Search the Site

Donate

pit


A natural, crafted, or symbolic depression in the earth. The Bible refers to bitumen pits (Gen 14:10), traps used to kill deliberately (Gen 37:22) or accidentally (Ps 7:15), public hazards (Exod 21:33), burials (2Sam 18:17), animal traps (or perhaps lairs, 2Sam 23:20), landmarks (2Kgs 10:14), the abode of the dead (Job 33:18), foundation trenches for construction (Mark 12:1), a bottomless source of scourges and plagues (Rev 9:1; Rev 9:2; Rev 11:7), and the destination of the devil (Rev 20:2).

  • Powell, Mark Allan, ed. HarperCollins Bible Dictionary. Abridged Edition. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2009.