ABYSS, or Deep. (1.) Hell, the place of punishment, the bottomless pit, Luke viii. 31 ; Rev. ix. 1 ; xi. 7, &c, (2.) The common receptacle of the dead ; the grave, the deep (or depths of the) earth, under which the body being deposited, the state of the soul corresponding thereto, still more unseen, still deeper, still further distant from human inspection, is that remote country, that "bourn from whence no traveler returns." See Rom. x. 7. (3.) The deepest parts of the sea, Ps. lxviii. 22 ; cvii. 26. (4.) The chaos, which, in the beginning of the world, was unformed and vacant, Gen. i. 2.

The Hebrews were of opinion (as are many of the orientals) that the abyss, the sea and waters, encompassed the whole earth ; that the earth floated upon the abyss, like a melon swimming on and in the water. They believe that the earth was founded upon the waters, (Psalm xxiv. 2 ; xxxiii. 6, 7 ; cxxxvi. 6.) or, at least, that it had its foundation on the abyss. Their Sheol, however, or place of the dead, is in the interior of the earth, in those dark dungeons where the prophets describe the kings of Tyre, Babylon, and Egypt, as lying down, that is, buried, yet suffer ing the punishment of their pride and cruelty. See Hell, and Giants.

Fountains and rivers, in the opinion of the Hebrews, are derived from the abyss, or sea ; issuing from thence through invisible channels, and returning through others, Eccl i. 7.