Bible Dictionary: Hell

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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.). (see HINNOM.)

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

HELL

hel (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 in Luke 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" in Isaiah 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" (compare Jude 1:6; but also Matthew 25:41). Similar ideas are found in certain of the Jewish apocalyptic books (Book of Enoch, Book of Jubilees, Apocrypha Baruch, with apparent reference to Genesis 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 into hell
... 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 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5020.htm - 7k

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. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1067.htm - 7k

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. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/86.htm - 7k

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. ...
/hebrew/7585.htm - 6k

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 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxviii hell.htm

Whether Limbo is the Same as the Hell 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 the hell of the damned? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether limbo is the same.htm

Heaven and Hell
... Heaven and Hell. A Sermon (No.39-40). ... I shall also have to utter some very sharp
things concerning the end of the lost in the pit of hell. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/heaven and hell.htm

Whether the Limbo of Hell 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 of hell is the same as ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the limbo of hell.htm

Whether the Fire of Hell is of the Same Species as Ours?
... OF THE PUNISHMENT OF THE DAMNED (SEVEN ARTICLES) Whether the fire of hell
is of the same species as ours? Objection 1: It would ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the fire of hell 2.htm

Whether the Whole Christ was in Hell?
... OF CHRIST'S DESCENT INTO HELL (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the whole Christ was in hell?
Objection 1: It would seem that the whole Christ was not in hell. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the whole christ was.htm

Of Hell
... Second Series Sermon 73 Of Hell. "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire
is not quenched." Mark 9:48. 1. Every truth which is revealed ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 73 of hell.htm

Whether the Fire of Hell is Beneath the Earth?
... OF THE PUNISHMENT OF THE DAMNED (SEVEN ARTICLES) Whether the fire of hell
is beneath the earth? ... But this fire will be in hell for ever. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether the fire of hell 3.htm

"The Eternity of Hell-Torments"
... "The Eternity of Hell-Torments". Matthew 25:46 " "These shall go away into everlasting
punishment. To the Inhabitants of Savannah in Georgia. My dear Friends,. ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the eternity of hell-torments.htm

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 ...
/.../watts/hymns and spiritual songs/hymn 2 44 hell or the.htm

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. ...
/h/hell.htm - 29k

Hell-fire (3 Occurrences)
Hell-fire. Hellenists, Hell-fire. Helm . Multi-Version Concordance
Hell-fire (3 Occurrences). Matthew 5:22 But I say ...
/h/hell-fire.htm - 7k

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 into hell. ...
/c/causeth.htm - 38k

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 into hell...
/t/trouble.htm - 36k

Hades (11 Occurrences)
... Testament. Our Lord speaks of Capernaum as being "brought down to hell" (hades),
ie, simply to the lowest debasement, (Matthew 11:23). ...
/h/hades.htm - 23k

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 ...
/g/gehenna.htm - 15k

Sheol (64 Occurrences)
... (Hebrews, "the all-demanding world" = Gr. Hades, "the unknown region"), the invisible
world of departed souls. (see HELL.). Noah Webster's Dictionary. ...
/s/sheol.htm - 34k

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 into hell. ...
/o/offend.htm - 23k

Infernal (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (a.) Pertaining to hell; diabolical; as, infernal spirits, or conduct; suitable
for hell, or to the character of the inhabitants of hell; hellish. ...
/i/infernal.htm - 7k

Hinnom (11 Occurrences)
... It became thus to the popular mind a symbol of the abode of the wicked hereafter.
It came to signify hell as the place of the wicked. ...
/h/hinnom.htm - 18k

Bible Concordance

Hell (53 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:22 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 5:29 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 5:30 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 10:28 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Matthew 18:9 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 23:15 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 23:33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
(KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 9:43 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 9:45 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 9:47 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 10:15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Luke 12:5 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 16:23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
(KJV BBE WBS NIV)

Acts 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Acts 2:31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
(KJV BBE WBS)

James 3:6 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 ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
(KJV ASV BBE WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Revelation 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Revelation 20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Revelation 20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Deuteronomy 32:22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
(KJV WBS)

2 Samuel 22:6 The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;
(KJV BBE WBS)

Job 11:8 It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know?
(KJV WBS)

Job 26:6 Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 18:5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.
(KJV BBE WBS)

Psalms 55:15 Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 86:13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
(KJV WBS)

Psalms 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 5:5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 15:11 Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 15:24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
(KJV WBS)

Proverbs 27:20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 5:14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 14:9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 28:18 And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 57:9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.
(KJV WBS)

Ezekiel 31:16 I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell with them that descend into the pit: and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth.
(KJV)

Ezekiel 31:17 They also went down into hell with him unto them that be slain with the sword; and they that were his arm, that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen.
(KJV)

Ezekiel 32:21 The strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him: they are gone down, they lie uncircumcised, slain by the sword.
(KJV)

Ezekiel 32:27 And they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised, which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war: and they have laid their swords under their heads, but their iniquities shall be upon their bones, though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
(KJV)

Amos 9:2 Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
(KJV)

Jonah 2:2 And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
(KJV WBS)

Habakkuk 2:5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
(KJV WBS)

Subtopics

Hell

Hell in the RV , "Sheol" is Translated "Lowest Pit"

Hell in the RV of Nt It Appears Only In

Hell in the RV the Greek Word "Gehenna" is Translated "Hell" in the Following Scriptures

Hell in the RV the Word "Sheol" Itself Occurs in the Following Scriptures

Hell: "Sheol" is Translated "Grave" in Av In

Hell: A Furnace of Fire

Hell: A Lake of Fire

Hell: And It is Translated "Pit" In

Hell: Devils are Confined In, Until the Judgment Day

Hell: Devouring Fire