Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and TerminologyHell is traditionally understood as the place of eternal punishment for the wicked after death. In the Bible, several terms are used to describe this realm, including "Sheol," "Hades," "Gehenna," and "the lake of fire." Each term carries specific connotations and is used in different contexts throughout the Scriptures.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "Sheol" is often translated as "the grave" or "the pit." It is depicted as a shadowy place where the dead reside, both the righteous and the wicked. For instance, in
Psalm 16:10, David expresses confidence that God will not abandon him to Sheol: "For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay" .
New Testament ReferencesThe New Testament introduces the Greek terms "Hades" and "Gehenna." "Hades" is similar to Sheol and is used to describe the abode of the dead. In
Luke 16:23, Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, where the rich man finds himself in torment in Hades: "In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side" .
"Gehenna," on the other hand, is more specifically associated with the final place of punishment for the wicked. It is derived from the Valley of Hinnom, a place outside Jerusalem associated with idolatry and child sacrifice (
2 Kings 23:10). Jesus frequently uses "Gehenna" to warn of the consequences of sin, as in
Matthew 10:28: "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell" .
The Lake of FireThe Book of Revelation introduces the concept of the "lake of fire," which is described as the final destination for Satan, his angels, and all those whose names are not found in the Book of Life.
Revelation 20:14-15 states: "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire" .
Nature and PurposeHell is depicted as a place of conscious torment and separation from God. It is described as a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (
Matthew 13:42) and "outer darkness" (
Matthew 8:12). The purpose of hell is to serve as a just recompense for those who reject God and persist in sin. It underscores the holiness and justice of God, as well as the seriousness of sin.
Theological ImplicationsThe doctrine of hell emphasizes the reality of eternal consequences for moral choices made in this life. It serves as a warning and a call to repentance, highlighting the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. The existence of hell underscores the gravity of God's judgment and the profound nature of His mercy, as He offers redemption through the sacrifice of His Son.
Contemporary DiscussionsThe concept of hell has been the subject of much theological debate and discussion. Some argue for a literal interpretation of hell as a place of eternal conscious torment, while others propose alternative views such as annihilationism or universal reconciliation. Despite differing interpretations, the traditional view maintains that hell is a real and significant aspect of Christian eschatology, affirming the ultimate triumph of God's justice and righteousness.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Derived from the Saxon helan, to cover; hence the covered or the invisible place. In Scripture there are three words so rendered:
(1.) Sheol, occurring in the Old Testament sixty-five times. This word sheol is derived from a root-word meaning "to ask," "demand;" hence insatiableness (Proverbs 30:15, 16). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times (Genesis 37:35;42:38;44:29, 31;1 Samuel 2:6, etc.). The Revisers have retained this rendering in the historical books with the original word in the margin, while in the poetical books they have reversed this rule.
In thirty-one cases in the Authorized Version this word is rendered "hell," the place of disembodied spirits. The inhabitants of sheol are "the congregation of the dead" (Proverbs 21:16). It is (a) the abode of the wicked (Numbers 16:33;Job 24:19;Psalm 9:17;31:17, etc.); (b) of the good (Psalm 16:10;30:3;49:15;86:13, etc.).
Sheol is described as deep (Job 11:8), dark (10:21, 22), with bars (17:16). The dead "go down" to it (Numbers 16:30, 33;Ezek. 31:15, 16, 17).
(2.) The Greek word hades of the New Testament has the same scope of signification as sheol of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1 Peter 3:19), with gates and bars and locks (Matthew 16:18;Revelation 1:18), and it is downward (Matthew 11:23;Luke 10:15).
The righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of hades called paradise (Luke 23:43). They are also said to be in Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22).
(3.) Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost (Matthew 23:33). The fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions (Matthew 8:12;13:42;22:13;25:30;Luke 16:24, etc.). (seeHINNOM.)
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The place of the dead, or of souls after death; the grave; -- called in Hebrew Sheol, and by the Greeks Hades.
2. (n.) The place or state of punishment for the wicked after death; the abode of evil spirits. Hence, any mental torment; anguish.
3. (n.) A place where outcast persons or things are gathered
4. (n.) A dungeon or prison; also, in certain running games, a place to which those who are caught are carried for detention.
5. (n.) A gambling house.
6. (n.) A place into which a tailor throws his shreds, or a printer his broken type.
7. (v. t.) To overwhelm.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
HELLhel (see SHEOL; HADES; GEHENNA):
1. The Word in the King James Version:
The English word, from a Teutonic root meaning "to hide" or "cover," had originally the significance of the world of the dead generally, and in this sense is used by Chaucer, Spenser, etc., and in the Creed ("He descended into hell"); compare the English Revised Version Preface. Now the word has come to mean almost exclusively the place of punishment of the lost or finally impenitent; the place of torment of the wicked. In the King James Version of the Scriptures, it is the rendering adopted in many places in the Old Testament for the Hebrew word she'ol (in 31 out of 65 occurrences of that word it is so translated), and in all places, save one (1 Corinthians 15:55) in the New Testament, for the Greek word Hades (this word occurs 11 times; in 10 of these it is translated "hell";1 Corinthians 15:55 reads "grave," with "hell" in the margin). In these cases the word has its older general meaning, though inLuke 16:23 (parable of Rich Man and Lazarus) it is specially connected with a place of "torment," in contrast with the "Abraham's bosom" to which Lazarus is taken (16:22). 2. The Word in the Revised Version:
In the above cases the Revised Version (British and American) has introduced changes, replacing "hell" by "Sheol" in the passages in the Old Testament (the English Revised Version retains "hell" inIsaiah 14:9, 15; the American Standard Revised Version makes no exception), and by "Hades" in the passages in the New Testament (see under these words).
3. Gehenna:
Besides the above uses, and more in accordance with the modern meaning, the word "hell" is used in the New Testament in the King James Version as the equivalent of Gehenna (12 t;Matthew 5:22, 29;Matthew 10:28, etc.). the Revised Version (British and American) in these cases puts "Gehenna" in the margin. Originally the Valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, Gehenna became among the Jews the synonym for the place of torment in the future life (the "Gehenna of fire,"Matthew 5:22, etc.; see GEHENNA).
4. Tartarus:
In yet one other passage in the New Testament (2 Peter 2:4), "to cast down to hell" is used (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American)) to represent the Greek tartaroo, ("to send into Tartarus"). Here it stands for the place of punishment of the fallen angels: "spared not angels when they sinned, but cast them down to hell, and committed them to pits (or chains) of darkness" (compareJude 1:6; but alsoMatthew 25:41). Similar ideas are found in certain of the Jewish apocalyptic books (Book of Enoch, Book of Jubilees, Apocrypha Baruch, with apparent reference toGenesis 6:1-4; compare ESCHATOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT).
On theological aspect, see PUNISHMENT, EVERLASTING. For literature, see references in above-named arts., and compare article "Hell" by Dr. D. S. Salmond in HDB.
James Orr
Greek
5020. tartaroo -- to cast intohell... to cast into
hell. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tartaroo Phonetic Spelling:
(tar-tar-o'-o) Short Definition: I thrust down to Tartarus Definition: I
...1067. geenna -- Gehenna, a valley W. and South of Jer., also a...
... ("hell"), the place of - torment (judgment), refers strictly to the everlasting
abode of the redeemed where they experience divine judgment .... gehenna,hell....
86. hades -- Hades, the abode of departed spirits
... grave,hell. From a (as negative particle) and eido; properly, unseen, ie "Hades"
or the place (state) of departed souls -- grave,hell. see GREEK a....
Strong's Hebrew
7585. sheol -- underworld (place to which people descend at death)... Word Origin of uncertain derivation Definition underworld (place to which people
descend at death) NASB Word Usage Sheol (66). grave,
hell, pit.
...Library
Hell.
... XXVIII.HELL.HELL is a place and state utterly unknown to any in this
visible world, excepting the souls of men; nor shall any...
Whether Limbo is the Same as theHell of the Damned?
... ON THE RESURRECTION (QQ -86)OF MATTERS CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION, AND FIRST OF
THE PLACE WHERE SOULS ARE Whether limbo is the same as thehell of the damned?...
Heaven andHell
... Heaven andHell. A Sermon (No.39-40).... I shall also have to utter some very sharp
things concerning the end of the lost in the pit ofhell....
Whether the Limbo ofHell is the Same as Abraham's Bosom?
... TREATISE ON THE RESURRECTION (QQ -86)OF MATTERS CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION, AND
FIRST OF THE PLACE WHERE SOULS ARE Whether the limbo ofhell is the same as...
Whether the Fire ofHell is of the Same Species as Ours?
... OF THE PUNISHMENT OF THE DAMNED (SEVEN ARTICLES) Whether the fire ofhell
is of the same species as ours? Objection 1: It would...
Whether the Whole Christ was inHell?
... OF CHRIST'S DESCENT INTOHELL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the whole Christ was inhell?
Objection 1: It would seem that the whole Christ was not inhell....
OfHell
... Second Series Sermon 73 OfHell. "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire
is not quenched." Mark 9:48. 1. Every truth which is revealed...
Whether the Fire ofHell is Beneath the Earth?
... OF THE PUNISHMENT OF THE DAMNED (SEVEN ARTICLES) Whether the fire ofhell
is beneath the earth?... But this fire will be inhell for ever....
"The Eternity ofHell-Torments"
... "The Eternity ofHell-Torments". Matthew 25:46 " "These shall go away into everlasting
punishment. To the Inhabitants of Savannah in Georgia. My dear Friends,....
Hell; Or, the Vengeance of God.
... Hymns. Book 2. Composed on Divine Subjects. Hymn 2:44.Hell; or, The vengeance
of God. 1 With holy fear and humble song, The dreadful...
Thesaurus
Hell (53 Occurrences)... In thirty-one cases in the Authorized Version this word is rendered "
hell," the
place of disembodied spirits.
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
HELL.
...Hell-fire (3 Occurrences)
Hell-fire. Hellenists,Hell-fire. Helm . Multi-Version Concordance
Hell-fire (3 Occurrences). Matthew 5:22 But I say...
Causeth (209 Occurrences)
... to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that
one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast intohell....
Trouble (477 Occurrences)
... is a cause of trouble to you, take it out and put it away from you; because it is
better to undergo the loss of one part, than for all your body to go intohell...
Hades (11 Occurrences)
... Testament. Our Lord speaks of Capernaum as being "brought down tohell" (hades),
ie, simply to the lowest debasement, (Matthew 11:23)....
Gehenna (12 Occurrences)
... 22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5. In these passages,
and also in James 3:6, the word is uniformly rendered "hell," the Revised...
Sheol (64 Occurrences)
... (Hebrews, "the all-demanding world" = Gr. Hades, "the unknown region"), the invisible
world of departed souls. (seeHELL.). Noah Webster's Dictionary....
Offend (24 Occurrences)
... pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy
members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast intohell....
Infernal (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Pertaining tohell; diabolical; as, infernal spirits, or conduct; suitable
forhell, or to the character of the inhabitants ofhell; hellish....
Hinnom (11 Occurrences)
... It became thus to the popular mind a symbol of the abode of the wicked hereafter.
It came to signifyhell as the place of the wicked....
Resources
Does hell exist? | GotQuestions.orgWhere is hell? What is the location of hell? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does hell look like? How hot is hell? | GotQuestions.orgHell: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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