Hell

From BibleWiki

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 (Prov 30:15f). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times (Gen 37:35; Gen 42:38; Gen 44:29ff; 1Sam 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" (Prov 21:16). It is (a) the abode of the wicked (Num 16:33; Job 24:19; Ps 9¹⁷; Ps 31¹⁷, etc.); (b) of the good (Ps 16¹⁰; Ps 30³; Ps 49¹⁵; Ps 86¹³, etc.).

Sheol is described as deep (Job 11:8), dark (Job 10:21ff), with bars (Job 17:16). The dead "go down" to it (Num 16:30, Num 16:33; Ezek 31:15ff).

(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 Pet 3:19), with gates and bars and locks (Mt 16:18; Rev 1:18), and it is downward (Mt 11:23; Lk 10:15).

The righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of hades called paradise (Lk 23:43). They are also said to be in Abraham's bosom (Lk 16:22).

(3.) Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost (Mt 23:33). The fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions (Mt 8:12; Mt 13:42; Mt 22:13; Mt 25:30; Lk 16:24, etc.). (See also Hinnom.)