Talk Truths
What does the Bible say about hell? The old English root of the word “hell” means unseen or covering, that’s where the words helmet and helm come from. It’s also where the phrase “helling the potatoes” comes from, which is what people used to say, meaning to cover potatoes with soil in order to plant them. In the Bible does it mean something completely different - a fiery place where the wicked go? This study looks at what the Bible says about hell.
When the King James Version of the Bible was translated, people generally believed in a fiery place called hell where you would go if you were bad. It usually had something to do with giving the church some money to avoid going there.
This actually happened to a friend of mine around the year 2000. As a younger man he had been going to a church but hadn't been for many years. As he approached his death, they phoned him saying that if he gave the church all his money before he died, they would do what they could to make sure him and his family didn’t go to hell. That’s a very motivating way to get people to give you their money, especially when they don’t need it anymore!
This is all very interesting, but what does the Bible say?
There are a few different original words translated into the English word “hell”.
Sheol is a Hebrew word that is translated into three different English words, found in the Old Testament.
Hades is a Greek word that is translated into two English words, found in the New Testament.
Hades is simply the Greek word for the Hebrew word sheol - they mean the same. We can learn this by examining scripture with scripture and seeing that, in Acts, the apostle Peter quoted a verse from Psalms and he used the word hades in Greek for where it is sheol in Hebrew.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [sheol - Hebrew]; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10Psalm 16:10XWaiting for response
Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [hades - Greek], neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2:27Acts 2:27XWaiting for response
So we can learn that sheol and hades are interchangeable and mean the same.
When we look again at what these words were translated to in English, we see that there were 34 times where the translators couldn’t justify translating sheol or hades into “hell”, the fiery place of torment, and instead translated it into the words “grave” or “pit”. This is the first piece of evidence that begins to disprove the common belief of sheol or hades meaning a fiery place of torment - the fact that they couldn’t be consistently translated into the word “hell”.
Looking at how these words are used gives more explanation on what the meaning of these words are.
God describes sheol as the depths of the earth
God speaks to the prophet Ezekiel about Egypt’s destruction. He says that “the Assyrian” will go down to sheol, then says that Egypt will go down to sheol as well and reiterates saying that they will go down to the nether parts [depths] of the earth. In other words, he describes sheol as the depths of the earth.
The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? Behold, the Assyrian...
In the day when he went down to the grave [sheol] I caused a mourning:
I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell [sheol] with them that descend into the pit:
They also went down into hell [sheol] with him unto them that be slain with the sword;
To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness…? Yet shalt thou be brought down… unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD.
Ezekiel 31:1-3,15-18Ezekiel 31:1-3,15-18XWaiting for response
Sheol is inevitable
The Psalmist writes that all see death and sheol.
What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave [sheol]?
Psalm 89:48Psalm 89:48XWaiting for response
Even Jesus went to hell.
Jesus went to hell
The prophet who wrote the following verse in Psalms was writing about Jesus, as confirmed by the apostle in the New Testament. Jesus definitely does not fit the description of a wicked person who goes to a fiery place for sin.
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell [sheol]; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Psalm 16:10Psalm 16:10XWaiting for response
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; he seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell [hades], neither his flesh did see corruption.
Acts 2:29-31Acts 2:29-31XWaiting for response
So, all go to hell, even Jesus. Jesus actually explains where he would go during this time. He didn’t say he would go to a fiery place, he said he would be in the heart of the earth, which is a subtle way of indicating he would be inside the earth, or dead. He likely used this subtlety because they didn’t understand that he would die when he was preaching this, thinking rather that he was the promised messiahs who would save them.
For as Jonas [Jonah] was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Matthew 12:40Matthew 12:40XWaiting for response
The explanation for hell is being revealed by examining scripture. People die and they go to hell which is a covered, unseen place, under the earth, which fits it being translated into grave and pit.
Jonah also writes about hell. Writing about his experience in the whale’s belly, he wrote that he was in sheol for 3 days and nights.
[Jonah] said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell [sheol] cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
Jonah 2:2Jonah 2:2XWaiting for response
Perhaps Jonah was using the word as a way to describe his experience, and it’s not meant to be taking it literally. But if he was using it literally, then we would broaden our definition for hell so that it was simply a covered, unseen place because he wasn’t under the earth, but in the whale’s belly.
Hell and death are linked strongly in the Bible, so it’s worth investigating what scripture says about what happens when someone dies.
Before Adam and Eve were cursed they weren’t dying. When they were cursed with death, God doesn’t say they would go to a fiery place at death, but says that they would simply return to the dust.
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Genesis 3:19Genesis 3:19XWaiting for response
There are descriptions of death throughout the BIble, explaining what happens after death.
The Psalmist writes about death and sheol
The Psalmist writes that there is no memory for someone who is dead, and no thanks or praise by someone in sheol.
Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave [sheol] who shall give thee thanks?
Psalm 6:4-5Psalm 6:4-5XWaiting for response
O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave [sheol]: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?
Psalm 30:3,9Psalm 30:3,9XWaiting for response
The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.
Psalm 115:17Psalm 115:17XWaiting for response
Solomon writes about death
Solomon also writes about what happens to humans after they die. He writes that we don’t know anything, and we are like animals that die - we all turn to dust.
For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing,
Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6Ecclesiastes 9:5-6XWaiting for response
For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
Ecclesiastes 3:19-20Ecclesiastes 3:19-20XWaiting for response
In the future, there will be a complete removal of death and hell as prophesied in Revelation.
Death and hell [hades] were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Revelation 20:14Revelation 20:14XWaiting for response
This is won through Jesus Christ, just as Paul prophecies.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave [hades], where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-571 Corinthians 15:55-57XWaiting for response
These prophecies are about those people who receive salvation and escape the curse of death.
Paul also prophecies of the glorious hope of eternal life. Some saints will be resurrected from death, some will be alive when Jesus comes, but all will be changed from corruptible to incorruptible. When this happens, death will be destroyed.
Behold, I shew you a mystery [secret]; 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 in victory.
1 Corinthians 15:51-541 Corinthians 15:51-54XWaiting for response
This is the glorious hope to look forward to - death and hell being destroyed. A life without death.
There is one of Jesus’ parables that could be taken out of context, and if done so could enforce the wrong idea that hades is a fiery place of torment for the wicked. In this particular parable, Jesus speaks of hell as a fiery place. The important consideration when reading these verses is that this is a parable, and parables were designed so that not everyone would understand and could be misleading for those who were not meant to be saved (Mark 4:11-12).Mark 4:11-12XWaiting for response
It came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell [hades] he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
Luke 16:22-24Luke 16:22-24XWaiting for response
Taken out of context, the verses above would indicate that hades is a fiery place called hell. Fortunately, Jesus explains the lesson of the parable in the next few verses.
Abraham saith unto him [the rich man], They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he [Abraham] said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Luke 16:29-31Luke 16:29-31XWaiting for response
So we can see the lesson of the parable is not that hell is a fiery place where wicked people go when they die - Jesus is teaching that there would be people who would not listen and follow him even if one were raised from the dead!
Gehenna is another original, untranslated word that is translated into “hell” in the New Testament. It is the Greek word for the Valley of Hinnom. The Valley of Hinnom, also known as the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, is a valley south of Jerusalem where people burnt their children as a sacrifice to false gods a long time ago, as recorded in the Old Testament through the prophet Jeremiah.
They have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I [God] commanded them not, neither came it into my heart.
Jeremiah 7:31Jeremiah 7:31XWaiting for response
The word Gehenna appears 12 times in the New Testament and every time it is misleadingly translated into the word “hell”. Every time it is used, it is alongside a warning about sinning.
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 [Gehenna], into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
Mark 9:43-44Mark 9:43-44XWaiting for response
At the time Jesus was preaching and teaching, this place was used figuratively as a place sinners would go, as opposed to the real place of death, hades. It was always used as a way to show how important it is to not sin - in the same way a children’s story is used to scare children into not doing wrong. It is worth noting, that the Gehenna is not used in every parable that warns against sinning - sometimes hades is used as this is actually where all people go when they die.
The definition of hell can be understood by examining the original, untranslated words. The words sheol and hades in the Bible are used for an unseen, covered place where someone goes, usually after death, such as a grave or a pit. Gehenna is a place from the Old Testament, used as a symbol in the New Testament for where sinners go after they die, to enforce the terribleness of death. Through Christ, the hell (the grave/ pit) and death will be removed for those who truly follow Christ, and they will be given eternal life.