King James Bible Dictionary

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 (Proverbs 30:15, 16). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times (Genesis 37:35; 42:38; 44:29, 31; 1 Samuel 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" (Proverbs 21:16). It is (a) the abode of the wicked (Numbers 16:33; Job 24:19; Psalms 9:17; 31:17, etc.); (b) of the good (Psalms 16:10; 30:3; 49:15; 86:13, etc.).

Sheol is described as deep (Job 11:8), dark (10:21, 22), with bars (17:16). The dead "go down" to it (Numbers 16:30, 33; Ezekiel 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 (1 Peter 3:19), with gates and bars and locks (Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18), and it is downward (Matthew 11:23; Luke 10:15).

The righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of hades called paradise (Luke 23:43). They are also said to be in Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22).

3. Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost (Matthew 23:33). The fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions (Matthew 8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 25:30; Luke 16:24, etc.). (See HINNOM.)

The translation of the Hebrew word sheol, which signifies the unseen state. Sheol is also translated as pit, lowest pit, Sheol, and grave in some versions
Isaiah 5:14; Isaiah 14:9; Isaiah 14:15; Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 28:18; Isaiah 57:9; Ezekiel 31:16-17; Ezekiel 32:21; Ezekiel 32:27; Amos 9:2; Jonah 2:2; Habakkuk 2:5; Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalms 86:13; Psalms 55:15; 2 Samuel 22:6; Job 11:8; Job 26:6; Psalms 9:17; Psalms 16:10; Psalms 18:5; Psalms 116:3; Psalms 139:8; Proverbs 5:5; Proverbs 7:27; Proverbs 9:18; Proverbs 15:11; Proverbs 15:24; Proverbs 23:14; Proverbs 27:20; Genesis 37:35; Genesis 42:38; Genesis 44:29; Genesis 44:31; 1 Samuel 2:6; 1 Kings 2:6; 1 Kings 2:9; Job 7:9; Job 14:13; Job 17:13; Job 21:13; Job 24:19; Psalms 6:5; Psalms 30:3; Psalms 31:17; Psalms 49:14-15; Psalms 88:3; Psalms 89:48; Psalms 141:7; Proverbs 1:12; Proverbs 30:16; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Song of Solomon 8:6; Hosea 13:14

The translation of the Greek word gehenna
Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:29-30; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 23:15; Matthew 23:33; Mark 9:43; Mark 9:45; Mark 9:47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6

The translation of the Greek word hades, which signifies the unseen world
Matthew 11:23; Matthew 16:18; Luke 10:15; Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27; Acts 2:31; Revelation 1:18; Revelation 6:8; Revelation 20:13-14

The future abode of the wicked
Psalms 9:17; Proverbs 5:5; Proverbs 9:13-18; Proverbs 15:24; Proverbs 23:13-14; Isaiah 30:33; Isaiah 33:14; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 5:29-30; Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 8:11-12; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 13:30; Matthew 13:38-42; Matthew 13:49-50; Matthew 16:18; Matthew 18:8-9; Matthew 18:34-35; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:28-30; Matthew 25:41; Matthew 25:46; Mark 9:43-48; Luke 3:17; Luke 16:23-26; Luke 16:28; Acts 1:25; 2 Thessalonians 1:9; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Jude 1:23; Revelation 9:1-2; Revelation 11:7; Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10; Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:8; Revelation 2:11
Wicked, Punishment of

In the Old Testament this is the word generally and unfortunately used by our translators to render the Hebrew Sheol . It really means the place of the dead, the unseen world, without deciding whether it be the place of misery or of happiness. It is clear that in many passages of the Old Testament Sheol can only mean "the grave," and is rendered in the Authorized Version; see, for example, (Genesis 37:35; 42:38; 1 Samuel 2:6; Job 14:13) In other passages, however, it seems to Involve a notion of punishment, and is therefore rendered in the Authorized Version by the word "hell." But in many cases this translation misleads the reader. In the New Testament "hell" is the translation of two words, Hades and Gehenna . The word Hades , like Sheol sometimes means merely "the grave," (Acts 2:31; 1 Corinthians 15:55; Revelation 20:13) or in general "the unseen world." It is in this sense that the creeds say of our Lord, "He went down into hell," meaning the state of the dead in general, without any restriction of happiness or misery. Elsewhere in the New Testament Hades is used of a place of torment, (Matthew 11:23; Luke 16:23; 2 Peter 2:4) etc.; consequently it has been the prevalent, almost the universal, notion that Hades is an intermediate state between death and resurrection, divided into two parts one the abode of the blest and the other of the lost. It is used eleven times in the New Testament, and only once translated "grave." (1 Corinthians 15:55) The word most frequently used (occurring twelve times) in the New Testament for the place of future punishment is Gehenna or Gehenna of fire . This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their destruction. [HINNOM]

HELL, noun

1. The place or state of punishment for the wicked after death. Matthew 10:28. Luke 12:5.

Sin is hell begun, as religion is heaven anticipated.

2. The place of the dead, or of souls after death; the lower regions, or the grave; called in Hebrew, sheol, and by the Greeks, hades. Psalms 16:10. Jonah 2:2.

3. The pains of hell temporal death, or agonies that dying persons feel, or which bring to the brink of the grave. Psalms 18:5.

4. The gates of hell the power and policy of Satan and his instruments. Matthew 16:18.

5. The infernal powers.

While Saul and hell cross'd his strong fate in vain.

6. The place at a running play to which are carried those who are caught.

7. A place into which a tailor throws his shreds.

8. A dungeon or prison.

HELL'BLACK, adjective Black as hell.

HELL'-BORN, adjective Born in hell.

HELL'-BRED, adjective Produced in hell.

HELL'-BREWED, adjective Prepared in hell.

HELL'-BROTH, noun A composition for infernal purposes.

HELL'-CAT, noun A witch; a hag.

HELL-CONFOUND'ING, adjective Defeating the infernal powers.

HELL'-DOOMED, adjective Doomed or consigned to hell.

HEL'LEBORE, noun [Latin helleborus.] The name of several plants of different genera, the most important of which are the black hellebore Christmas rose, or Christmas flower, of the genus Helleborus, and the white hellebore of the genus Veratrum. Both are acrid and poisonous, and are used in medicine as evacuants and alternatives.

HEL'LEBORISM, noun A medicinal preparation of hellebore.

HELLE'NIAN

HELLEN'IC, adjective Pertaining to the Hellenes, or inhabitants of Greece, so called from Hellas in Greece, or form Hellen.

HEL'LENISM, noun A phrase in the idiom, genius or construction of the Greek language.

(Grecian), the term applied in the New Testament to Greek-speaking or "Grecian" Jews. The Hellenists as a body included not only the proselytes of Greek (or foreign) parentage, but also those. Jews who, by settling in foreign countries, had adopted the prevalent form of the current Greek civilization, and with it the use of the common Greek dialect. (Acts 6:1; 9:29)

HEL'LENIST, noun A Grecian Jew; a Jew who used the Greek language.

1. One skilled in the Greek language.

HELLENIS'TIC, adjective Pertaining to the Hellenists. The hellenistic language was the Greek spoken or used by the Jews who lived in Egypt and other countries, where the Greek language prevailed.

HELLENIS'TICALLY, adverb According to the Hellenistic dialect.

HEL'LENIZE, verb intransitive To use the Greek language.

HEL'LESPONT, noun A narrow strait between Europe and Asia, now called the Dardanelles; a part of the passage between the Euxine and the Egean sea.

HELLESPONT'INE, adjective Pertaining to the Hellespont.

HELL'-GOVERNED, adjective Directed by hell.

HELL'-HAG, noun A hag of hell.

HELL'-HATED, adjective Abhorred as hell.

HELL'-HAUNTED, adjective Haunted by the devil.

HELL'-HOUND, noun A dog of hell; an agent of hell.

HEL'LIER, noun A tiler or slater. [See Hele.] [Not in use.]

HELL'ISH, adjective Pertaining to hell.

1. Like hell in qualities; infernal; malignant; wicked; detestable.

HELL'ISHLY, adverb Infernally; with extreme malignity; wickedly; detestably.

HELL'ISHNESS, noun The qualities of hell or of its inhabitants; extreme wickedness, malignity or impiety.

HELL'-KITE, noun A kite of an infernal breed.

HELL'WARD, adverb Towards hell.

HELL'Y, adjective Having the qualities of hell.