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" ( Psalm 28:1; Psalm 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 .
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
WikipediaThe ISBE is a classic Bible reference compiled from nearly 10,000 entries written by over 200 different Bible scholars and teachers. In addition to the encyclopedia articles, all of the major words of the Bible are represented and defined.
The historical, cultural, and linguistic information in the ISBE can be of great value in Bible study and research.
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