The Bible contains descriptions of a place of final judgment, but whether it describes “hell” is complicated by language and translation. The modern English concept of hell is a composite idea drawn from several distinct terms in the original Hebrew and Greek texts. These original words refer to different places or states of being, ranging from the common grave to a final, eternal destination. Confusion arose because early English translators often rendered all these distinct terms using the single word “hell.” Understanding the biblical description requires separating these original terms and examining the specific context in which each one is used.
The Different Words Translated as Hell
The Old Testament, written primarily in Hebrew, uses the word Sheol to describe the abode of the dead. This term appears over 60 times and is variously translated as “grave,” “pit,” or “hell.” The New Testament, written in Greek, uses Hades as the Greek equivalent of Sheol, referring to the general realm of the departed.
A third, distinct Greek word is Gehenna, which Jesus used to describe a place of final, fiery judgment. This term is the one most closely aligned with the popular image of hell as a place of punishment. Finally, the Greek verb tartaroo, derived from Tartarus, appears once in 2 Peter 2:4 and describes the confinement of certain fallen angels, not the general destination of wicked humans. The translation of these four terms—Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus—is the primary source of the varying descriptions and theological confusion.
Sheol and Hades The Temporary Abode of the Dead
Sheol, the Hebrew term, generally refers to the common grave of all mankind, a shadowy and silent place where both the righteous and the wicked go after death. Old Testament passages often depict Sheol as a place of inactivity and forgetfulness, located deep within the earth. It is not described as a place of fiery torment in the Hebrew Scriptures.
Hades, the Greek counterpart, functions similarly as the intermediate state for the dead between physical death and the final resurrection or judgment. The New Testament provides a temporary picture of this realm in the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). This narrative suggests that Hades is a divided realm, separated by a chasm, where the righteous dead are comforted and the unrighteous dead are in torment.
The key distinction for both Sheol and Hades is their temporary nature. The Book of Revelation describes both Death and Hades being cast into the Lake of Fire, indicating they are not the final, eternal destination. They serve as the holding place for the souls of the dead until the final judgment, when their occupants are resurrected to face God.
Gehenna and the Lake of Fire The Final Destination
The term Gehenna is the one Jesus most frequently used when warning about judgment, and it is the word most often translated as “hell” in modern Bibles. Gehenna is derived from the Hebrew Ge Hinnom, or the Valley of Hinnom, a real valley located just outside the walls of Jerusalem. Historically, this valley was associated with the ancient practice of child sacrifice and later became the city’s refuse dump, where fires burned to consume garbage and animal carcasses.
Jesus used this familiar, physical location as a powerful metaphor for the final destruction of the wicked. He described Gehenna as a place where both the soul and body could be destroyed in “unquenchable fire.” This imagery of continuous burning and consumption conveyed the severity and finality of God’s judgment.
The Lake of Fire, mentioned exclusively in the Book of Revelation, is closely associated with Gehenna and represents the ultimate, eternal destination. It is described as the “second death,” signifying a permanent separation from God and complete destruction. This destination is the final fate not only for the wicked but also for the devil, the beast, the false prophet, and even Death and Hades themselves.
The Nature of the Biblical Descriptions
The descriptions of the final judgment employ vivid, sensory language that has led to significant theological debate regarding their literal or metaphorical meaning. Common imagery includes “eternal fire,” “outer darkness,” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” The fire is often interpreted as representing God’s consuming holiness and judgment, while the darkness suggests a complete separation from the presence of God.
The phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” describes the anguish and regret of those who are cast out. One major theological interpretation, known as Eternal Conscious Torment, views the suffering as a literal, unending experience of pain. Another view, Annihilationism or Conditional Immortality, suggests that the fire is a metaphor for complete destruction, where the wicked cease to exist after a period of judgment. Regardless of the interpretation, the descriptive language emphasizes the severity, finality, and eternal nature of the judgment for those who reject God.