Hell
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 #Pr 30:15,16 It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times #Ge 37:35 42:38 44:29,31 1Sa 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" #Pr 21:16 It is:
a. the abode of the wicked #Nu 16:33 Job 24:19 Ps 9:17 31:17 etc.;
b. of the good #Ps 16:10 30:3 49:15 86:13 etc. Sheol is described as:
a. deep #Job 11:8
b. dark #Job 10:21,22
c. with bars #Job 17:16
d. The dead "go down" to it #Nu 16:30,33 Eze 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 #1Pe 3:19 with gates and bars and locks #Mt 16:18 Re 1:18 and it is downward #Mt 11:23 Lu 10:15 The righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of hades called paradise #Lu 23:43 They are also said to be in Abraham’s bosom #Lu 16:22 3. Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost #Mt 23:33 The fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions #Mt 8:12 13:42 22:13 25:30 Lu 16:24 etc. |
