sheol

S1H4E1O1L1
US/ˈʃi.oʊl/US/ˈʃeɪ.oʊl/UK/ˈʃiː.əʊl/UK/ˈʃeɪ.əʊl/

proper noun

The realm of the dead, the common grave of mankind, Hell. In older English translations of the Bible, notably the Authorized Version or King James Bible, this word sheol is translated inconsistently and variously as grave (31 times), pit (3 times) or hell (31 times: e.g., De. 32:22; 2Sa. 22:6; Job 11:8; Ps. 9:17).

Similar
HellHadesinfernal regionnetherworldScheolunderworld
OriginHebrew שְׁאוֹל →
UncommonScrabble 8
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Meanings

sheol1

proper noun
  1. Alternative letter-case form of Sheol.

Sheol2

proper noun

alternative sheol

  1. Old TestamentThe realm of the dead, the common grave of mankind, Hell. In older English translations of the Bible, notably the Authorized Version or King James Bible, this word sheol is translated inconsistently and variously as grave (31 times), pit (3 times) or hell (31 times: e.g., De. 32:22; 2Sa. 22:6; Job 11:8; Ps. 9:17).

Synonyms & antonyms

noun(religion) the world of the dead

Similar
HellHadesinfernal regionnetherworldScheolunderworld
Broader
imaginary placemythical placefictitious place
Also see
hadeshellnetherworldunderworld

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Hebrewשְׁאוֹל
  2. EnglishSheol

Borrowed from Hebrew שְׁאוֹל, שְׁאֹל (sheól, “abode of the dead, underworld, netherworld, etc.”).

More words from Hebrew

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 阴间, 冥界
  • 阴间 (yīnjiān)realm of the dead
  • 冥界 (míngjiè)realm of the dead
Polish Szeol
  • Szeolrealm of the dead

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with sheol

creole
All rhymes →

Anagrams

holesLohsehoselOleshshole
Cite this entry
APA

sheol. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sheol

MLA

“sheol.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sheol. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sheol,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sheol.

Source: sheol on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.