What does this scripture tell you about Hell (Ecclesiastes 9: 5,10)?

Question

"The dead know nothing . . . In the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."

Ecclesiastes 9:5,10
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ecclesiastes%209:5-10;&version=31;

What Really is Hell? - http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2002/7/15/article_02.htm

You could look in the following link to see how 20 different Bible translation translate the word.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eccl%209:10;&version=47;
The Hebrew word used here is 'sheol' which different Bible translations translate interchangeably as Hell or grave. Some just transliterate the word, meaning they just use the original Hebrew word 'Sheol'.

Answer 1

Why do you lable the grave as hell? This scripture doesnt say anything about hell. I interpret it much differently. ALL the dead know nothing because they are in a different state, 'dead', asleep, whatever, a waiting area until judgement day. It is when you are ALIVE that you are working on your soul. The Bible also says to pray for the dead, probably because this will help with their judgement.

Answer 2

That Christianity offers at least three different versions of what hell is. And yet its claimed that there aren't any contradictions in the Bible.

So my question is - how can all three exist? And who goes to which one? And when?

Answer 3

The scripture you point out is not about hell. In context that area of Eccllesiastes is speaking of EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN.So, the living know they will die but the dead KNOW NOTHING UNDER THE SUN. In other words when your dead, you know nothing of whats happening on this Earth. Thats why thinking your dead mother, brother, friend is helping you is all baloney. But, ghosts could be evil entities on Earth, but not dead persons, although they may disguise themselves as that.

Answer 4

There are so many biblical referrences and descriptions of "hell", it is impossible for any one person to say that they have "heaven" and "hell" figured out. To say that they have figured it out beyond all doubt, they are either adding to or taking away from scripture. Then again, a few major areas of Christianity have done this, including those at Watchtower.

Answer 5

I used to think you got called to hell when Jesus called people up to heaven. You wait in the grave til then. That was when I was a pre teen and I believed it.

Answer 6

Hell is the grave. Sheol is the same thing.

Answer 7

Everyone has their own view, but I don't believe so

Answer 8

Worms crawl into your orifices, unless you were cremated, in which case you will burn in fire.

Answer 9

I think it depends

Answer 10

enough to know you don't want to go there.