| 3 SEPARATE LOCATIONS, ALL TRANSLATED AS HELL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT | ||
| Gehenna – yέevva (12x) – from the Hebrew word for the Valley of Hinnom, southwest of Jerusalem, a symbolic name for the place of final punishment for the ungodly: The Lake of Fire (Rev. 20:10-15) | ||
| GEHENNA | HADES | TARTARUS |
| Matthew 5:22 GRK: εἰς τὴν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός NAS: into the fiery hell. KJV: in danger of hell fire. LSV: of the Gehenna of fire. | Matthew 18:9 GRK: εἰς τὴν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός NAS: be cast into the fiery hell. KJV: to be cast into hell fire. LSV: into the Gehenna of fire. | Mark 9:45 GRK: εἰς τὴν γέενναν εἰς τὸ NAS: to be cast into hell, KJV: to be cast into hell, LSV: be cast into Gehenna, |
| Matthew 5:29 GRK: βληθῇ εἰς γέενναν NAS: body to be thrown into hell. KJV: should be cast into hell. LSV: be cast into Gehenna. | Matthew 23:15 GRK: αὐτὸν υἱὸν γεέννης NAS: a son of hell KJV: the child of hell LSV: a son of Gehenna | Mark 9:47 GRK: εἰς τὴν γέενναν NAS: eyes, to be cast into hell, KJV: to be cast into hell fire: LSV: into the Gehenna of fire |
| Matthew 5:30 GRK: σου εἰς γέενναν ἀπέλθῃ NAS: body to go into hell. KJV: should be cast into hell. LSV: be cast into Gehenna. | Matthew 23:33 GRK: κρίσεως τῆς γεέννης NAS: the sentence of hell? KJV: the damnation of hell? LSV: the judgment of Gehenna? | Luke 12:5 GRK: εἰς τὴν γέενναν ναί λέγω NAS: to cast into hell; KJV: to cast into hell; LSV: to cast into Gehenna; |
| Matthew 10:28 GRK: ἀπολέσαι ἐν γεέννῃ NAS: soul and body in hell. KJV: soul and body in hell. LSV: soul and body in Gehenna. | Mark 9:43 GRK: εἰς τὴν γέενναν εἰς τὸ NAS: to go into hell, KJV: to go into hell, LSV: go away into Gehenna, | James 3:6 GRK: ὑπὸ τῆς γεέννης NAS: and is set on fire by hell. KJV: it is set on fire of hell. LSV: is set on fire by Gehenna. |
| Hades – άonc (10x) – Greek word for the Hebrew Sheol – Underworld, abode of departed spirits | ||
| Matthew 11:23 GRK: ὑψωθήσῃ ἕως ᾅδου καταβήσῃ NAS: You will descend to Hades; KJV: shalt be brought down to hell: ABPE: you will descend unto Sheol | Acts 2:27 GRK: μου εἰς ᾅδην οὐδὲ NAS: my soul to hades KJV: my soul in hell ABPE: my soul in Sheol | Revelation 20:13 GRK: καὶ ὁ ᾅδης ἔδωκαν τοὺς NAS: and death and Hades gave KJV: death and hell delivered up ABPE: Death and Sheol yielded |
| Matthew 16:18 GRK: πύλαι ᾅδου οὐ κατισχύσουσιν NAS: the gates of Hades will not KJV: the gates of hell shall not ABPE: and the gates of Sheol | Acts 2:31 GRK: ἐνκατελείφθη εἰς ᾅδην NAS: abandoned to hades KJV: left in hell ABPE: not be left in Sheol | Revelation 20:14 GRK: καὶ ὁ ᾅδης ἐβλήθησαν εἰς NAS: death and Hades KJV: death and hell ABPE: Death and Sheol |
| Luke 10:15 GRK: ἕως τοῦ ᾅδου καταβήσῃ NAS: be brought down to Hades! KJV: shalt be thrust down to hell. ABPE: be debased unto Sheol. | Revelation 1:18 GRK: καὶ τοῦ ᾅδου NAS: keys of death and of Hades. KJV: keys of hell and of death. ABPE: key of Death and of Sheol. | Tartarus – Taptapwσas (1x) Hebrew: Abaddon, subterranean abyss, prison of rebellious angels |
| Luke 16:23 GRK: ἐν τῷ ᾅδῃ ἐπάρας τοὺς NAS: In Hades he lifted up his eyes, KJV: And in hell he lift up his eyes ABPE: in Sheol, he lifted up his | Revelation 6:8 GRK: καὶ ὁ ᾅδης ἠκολούθει NAS: Death; and Hades KJV: was Death, and Hell ABPE: Death, and Sheol | 2 Peter 2:4 GRK: σειραῖς ζόφου ταρταρώσας NAS: cast them into hell KJV: cast them down to hell, LSV: cast them down to Tartarus |
Gehenna
- Meaning and Usage: Gehenna (Greek: Γέεννα) derives from the Hebrew “Valley of Hinnom,” a real location near Jerusalem infamous for child sacrifices (2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 7:31) and later used as a garbage dump with constant fires and worms. In the New Testament, it symbolizes final, eternal punishment for the wicked, often involving fire and destruction of both body and soul (Matthew 10:28).
- Occurrences: Used 12 times, primarily by Jesus (e.g., Matthew 5:22, 29–30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43–47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6).
- Key Difference: Represents the permanent place of judgment after resurrection (often equated with the “lake of fire” in Revelation 20:14–15), not a temporary state.
Hades
- Meaning and Usage: Hades (Greek: ᾅδης) is the New Testament equivalent of the Old Testament Sheol, referring to the intermediate realm of the dead—a temporary holding place for disembodied souls awaiting final judgment. It includes compartments: comfort for the righteous (e.g., “Abraham’s bosom” or Paradise in Luke 16:22–23; 23:43) and torment for the unrighteous (Luke 16:23–24).
- Occurrences: About 10 times (e.g., Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27, 31; Revelation 1:18; 20:13–14).
- Key Difference: Temporary; Hades itself will be emptied and thrown into the lake of fire at the final judgment (Revelation 20:14). It is not the eternal hell but the “unseen” underworld before resurrection.
Tartarus
- Meaning and Usage: Tartarus (Greek verb: ταρταρόω, “to cast into Tartarus”) is borrowed from Greek mythology (a deep abyss for punishing wicked divine beings) but repurposed in Scripture. It describes a gloomy prison of darkness specifically for certain fallen angels who sinned (likely those in Genesis 6:1–4), holding them in chains until final judgment (Jude 6 parallels this).
- Occurrences: Only once, as a verb in 2 Peter 2:4 (“cast them down to hell/Tartarus”).
- Key Difference: Exclusively for sinful angels (not humans); a distinct, temporary confinement deeper or separate from Hades, involving restraint and gloom.
| Term | Applies To | Nature/Timing | Key Features | Ultimate Fate |
| Gehenna | Wicked humans | Eternal, post-judgment | Fire, destruction of body/soul | Permanent (lake of fire) |
| Hades | All dead humans (pre-resurrection) | Temporary, intermediate | Divided: comfort (righteous) vs. torment (unrighteous) | Emptied into lake of fire |
| Tartarus | Fallen angels only | Temporary, pre-judgment | Chains of darkness, restraint | Reserved for final judgment |
These terms are distinct in Greek New Testament usage, reflecting different aspects of the afterlife rather than synonyms for a single “hell.” Modern translations often retain “Hades” untranslated and render Gehenna as “hell” to highlight eternal punishment, while Tartarus is unique to angelic rebellion.
