Right. Death doesn't mean "to cease living". Words don't mean what they mean, and the Bible never says what it means or means what it says.
An important point....what is “death” in the Bible? Context determines whether it is used metaphorically or literally.
For example....what was the penalty that God placed on eating fruit from the forbidden tree? (Gen 2:16-17) Death! The very opposite of life. There is no mention of an afterlife of any kind, just a simple statement....”for dust you are and to dust you will return”. Not just Adam’s body died....ADAM died. (Gen 3:19)
What about being “dead in your sins”? What death is this? Obviously not physical death, but not being “alive” spiritually, and therefore living a life alienated from God....a course that will lead to physical death if not corrected.....and hence a person being “dead, whilst they live”.
Since all humans actually die the same death as Adam....no one survives death apart from a resurrection, which is a return to life, not a continuation of it.
When Jesus resurrected his friend Lazarus, where was Lazarus before Jesus awakened him? (John 11:11-14)
Jesus said he was “sleeping”....and he called him out of his tomb. Lazarus hadn’t gone anywhere...he was simply “asleep” in death....in sheol/hades...the common grave where we will all go when we die. (Eccl 9:5, 10)
Jesus will be the one to rouse us from the sleep of death just as he promised.....even the unrighteous will come back to life to a period of judgment. (John 5:28-29) The incorrigibly wicked will not be raised at all but suffer eternal death....found undeserving of the gift of life. That is justice.
The faithful will come back to life and enjoy what God originally intended for the human race.....everlasting life in paradise on earth. (Rev 21:2-4) Who would complain about that?
Where does a concept of “hell” fit into that scenario?