This study on what the Bible has on "Hell" is by its very nature include many verses as the destruction of the wicked is a theme that is repeated many times in the Bible, so I had to focus on the words used for it to begin with.
The prophets who wrote the Bible did not know the word "Hell"; they used the Hebrew Sheol, which meant the grave, and also three different Greek words that are translated as “Hell†in our English New Testaments. It’s important to know this, for they each mean something different. They are “Tartarus,â€â€œGehenna,†and “Hades.†Tartarus is used only once in the New Testament, in 2 Peter 2:4.
The Scripture says,
God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [Tartarus], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment (2 Peter 2:4).
This verse says that “the angels that sinnedâ€(which would include Lucifer, too) have already been cast down “to hell†by God Himself. Yet they aren’t burning right now, obviously, and they certainly aren’t suffering somewhere far beneath the earth. Tartarus means “dark abyss†or “place of restraint.†It isn’t a place of punishment either. Look carefully. 2 Peter 2:4 says Satan’s angels are “reserved unto judgment,†which means their punishment is yet future. For Satan and his evil angels, the fire hasn’t started yet.
Next word:“Gehenna.†All authorities admit this word is derived from the name of the narrow, rocky valley of Hinnom just south of Jerusalem where trash, filth, and the bodies of dead animals were burned up in Bible days. Here is a quote from Bible Facts" by Jenny Roberts “..Gehenna meant "the valley of Hinnom", and was originally a particular valley outside Jerusalem, where children were sacrificed to the god Moloch (2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chron. 28:3;Jer. 32:35). In later Jewish literature Gehenna came to be associated with a place of torment and unquenchable fire that was to be the punishment for sinners. It was thought by many that lesser sinners might eventually be delivered from the fires of Gehenna, but by New Testament times punishment for sinners was deemed to be eternal...."
Jesus Christ spoke about Gehenna many times such as in Matthew 5:22, 29 & 30 where He warned about “the danger of hell [Gehenna] fireâ€(Matthew 5:22). Gehenna definitely suggests real flames. The key question is when will this fire burn, Christ shows us when the fire will burn:
“As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.†(Matthew 13:40-42)
Peter taught the same thing when he wrote:
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
“Sheol" is a Hebrew word used for the abode of the dead. It is thought of as a place situated below the ground (Ezek. 31:15), a place of darkness, silence and forgetfulness (Job 10:21). Although the dead in sheol are apparently cut off from God (Ps. 88:3-5), he is not absent (Ps. 139:Cool, and is able to deliver souls from sheol (Ps. 16:10). It is sometimes translated as "hell"; however, it is not seen as a place of eternal punishment, and its use in the New Testament (e.g. Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:27) suggests a meaning relating simply to the power of death.â€......"Bible Facts" by Jenny Roberts
Sheol (pronounced "Sheh-ole"), in Hebrew Huh? (Sh'ol), is the "abode of the dead", the "underworld", or "pit". Sheol is the common destination of both the righteous and the unrighteous dead, as recounted in Ecclesiastes and Job.
By the time of Jesus, some Jews had come to believe that those in Sheol awaited the resurrection either in comfort (in the bosom of Abraham) or in torment. This belief is reflected in Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus. At that time most Jews believed that Sheol meant simply the grave. Although many use this account (Luke 16:19-31) to support that the wicked go to Hades when they die, most readers forget the story is actually a parable, not an account of real events.
Sheol is sometimes compared to Hades, the gloomy, twilight afterlife of Greek mythology. The word "hades" was in fact substituted for "sheol" when the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek (see Septuagint). The New Testament (written in Greek) also uses "hades" to refer to the abode of the dead.
So we can see how the Jews had little actual teachings on the concept of ‘Hell’ as a place where Satan was in charge with demons running around with pitchforks. It however became seen as a place of eternal torment with demons in charger where sinners were punished forever, so you can see how todays idea of Hell evolved.
Now lets look what seems to come nearest to this which is “Hades.†This Greek word is also translated “Hell†in many English Bibles, such as the King James Version. In Revelation 6:8, the King James Version refers to “Death, and Hell [Hades].†It does this same in Revelation 20:14. Yet some English Bibles leave the word “Hades†itself, such as the New International Version, which translates Revelation 6:8 and 20:14 as “Death, and Hades.†Now here’s a key point: in Revelation 20:14 “Hadesâ€(“Hellâ€) is eventually “cast into the lake of fire.†Thus “Hades†itself is not a fiery place, but is cast into “the lake of fire.â€
Here is Revelation 20:14 in both the KJV and NIV:
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fireâ€(Revelation 20:14, King James Version)
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14, New International Version)
In King James Version, there is a marginal reference beside the word “Hellâ€(Hades) listed in Revelation 20:13 and 14. It says “Hell†literally means “the grave.†Thus Revelation 20:14 could properly be translated,“death and the grave were cast into the lake of fire.†This makes sense.
To make it simple,“Hades†literally means “the grave.†This is easy to prove from 1 Corinthians 15:55, which in the King James Version states,
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?(1 Corinthians 15:55)
If you look in any Strong’s Concordance, you’ll discover that the original Greek word here translated “grave†is “Hades.†By looking at the context, it’s obvious that “Hades†means “the grave†because it is God’s saints who rise out of “Hades†when Jesus Christ returns. See for yourself:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up on victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave [Hades] where is your victory? (1 Corinthians 15:51-55, King James Version,)
“O grave [Hades] where is your victory?†the redeemed triumphantly shout. Thus “Hades†here cannot mean a place of burning, for who can imagine God’s people writhing in flames as they await the resurrection?
Additional proof that “Hades†means “the grave†is the fact that “Hades†was the place Jesus Christ’s body rested in immediately after His death. In Acts 2:31, the King James Version declares,
His [or Christ’s] soul was not left in hell [or Hades] neither his flesh did see corruption (Acts 2:31,KJV ).
The New International Version translates Acts 2:31 as,
"He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay "(Acts 2:31, NIV)
Thus Christ’s “bodyâ€(NIV) or “fleshâ€(KJV) was not allowed to see “corruptionâ€(KJV) or “decayâ€(NIV) because it remained in the grave only a short time before He rose.
So the meaning of the three Greek words translated “Hell†in our English Bibles:
“Tartarus†means “a place of darkness or restraintâ€(2 Peter 2:4). Satan abides there now.
“Hades†means “the graveâ€(Acts 2:31; 1 Corinthians 15:55; Revelation 20:14). Jesus Christ’s body rested there, and His saints rest there now awaiting the resurrection.
“Gehenna†means a place of fire, brimstone, and punishment (Matthew 5:22, 29, 30, also Matthew 13:40-42, 2 Peter 3:7, 10-12). These flames are yet future, at the end of the world.
In its description of this final fire, and the doom of the wicked or lost, the Bible declares:
Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
The prophets who wrote the Bible did not know the word "Hell"; they used the Hebrew Sheol, which meant the grave, and also three different Greek words that are translated as “Hell†in our English New Testaments. It’s important to know this, for they each mean something different. They are “Tartarus,â€â€œGehenna,†and “Hades.†Tartarus is used only once in the New Testament, in 2 Peter 2:4.
The Scripture says,
God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell [Tartarus], and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment (2 Peter 2:4).
This verse says that “the angels that sinnedâ€(which would include Lucifer, too) have already been cast down “to hell†by God Himself. Yet they aren’t burning right now, obviously, and they certainly aren’t suffering somewhere far beneath the earth. Tartarus means “dark abyss†or “place of restraint.†It isn’t a place of punishment either. Look carefully. 2 Peter 2:4 says Satan’s angels are “reserved unto judgment,†which means their punishment is yet future. For Satan and his evil angels, the fire hasn’t started yet.
Next word:“Gehenna.†All authorities admit this word is derived from the name of the narrow, rocky valley of Hinnom just south of Jerusalem where trash, filth, and the bodies of dead animals were burned up in Bible days. Here is a quote from Bible Facts" by Jenny Roberts “..Gehenna meant "the valley of Hinnom", and was originally a particular valley outside Jerusalem, where children were sacrificed to the god Moloch (2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chron. 28:3;Jer. 32:35). In later Jewish literature Gehenna came to be associated with a place of torment and unquenchable fire that was to be the punishment for sinners. It was thought by many that lesser sinners might eventually be delivered from the fires of Gehenna, but by New Testament times punishment for sinners was deemed to be eternal...."
Jesus Christ spoke about Gehenna many times such as in Matthew 5:22, 29 & 30 where He warned about “the danger of hell [Gehenna] fireâ€(Matthew 5:22). Gehenna definitely suggests real flames. The key question is when will this fire burn, Christ shows us when the fire will burn:
“As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; 42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.†(Matthew 13:40-42)
Peter taught the same thing when he wrote:
But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 2 Peter 3:7
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10
“Sheol" is a Hebrew word used for the abode of the dead. It is thought of as a place situated below the ground (Ezek. 31:15), a place of darkness, silence and forgetfulness (Job 10:21). Although the dead in sheol are apparently cut off from God (Ps. 88:3-5), he is not absent (Ps. 139:Cool, and is able to deliver souls from sheol (Ps. 16:10). It is sometimes translated as "hell"; however, it is not seen as a place of eternal punishment, and its use in the New Testament (e.g. Matt. 16:18; Acts 2:27) suggests a meaning relating simply to the power of death.â€......"Bible Facts" by Jenny Roberts
Sheol (pronounced "Sheh-ole"), in Hebrew Huh? (Sh'ol), is the "abode of the dead", the "underworld", or "pit". Sheol is the common destination of both the righteous and the unrighteous dead, as recounted in Ecclesiastes and Job.
By the time of Jesus, some Jews had come to believe that those in Sheol awaited the resurrection either in comfort (in the bosom of Abraham) or in torment. This belief is reflected in Jesus' story of the rich man and Lazarus. At that time most Jews believed that Sheol meant simply the grave. Although many use this account (Luke 16:19-31) to support that the wicked go to Hades when they die, most readers forget the story is actually a parable, not an account of real events.
Sheol is sometimes compared to Hades, the gloomy, twilight afterlife of Greek mythology. The word "hades" was in fact substituted for "sheol" when the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek (see Septuagint). The New Testament (written in Greek) also uses "hades" to refer to the abode of the dead.
So we can see how the Jews had little actual teachings on the concept of ‘Hell’ as a place where Satan was in charge with demons running around with pitchforks. It however became seen as a place of eternal torment with demons in charger where sinners were punished forever, so you can see how todays idea of Hell evolved.
Now lets look what seems to come nearest to this which is “Hades.†This Greek word is also translated “Hell†in many English Bibles, such as the King James Version. In Revelation 6:8, the King James Version refers to “Death, and Hell [Hades].†It does this same in Revelation 20:14. Yet some English Bibles leave the word “Hades†itself, such as the New International Version, which translates Revelation 6:8 and 20:14 as “Death, and Hades.†Now here’s a key point: in Revelation 20:14 “Hadesâ€(“Hellâ€) is eventually “cast into the lake of fire.†Thus “Hades†itself is not a fiery place, but is cast into “the lake of fire.â€
Here is Revelation 20:14 in both the KJV and NIV:
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fireâ€(Revelation 20:14, King James Version)
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14, New International Version)
In King James Version, there is a marginal reference beside the word “Hellâ€(Hades) listed in Revelation 20:13 and 14. It says “Hell†literally means “the grave.†Thus Revelation 20:14 could properly be translated,“death and the grave were cast into the lake of fire.†This makes sense.
To make it simple,“Hades†literally means “the grave.†This is easy to prove from 1 Corinthians 15:55, which in the King James Version states,
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?(1 Corinthians 15:55)
If you look in any Strong’s Concordance, you’ll discover that the original Greek word here translated “grave†is “Hades.†By looking at the context, it’s obvious that “Hades†means “the grave†because it is God’s saints who rise out of “Hades†when Jesus Christ returns. See for yourself:
Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up on victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave [Hades] where is your victory? (1 Corinthians 15:51-55, King James Version,)
“O grave [Hades] where is your victory?†the redeemed triumphantly shout. Thus “Hades†here cannot mean a place of burning, for who can imagine God’s people writhing in flames as they await the resurrection?
Additional proof that “Hades†means “the grave†is the fact that “Hades†was the place Jesus Christ’s body rested in immediately after His death. In Acts 2:31, the King James Version declares,
His [or Christ’s] soul was not left in hell [or Hades] neither his flesh did see corruption (Acts 2:31,KJV ).
The New International Version translates Acts 2:31 as,
"He was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay "(Acts 2:31, NIV)
Thus Christ’s “bodyâ€(NIV) or “fleshâ€(KJV) was not allowed to see “corruptionâ€(KJV) or “decayâ€(NIV) because it remained in the grave only a short time before He rose.
So the meaning of the three Greek words translated “Hell†in our English Bibles:
“Tartarus†means “a place of darkness or restraintâ€(2 Peter 2:4). Satan abides there now.
“Hades†means “the graveâ€(Acts 2:31; 1 Corinthians 15:55; Revelation 20:14). Jesus Christ’s body rested there, and His saints rest there now awaiting the resurrection.
“Gehenna†means a place of fire, brimstone, and punishment (Matthew 5:22, 29, 30, also Matthew 13:40-42, 2 Peter 3:7, 10-12). These flames are yet future, at the end of the world.
In its description of this final fire, and the doom of the wicked or lost, the Bible declares:
Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).
