Death and the Grave Personified
The Insatiable Pit
Personifications · 6 verses
The grave is personified throughout Scripture as a voracious entity with an insatiable appetite. Sheol and Abaddon (Destruction) are never satisfied; the eyes of man are never satisfied. Hell hath enlarged herself and opened her mouth without measure. The grave cannot praise God; death cannot celebrate Him. Yet even Sheol cannot hide from God: 'If I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.' The personified grave represents the realm of the dead—not annihilation but continued existence separated from the living. Christ's descent into this realm and triumphant emergence demonstrates His authority over even this dark domain. He who holds the keys can open what none can shut.
Scripture References
“Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.”
“Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”
“Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people.”
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.”
“For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.”
“Like sheep they are laid in the grave; death shall feed on them; and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; and their beauty shall consume in the grave from their dwelling. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me.”