Pit - International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PIT

The word translates different Hebrew words of which the most important are:

(1) bor, "pit" or "cistern," made by digging, (Genesis 37:20); hence, "dungeon" (Jeremiah 38:6, margin "pit");

(2) be'er, "pit" or "well" made by digging (Genesis 21:25);

(3) she'ol, generally rendered "hell" in the King James Version (see HELL);

(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" (Psalms 28:1; 30:3; Job 33:24). the King James Version sometimes incorrectly renders (4) by "corruption."

(5) pachath, "pit," literally (2 Samuel 17:9), and figuratively (Jeremiah 48:43).

In the New Testament "pit" renders bothunos (Matthew 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" (Revelation 9:1, the King James Version, etc.).

See ABYSS.

T. Lewis

Bibliography Information
Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'PIT'". "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". 1915.