusion

The Hebrew view of Sheol aligns more closely with the idea of death as sleep—a cessation of activity and thought—while the Greek view of Hades introduces more active and morally segmented realms. Understanding these differences helps clarify how later influences, like Hellenistic thought, shaped some modern conceptions of the afterlife.