The word translates different Hebrew words of which the most important are: (1) בּור, bōr, “pit” or “cistern,” made by digging, (Genesis 37:20); hence, “dungeon” (Jeremiah 38:6, margin “pit”); (2) כּאר, be‘ēr, “pit” or “well” made by digging (Genesis 21:25); (3) שׁאל, she‘ōl, generally rendered “hell” in the King James Version (see HELL); (4) שׁחת, shaḥath, a pit in the ground to catch wild animals. (1), (2) and (4) above are used metaphorically of the pit of the “grave” or of “sheol” (Psalms 28:1; 30:3; Job 33:24). The King James Version sometimes incorrectly renders (4) by “corruption.” (5) פּחת, paḥath, “pit,” literally (2 Samuel 17:9), and figuratively (Jeremiah 48:43). In the New Testament “pit” renders βόθυνος, bóthunos (Matthew 15:14), which means any kind of hole in the ground. In the corresponding passage Lk (Luke 14:5 the King James Version) has φρέαρ, phréar, “well,” the same as (2) above. For “bottomless pit” (Revelation 9:1, the King James Version, etc.). See ABYSS.
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Author: International Std. Bible Encyclopedia
Keywords: Pit, Dungeon, Well, Cistern, Grave, Sheol, Hell, Hades
Source: James Orr (editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, 5 volume set.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.