Biblical Hebrew Forum

["Ishinan" <ishinan AT comcast.net>]

James Christian wrote:


" .....for there is no work nor devising nor knowledge nor wisdom in She´ol, 
the place to which you are going. (Ecclesisates 9:10)


Note that Hebrew She'ol is translated by Greek Hades the very word 
incorrectly translated as Hell in the Psalm your opponent is quoting from. 
She'ol is the common grave which we all go to when we die in the ideology 
presented in the Tanakh."

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Ishinan's response:

If She'ol is incorrectly translated as "Hell" in the Psalm it is also 
wrongly rendered analogous to the Greek Hades.

Hades is described as the lord of the dead and ruler of the nether world 
(the abode of the dead), which is referred to as the domain of Hades. Hades 
sits on a throne made of ebony, and carries a scepter. He also has a helmet, 
given to him by the Cyclopes, which can make him invisible. Hades rules the 
dead, assisted by various (demonic) helpers.  Although Hades does not allow 
his subjects to leave his domain, on several occasions, he granted his 
victims a retrieve. Plato's Cratylus discusses the etymology of the Hades 
extensively, with the character of Socrates asserting that the god's name is 
not from aiedes (unseen) as commonly thought, but rather from "his knowledge 
(eidenai) of all noble things".

While the Hebrew She'ol, has a totally different meaning, like its 
corresponding Arabic zu'wl,* it simply means passed away, ceasing to be or 
to exist, hence a reference to the state of nonexistence.

FYI,  She'ol as a term has nothing to do with "sha'al", "to ask nor  with 
"sha'al," the hollow of the hand.

Best regards

Ishinan Ishibashi


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know privately, I'll be happy to oblige.