Hell is an English word that is translated from four words in the Scriptures.
In the Old Testament, it is from the Hebrew word sheol. Sheol in the King James Version is translated 31 times as “grave,” 31 times as “hell” and 3 times as “pit.” In all occurrences, it references something or someone being hidden, buried or put out of sight. None refer to a place of torment. Ecclesiastes 9:5,10: “For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing…there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave (sheol) where you are going.”
In the New Testament, hell is translated from the Greek word hades. Hades (Greek) and sheol (Hebrew) have the same meaning. We know this by comparing the Hebrew text Psalms 16:10 with the Greek text Acts 2:31. Both are referring to Christ who was not left in sheol or hades (the grave) but was resurrected.
Hell in the New Testament is also translated from the word gehenna, which is the Greek rendering of the Hebrew, “Valley of Hinnom.” The valley was a dump just outside Jerusalem. Fires were kept constantly to burn up the garbage (including dead bodies) that was thrown into it. However, nothing alive was allowed to be thrown in.
Jesus used this valley as an illustration of the destination of a class of people with unrepentant hard-hearted character. The Jews believed in a resurrection from the grave (hades). Christ was making the point that if their disbelief and denial of the work of the Holy Spirit which they saw working through him continued, the raising from the grave (hades) in the future resurrection would do them no good and that they were in danger of being thrown into gehenna. Jews knew that anything that went into gehenna never came out. Things thrown in were either destroyed by the fire or eaten by worms (maggots). This destruction is referred to in Revelation as “second death.”
The fourth Greek word translated hell is “tartaroo.” It is found once, in 2 Peter 2:4, “For if God spared not the angels that sinned but cast them down to hell (tartaroo in the original Greek), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” This is the condition that the disobedient angels who kept not their first (spiritual) estate were placed until the day of judgment. To this day, these angels (also known as demons or “fallen angels”) are restricted to earth and manifest themselves through mediums, often impersonating the dead.
“Heaven” in Scripture has several meanings. It can mean the stars and planets we see. Psalms 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows his handiwork.” It can also symbolically represent that which is in spiritual control (heaven) as compared with civil control (earth). Thus 2 Peter 3:12,13 speaks of the heavens being on fire and the earth melting…nevertheless, we look for a new heaven and a new earth.
The Scriptures also mention heaven as the dwelling place of God (Isaiah 66:1), where Christ ascended after his resurrection. This heaven is a place for spiritual beings, “flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:50). The apostles say that for anyone to be able to abide in this heaven, they must experience a change of nature (1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 1 John 3:2).
Thus, we can conclude that hell is real, but is only a place for the dead – the grave. Heaven is real, as it is the dwelling place of God and other spirit beings.
Additional Resources:
Download the PDF: “The Truth About Hell”
God’s plan for the destiny of mankind – download the PDF: “God’s Grand Plan of the Ages”
For a detailed scriptural walkthrough, listen to the Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1174: “Did God Make Heaven and Hell Humanity’s Destiny? (Part I)”
Uncovering who goes to heaven and what happens to planet Earth
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
Episode #1175: “Did God Make Heaven and Hell Humanity’s Destiny (Part II)”
Unpacking the true meaning of hell and Judgment Day in Scripture
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
Additional Podcast Episodes on heaven and hell: https://christianquestions.com/category/common-questions/what-does-the-bible-say-about-hell/
