The subject of Sheol (often translated “the grave”) is important in the context of the conditionalism/annihilationism discussion. In the Old Testament, it is the place to where all go upon their death.  Since the majority of annihilationists affirm soul sleep (the supposed condition of the dead between death and resurrection), and since soul sleep affects the doctrine of annihilation, Sheol is necessarily an important part of the overall discussion.

I looked up every instance in the Hebrew word שְׁאוֹל, sheol that occurs in the Old Testament. The results are in the table below. There are 65 occurrences in a variety of contexts. Generically speaking, Sheol is the abode of the dead. But, that wasn’t sufficient for my purpose here; namely, to learn about the word from its contexts. So, I let each verse speak for itself and try to understand each word in its context. There are times when Sheol is referencing the grave, and other times its simply death. I discovered that there are apparently levels of Sheol (Deut. 32:22). God is over Sheol (Job 26:6). And, in one instance when Jonah was swallowed by the fish, he was said to be in Sheol (Jonah 2:2). The majority of the designations dealt with death and the grave but what I found interesting was three verses that seem to suggest consciousness in Sheol.

• Num. 16:30, “But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the LORD.”
• Num. 16:33, “So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.”
•  Psalm 55:15, “Let death come deceitfully upon them; Let them go down alive to Sheol, for evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.”

The idea of going down alive into Sheol is interesting. If as some annihilationists maintain, once the physical body dies the soul ceases to have life (Edward Fudge), then it cannot go down alive to Sheol as the Scriptures declare (Num. 16:30, 33; Psalm 55:15). Other annihilationists affirm that upon physical death the human soul returns to God (Glen Peoples), but that would make no sense either considering those texts that say that there are those who descend alive into Sheol.

• “When death occurs, then it is the soul that is deprived of life. Death cannot strike the body or any other part of the soul without striking the entirety of the soul . . . It is deliberately said both that the soul dies (Judg 16:30; Num 23:10; et al.), that it is destroyed or consumed (Ezek 22:25, 27), and that it is extinguished (Job 11:20).”¹Fudge, Edward William. The Fire That Consumes: A Biblical and Historical Study of the Doctrine of Final Punishment, Third Edition (p. 27). Cascade Books, an imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers. Kindle Edition, underline added
• “The first man was created when the dust of the earth and the breath of God were brought together (Gen 2: 7), and just as surely as the man did not exist prior to creation, he does not exist when the spirit returns to God who gave it and the dust returns to the earth (Eccl 12:7).”²Peoples, Glen, A., Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical Conditionalism (Kindle Locations 583-586). Cascade Books, an Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers. Kindle Edition, underline added.

It would appear that the only way an annihilationist could attempt to be consistent with these verses that say the soul goes down into Sheol all alive would be to affirm soul sleep which is supposedly the unconscious state of the soul of a person who has died. At least that way, they could be consistent with what these Scriptures are saying.

Nevertheless, my analysis of every occurrence of the word Sheol in the Hebrew has led me to the following

1. Belly of the fish
   1. Jonah 2:2
2. Conscious abode
   1. Num. 16:30; 16:33; Psalm 55:15
3. Death
   1. 1 Sam. 2:6; 22:6; Job 14:13; Psalm 6:5; 9:17; 18:5; 49:41; 49:15; 86:13; 88:3; 116:3; 139:8; Prov. 1:12; 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:11; 23:14; 27:20; Song 8:6; Isaiah 28:15; 28:18; 38:10; 38:18; Hos. 13:14; Hab. 2:5
4. God is over death
   1. Job 26:6
5. Grave, The
   1. Gen. 37:35; 42:38; 44:29; 44:31; 1 Kings 2:6; 2:9; Job 7:9; 11:8; 17:13; 17:16; 21:13; 24:19; Psalm 16:10; 30:3; 31:17; 89:48; 141:7; Prov. 15:24; 30:16; Ecc. 9:10; Is. 5:14; 14:9; 14:11; 14:15; 57:9; Ezek. 31:15; 31:16; 31:17; 32:21; 32:27; Amos 9:2
6. Levels of Sheol
   1. Deut. 32:22

My examination led me to some interesting observations. Typically, annihilationists will cite any verse that supports soul sleep. For example, they might go to Job 7:9 which says, “When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.” They could easily interpret this to mean that the person who dies vanishes and does not exist. Likewise, they sometimes quote Psalm 6:5 which says there is no mention of God in death, in Sheol. But, what I found interesting is the implication of being alive in Sheol (Number 16:30, 33, Psalm 55:15), and God is said to be with the person in Sheol (Psalm 139:8). Also, when we see the implication of levels of Sheol (Deut. 32:22), then we have to ask how that could be if soul sleep is true? Are there levels of unconsciousness? Then there is also Jonah was alive in the belly of the fish which he called Sheol (Jonah 2:2). So, we can conclude that though the word is found in verses which can be used to support soul sleep, there are also occurrences of the word which speak against it.

Finally, as a point of clarification, categorizing the meaning of every verse with a simple designation, was not easy. Sometimes the context is the grave, other times it is death. But, at other times it could go either way. However, I did my best to represent the categorizations faithfully to the context. If you were to examine the table below, I hope you would agree with all of my categorizations. But, then again you might not.

• Hebrew word: שְׁאוֹל, sheol
• Meaning:  grave, death, abode of the dead
• Strong’s #: H7585
• Frequency:  65 occurrences

TABLE OF ALL NEW TESTAMENT USAGES OF SHEOL, שְׁאוֹל
Address	Verse	Meaning
Gen. 37:35	Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.	The grave
Gen. 42:38	But Jacob said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”	The grave
Gen. 44:29	‘If you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’	The grave
Gen. 44:31	when he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die. Thus your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.	The grave
Num. 16:30	“But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the LORD.”	Conscious abode
Num. 16:33	So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.	Conscious abode
Deut. 32:22	For a fire is kindled in My anger, and burns to the lowest part of Sheol, and consumes the earth with its yield, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains.	Levels of sheol
1 Sam. 2:6	“The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up.	Death
2 Sam. 22:6	The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.	Death
1 Kings 2:6	“So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace.	The grave
1 Kings 2:9	“Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood.”	The grave
Job 7:9	“When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up.	The grave
Job 11:8	“They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know?	The grave
Job 14:13	“Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, that You would conceal me until Your wrath returns to You, that You would set a limit for me and remember me!	Death
Job 17:13	“If I look for Sheol as my home, I make my bed in the darkness;	The grave
Job 17:16	“Will it go down with me to Sheol? Shall we together go down into the dust?”	The grave
Job 21:13	“They spend their days in prosperity, and suddenly they go down to Sheol.	The grave
Job 24:19	“Drought and heat consume the snow waters, so does Sheol those who have sinned.	The grave
Job 26:6	“Naked is Sheol before Him, and Abaddon has no covering.	God is over death
Psalm 6:5	For there is no mention of You in death; In Sheol who will give You thanks?	Death
Psalm 9:17	The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God.	Death
Psalm 16:10	For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.	The grave
Psalm 18:5	The cords of Sheol surrounded me. The snares of death confronted me.	Death
Psalm 30:3	O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol; You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.	The grave
Psalm 31:17	Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon You; Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol.	The grave
Psalm 49:14	As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; Death shall be their shepherd; And the upright shall rule over them in the morning, and their form shall be for Sheol to consume So that they have no habitation.	Death
Psalm 49:15	But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for He will receive me. Selah.	Death
Psalm 55:15	Let death come deceitfully upon them; Let them go down alive to Sheol, for evil is in their dwelling, in their midst.	Conscious abode
Psalm 86:13	For Your lovingkindness toward me is great, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.	Death
Psalm 88:3	For my soul has had enough troubles, and my life has drawn near to Sheol.	Death
Psalm 89:48	What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.	The grave
Psalm 116:3	The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.	Death
Psalm 139:8	If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.	Death
Psalm 141:7	As when one plows and breaks open the earth, our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol.	The grave
Prov. 1:12	Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, even whole, as those who go down to the pit;	Death
Prov. 5:5	Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold of Sheol.	Death
Prov. 7:27	Her house is the way to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.	Death
Prov. 9:18	But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.	Death
Prov. 15:11	Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the LORD, how much more the hearts of men!	Death
Prov. 15:24	The path of life leads upward for the wise That he may keep away from Sheol below.	The grave
Prov. 23:14	You shall strike him with the rod and rescue his soul from Sheol.	Death
Prov. 27:20	Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.	Death
Prov. 30:16	Sheol, and the barren womb, earth that is never satisfied with water, and fire that never says, “Enough.”	The grave
Ecc. 9:10	Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.	The grave
Song 8:6	“Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.	Death
Is. 5:14	Therefore Sheol has enlarged its throat and opened its mouth without measure; And Jerusalem’s splendor, her multitude, her din of revelry and the jubilant within her, descend into it.	The grave
Is. 14:9	“Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; It arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones.	The grave
Is. 14:11	‘Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you And worms are your covering.’	The grave
Is. 14:15	“Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.	The grave
Is. 28:15	Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by, for we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception.”	Death
Is. 28:18	“Your covenant with death will be canceled, and your pact with Sheol will not stand; When the overwhelming scourge passes through, then you become its trampling place.	Death
Is. 38:10	I said, “In the middle of my life I am to enter the gates of Sheol; I am to be deprived of the rest of my years.”	Death
Is. 38:18	“For Sheol cannot thank You, death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.	Death
Is. 57:9	“You have journeyed to the king with oil and increased your perfumes; You have sent your envoys a great distance and made them go down to Sheol.	The grave
Ezek. 31:15	‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “On the day when it went down to Sheol I caused lamentations; I closed the deep over it and held back its rivers. And its many waters were stopped up, and I made Lebanon mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted away on account of it.	The grave
Ezek. 31:16	“I made the nations quake at the sound of its fall when I made it go down to Sheol with those who go down to the pit; and all the well-watered trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, were comforted in the earth beneath.	The grave
Ezek. 31:17	“They also went down with it to Sheol to those who were slain by the sword; and those who were its strength lived under its shade among the nations.	The grave
Ezek. 32:21	“The strong among the mighty ones shall speak of him and his helpers from the midst of Sheol, ‘They have gone down, they lie still, the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’	The grave
Ezek. 32:27	“Nor do they lie beside the fallen heroes of the uncircumcised, who went down to Sheol with their weapons of war and whose swords were laid under their heads; but the punishment for their iniquity rested on their bones, though the terror of these heroes was once in the land of the living.	The grave
Hos. 13:14	Shall I ransom them from the power of Sheol? Shall I redeem them from death? O Death, where are your thorns? O Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion will be hidden from My sight.	Death
Amos 9:2	“Though they dig into Sheol, from there will My hand take them; And though they ascend to heaven, from there will I bring them down.	The grave
Jonah 2:2	and he said, “I called out of my distress to the LORD, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice.	Belly of the fish
Hab. 2:5	“Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, so that he does not stay at home. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and he is like death, never satisfied. He also gathers to himself all nations and collects to himself all peoples.	Death