"Hell" in KJV Old Testament
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I think the simple reason is because hell is an English word that fairly corresponds to the Hebrew word "sheol".
Hell, in English usage, comes from an old word meaning "hole" or "pit." It refers to the place of the dead. That's pretty much what sheol means too.
Hell, in English usage, comes from an old word meaning "hole" or "pit." It refers to the place of the dead. That's pretty much what sheol means too.
Sorry for my dumb question, everyone, but are "hell" and the "lake of fire" the same thing? Is there the weeping and gnashing of teeth and the worm never dieing in "hell" or only in the "lake of fire"? Maybe I have been misunderstanding what "hell" means. 
Strong's defines "sheol" as:
1) sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
a) the underworld
b) Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1) place of no return
2) without praise of God
3) wicked sent there for punishment
4) righteous not abandoned to it
5) of the place of exile (fig)
6) of extreme degradation in sin
Strong's defines "sheol" as:
1) sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
a) the underworld
b) Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1) place of no return
2) without praise of God
3) wicked sent there for punishment
4) righteous not abandoned to it
5) of the place of exile (fig)
6) of extreme degradation in sin
Sorry for my dumb question, everyone, but are "hell" and the "lake of fire" the same thing? Is there the weeping and gnashing of teeth and the worm never dieing in "hell" or only in the "lake of fire"? Maybe I have been misunderstanding what "hell" means.
Most of the time when Jesus says hell, the word Gehenna is behind it, which refers to the place of torment for the wicked. When used to translate Hades/Sheol it usually has a broader range than that, though obviously for the wicked it is all one and the same.
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So when "hell" (the word "sheol") is used in the OT in reference to the wicked going there, should we assume the word is referring both to them being sent into the grave AND being sent to a place of punishment...or would the meaning of the word be more context-dependent? If we should understand the word more in a context-dependent way, what verses that use "sheol" in the OT clearly refer to the punishment aspect? What I'm trying to understand is what I should think of when reading the OT and the word "hell" is used...to make sure I'm getting what is talked about.
In the OT, sheol is translated two different ways: hell (Job 11:8) and grave (Gen. 42:38). So, when reading the KJV, you can pretty well trust the translators. That being said, always look for content in context. That is the most important rule in anything we read.
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