The Four Words For Hell

Hell

The Four Words For Hell

1067 geena (gheh'-en-nah);
of Hebrew origin [1516 and 2011]; valley of (the son of) Hinnom; ge-henna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of final punishment:
KJV-- hell.

5020 tartaroo (tar-tar-o'-o);
from Tartaros (the deepest abyss of Hades):
KJV-- cast down to hell.

7585 she'owl (sheh-ole');
or sheol (sheh-ole'); from 7592; Hades or the grave:
KJV-- grave, hell, pit.

86 haides (hah'-dace);
from 1 (as negative particle) and 1492; properly, unseen, i.e. "Hades" or the grave:
KJV-- grave, hell.

The King James Bible is the foundation for the vast majority of modern Protestant doctrines. Unfortunately these traditional interpretations have been deeply intrenched into the modern Protestant belief system and are held dear to the hearts of many devout Christians. Even as new biblical light is brought forth, many true believers cling to these doctrines as absolute truth. Some of these doctrines have proved to be slightly in error due to poor translating practices by the authors of the King James Bible. Though these men were well meaning and sincere, they did not have the linguistics resources available to them that modern translators do. One instance of an erroneous doctrine based on poor translations is the doctrine of Hell.

The King James Bible translated four separate words as "Hell". These words are sheol, hades, gehenna, and tartarus. The word tartarus is used only once in the whole Bible (2 Pet 2:4) and is more properly translated as ‘the abyss’ rather than as ‘hell’. Sheol is the Hebrew word for grave. Hades is the New Testamant Greek equivalent of sheol and also means grave. Gehenna is a word that Jesus used to describe the fiery destruction of the wicked. It is the Valley of Hinnom located outside Jerusalem where garbage and some dead bodies were burned. The New Testament also uses the phrase "Lake of Fire" to describe the destruction of the wicked. Gehenna and the lake of fire represent the same idea.

When the KJV Bible translated these two ideas - the grave and the lake of fire - with one word, the two separate ideas merged into one. The grave became known as a place of burning and of fire, of torment and retribution. Likewise the lake of fire became known as a place where the wicked go as soon as they die.

The diagram below shows how the KJV Bible caused the merging of the two ideas by using one word as a translation.

The truth is clearly taught in the bible, and is clearer in the newer translations such as the NASB, NIV, NRSV, etc. which have generally translated these words separately. The NASB actually has the purest translation in this regard because it doesn't use one English word as a translation for more than one base Greek or Hebrew word.

Upon death all people go to the grave which is a state like sleep. The Bible calls death a "sleep" over 50 times. Upon the return of Jesus to the earth, the dead good are resurected, the living good are changed in the twinkling of an eye, and they are united together in the air to return to Heaven to reign with Jesus 1000 years. (See 1 Thes. 4:16,17) The living wicked are slain at Jesus return. (See 2 Thes. 1:8) At the end of the millennial reign, the New Jerusalem descends from Heaven to Earth. The wicked are resurected and are sentenced to die the second death in the lake of fire. (See Rev. 20:5-15) Note that not only are Satan, the evil angels, and the wicked destroyed in the lake of fire, but Rev 20:14 says that "death and hades were thrown into the lake of fire." If hades was hell, how could it be thrown into the lake of fire? The simple answer is that death is the result of sin (Rom 6:23) and hades, or the grave, is the place where the dead go to await judgement. Through justification, Jesus frees us from the guilt of sin. Through sanctification, Jesus frees us from the power of sin. Through glorification, at His second comming, Jesus frees us from the presence of sin. Our bodies are made immortal and incorruptible (1Cor 15:51-53). As Jesus destroys Satan and the wicked people and angels in the lake of fire, He also destroys sin forever. No sin, no death. No death, no grave. Therefore are death and hades cast into the lake of fire and destroyed.

After all the evil are slain and sin is forever destroyed, the lake of fire is extinguished. The fire that "burns forever" does not indeed cause eternal torment, but rather it's consequences are eternal. The dead are gone forever, and the lesson of the consequences of sin is forever remembered by the inhabitants of God's kingdom. Revelation Chapter 21 tells of the earth made new, like unto the earth as it was first made. And God will make his home among men, and we shall worship Him and praise Him free from the corruption of sin.

In the following sections, I looked up the different words for Hell using an Englishman’s concordance keyed to the KJV. The verses are quoted from the NASB. In each of these cases, the KJV would have translated the word as "hell". The NASB uses the more exact translation. Note the differences.

Gehenna - The Valley of Hinnom
KJV References

Matt 5:22
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (KJV)

Matt 5:29
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, 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 into hell. (KJV)

Matt 5:30
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, 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 into hell. (KJV)

Matt 10:28
28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (KJV)

Matt 18:9
9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. (KJV)

Matt 23:15
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. (KJV)

Matt 23:33
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (KJV)

Mark 9:43
43 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (KJV)

Mark 9:45
45 And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: (KJV)

Mark 9:47
47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: (KJV)

Luke 12:5
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. (KJV)

James 3:6
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. (KJV)

Tartaros - The Abyss (Greek - NT)

KJV References

2 Pet 2:4
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; (NAS)

Sheol - The Grave (Hebrew - OT)

7585 (KJV) - SHEOL

Gen 37:35
35 Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, "Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son." So his father wept for him. (NAS)

Gen 42:38
38 But Jacob said, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If harm should befall him on the journey you are taking, then you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow." (NAS)

Gen 44:29
29 `And if you take this one also from me, and harm befalls him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.' (NAS)

Gen 44:31
31 it will come about when he sees that the lad is not {with us}, that he will die. Thus your servants will bring the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. (NAS)

Num 16:30
30 "But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the LORD." (NAS)

Num 16:33
33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. (NAS)

Deut 32:22
22 For a fire is kindled in My anger, and burns to the lowest part of Sheol, and consumes the earth with its yield, and sets on fire the foundations of the mountains. (NAS)

1 Sam 2:6
6 "The LORD kills and makes alive; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. (NAS)

2 Sam 22:6
6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. (NAS)

IKing 2:6
6 "So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray hair go down to Sheol in peace. (NAS)

IKing 2:9
9 "Now therefore, do not let him go unpunished, for you are a wise man; and you will know what you ought to do to him, and you will bring his gray hair down to Sheol with blood." (NAS)

Job 7:9
9 "When a cloud vanishes, it is gone, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up. (NAS)

Job 11:8
8 "{They are} high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? (NAS)

Job 14:13
13 "Oh that Thou wouldst hide me in Sheol, that Thou wouldst conceal me until Thy wrath returns {to Thee,} that Thou wouldst set a limit for me and remember me! (NAS)

Job 17:13
13 "If I look for Sheol as my home, I make my bed in the darkness; (NAS)

Job 17:16
16 "Will it go down with me to Sheol? Shall we together go down into the dust?" (NAS)

Job 21:13
13 "They spend their days in prosperity, and suddenly they go down to Sheol. (NAS)

Job 24:19
19 "Drought and heat consume the snow waters, {so does} Sheol {those who} have sinned. (NAS)

Job 26:6
6 "Naked is Sheol before Him And Abaddon has no covering. (NAS)

Ps 6:5
5 For there is no mention of Thee in death; in Sheol who will give Thee thanks? (NAS)

Ps 9:17
17 The wicked will return to Sheol, {even} all the nations who forget God. (NAS)

Ps 16:10
10 For Thou wilt not abandon my soul to Sheol; neither wilt Thou allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay. (NAS)

Ps 18:5
5 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. (NAS)

Ps 30:3
3 O LORD, Thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. (NAS)

Ps 31:17
17 Let me not be put to shame, O LORD, for I call upon Thee; let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in Sheol. (NAS)

Ps 49:14
14 As sheep they are appointed for Sheol; death shall be their shepherd; and the upright shall rule over them in the morning; and their form shall be for Sheol to consume, so that they have no habitation. (NAS)

Ps 49:15
15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol; for He will receive me. Selah. (NAS)

Hades - The Grave (Greek - NT)

86 (KJV) - HADES

Matt 11:23
23 "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. (NAS)

Matt 16:18
18 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. (NAS)

Luke 10:15
15 "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades! (NAS)

Luke 16:23
23 "And in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. (NAS)

Acts 2:27
27 Because Thou wilt not abandon my soul to hades, nor allow Thy Holy One to undergo decay. (NAS)

Acts 2:31
31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. (NAS)

Rev 1:18
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. (NAS)

Rev 6:8
8 And I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death; and Hades was following with him. And authority was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth. (NAS)

Rev 20:13
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one {of them} according to their deeds. (NAS)

Rev 20:14
14. And death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. (NAS)

HELL in the New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Hell (NASB) - Gehenna

Matt 5:22
22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, `Raca,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say, `You fool,' shall be guilty {enough to go} into the fiery hell. (NAS)

Matt 5:29
29 "And if your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (NAS)

Matt 5:30
30 "And if your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off, and throw it from you; for it is better for you that one of the parts of your body perish, than for your whole body to go into hell. (NAS)

Matt 10:28
28 "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (NAS)

Matt 18:9
9 "And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out, and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into the fiery hell. (NAS)

Matt 23:15
15 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. (NAS)

Matt 23:33
33 "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how shall you escape the sentence of hell? (NAS)

Mark 9:43
43 "And if your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire, (NAS)

Mark 9:45
45 "And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than having your two feet, to be cast into hell, (NAS)

Mark 9:47
47 "And if your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes, to be cast into hell, (NAS)

Luke 12:5
5 "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! (NAS)

James 3:6
6 And the tongue is a fire, the {very} world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of {our} life, and is set on fire by hell. (NAS)

Hell (NASB) - Tartarus

2 Pet 2:4
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; (NAS)

Sheol in NASB