Bible Dictionary

Pit

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A pit may be a hole, cistern, dungeon, grave, or trap. Scripture also uses the term figuratively for the grave, the realm of the dead, and the bottomless pit associated with judgment.

Definition

A pit may be a hole in the ground, cistern, well, dungeon, grave, or trap. The word can also designate the grave or Sheol and, in the New Testament, the bottomless pit associated with judgment.

Biblical Usage

Pits appear as places of imprisonment, water storage, burial, danger, and entrapment. The term is used figuratively for human mischief, the grave, the unseen place of woe, and the bottomless pit.

Historical Background

Different Hebrew words distinguish a dug pit or cistern, a well, Sheol, an animal trap, and other depressions. The supplied material also mentions the slime-pits of Siddim, which yielded asphalt.

Scripture References

Exodus 21:33 Exodus 21:34 Genesis 37:24 Jeremiah 14:3 Psalms 30:3 Psalms 9:15 Revelation 20:1 Revelation 20:3 Genesis 14:10

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary
A hole in the ground (Ex. 21:33, 34), a cistern for water (Gen. 37:24; Jer. 14:3), a vault (41:9), a grave (Ps. 30:3). It is used as a figure for mischief (Ps. 9:15), and is the name given to the unseen place of woe (Rev. 20:1, 3). The slime-pits in the vale of Siddim were wells which yielded asphalt (Gen. 14:10).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
[Hell]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>The word translates different Hebrew words of which the most important are:</p><p>(1) bor, "pit" or "cistern," made by digging, (Ge 37:20); hence, "dungeon" (Jer 38:6, margin "pit");</p><p>(2) be'er, "pit" or "well" made by digging (Ge 21:25);</p><p>(3) she'ol, generally rendered "hell" in the King James Version (see HELL);</p><p>(4) shachath, 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" (Ps 28:1; 30:3; Job 33:24). the King James Version sometimes incorrectly renders (4) by "corruption."</p><p>(5) pachath, "pit," literally (2Sa 17:9), and figuratively (Jer 48:43).</p><p>In the New Testament "pit" renders bothunos (Mt 15:14), which means any kind of hole in the ground. In the corresponding passage Lu (14:5 the King James Version) has phrear, "well," the same as (2) above. For "bottomless pit" (Re 9:1, the King James Version, etc.).</p><p>See ABYSS.</p><p>T. Lewis</p>
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