Bible Dictionaries

Holman Bible Dictionary

Pit

Translation of twelve Hebrew and two Greek words in KJV for water reservoir, ditch, or place of destruction. The most common use of “pit” is to refer to a well or cistern (Genesis 37:20-29; Exodus 21:33-34; Psalm 7:15; Psalm 55:23; Proverbs 26:27; Proverbs 28:10 ). See Cistern; Wells.

Sometimes “pit” refers to a ditch or a marsh (Jeremiah 14:3; Isaiah 30:14 ). Many times the word was used as a synonym for a place of destruction (Psalm 55:23 ), corruption (Psalm 16:10; Psalm 49:9; Isaiah 38:17 ), or death (Isaiah 14:15; Jonah 2:6 ). Three times KJV translated the word Sheol as “pit” ( Numbers 16:30 ,Numbers 16:30,16:33; Job 17:16 ). One Greek word is translated “bottomless pit” in Revelation 9:1-2 (cf. Psalm 88:6 ). See Hell; Everlasting Punishment; Sheol .

Ralph L. Smith