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Hades and Hell in Biblical Eschatology

The terms "Hades" and "Hell" in biblical eschatology refer to various concepts related to the afterlife and divine judgment, often leading to confusion due to translation choices and evolving theological understanding. In the Old Testament, the primary Hebrew word rendered as "hell" is Sheol [2, 3]. Sheol occurs 65 times and is derived from a root meaning "to ask" or "demand," implying insatiableness [2].

Sheol is frequently translated as "grave" in the Authorized Version, appearing 31 times in this form (e.g., Genesis 37:35; 42:38; 1 Samuel 2:6; Job 14:13) [2, 3]. It generally signifies the place of the dead, the unseen world, without explicitly defining it as a place of either misery or happiness [3]. For instance, Ezekiel 31:16 uses Sheol to denote the unseen world, equating it with being "cast into oblivion" [11]. However, in other passages, Sheol appears to carry a notion of punishment [3]. Isaiah 14:9-11, for example, depicts former monarchs in Sheol rising in astonishment at the humbled king of Babylon's descent among them, suggesting a conscious existence in the unseen abode [13].

In the New Testament, the Greek word Hades is often used, and it corresponds to the Hebrew Sheol [1, 5]. Hades means "that which is out of sight" and denotes the state or place of the dead [5]. It is considered the common receptacle of the departed, and expressions like "to be buried," "to go down to the grave," and "to descend into Hades" are considered equivalent [5]. The Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Old Testament, commonly renders Sheol as Hades (e.g., Genesis 42:38; Psalm 139:8; Hosea 13:14; Isaiah 14:9) [5]. Jesus himself uses Hades when speaking of Capernaum being "brought down to hell," implying a state of extreme debasement (Matthew 11:23) [5, 7].

While Hades generally refers to the abode of the dead, the New Testament also introduces Gehenna as a distinct concept, specifically associated with eternal punishment [8]. Gehenna originally referred to the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem, a place where idolatry and human sacrifices by fire were practiced (2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; 32:35) [10]. King Josiah later destroyed this site (2 Kings 23:10) [10]. In the New Testament, Gehenna becomes a metaphor for the place of eternal punishment (Matthew 5:22, 30; 23:15) [8, 10]. James 3:6 explicitly contrasts Gehenna (translated as "hell") as the place of eternal punishment with Hades as the abode of the dead [8].

The eschatological understanding further develops in the book of Revelation, where "Death and Hades" are personified and ultimately cast into "the lake of fire" [4, 12]. This "lake of fire" is explicitly called "the second death" [4]. This imagery, which includes "fiery lake of burning sulfur," represents eternal punishment for God's enemies, including the beast, the false prophet, the dragon, death, and unsaved humans (Revelation 19:20; 20:10, 14-15; 21:8) [6]. This concept draws on Old Testament imagery of fire and darkness associated with God's judgment (e.g., Exodus 9:23-24; 10:21-29; Deuteronomy 4:11; 5:22-23; Isaiah 66:24) [6, 9]. The casting of Death and Hades into the lake of fire signifies the ultimate end of the realm of the dead as it is known [4, 12].

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Hades — in Revised Version. [See [583]Hell]”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: 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 (Prov. 30:15, 16). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times (Gen. 37:35; 42:38; 44:29, 31; 1 Sam. 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-o”
  3. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Hell — 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”
  4. Revelation “Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. -- Revelation 20:14”
  5. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hades — That which is out of sight, a Greek word used to denote the state or place of the dead. All the dead alike go into this place. To be buried, to go down to the grave, to descend into hades, are equivalent expressions. In the LXX. this word is the usual rendering of the Hebrew sheol, the common receptacle of the departed (Gen. 42:38; Ps. 139:8; Hos. 13:14; Isa. 14:9). This term is of comparatively rare occurrence in the Greek New Testament. Our Lord speaks of Capernaum as being "brought down to hell" (hades), i.e., simply to the lowest debasement, (Matt. 11:23)”
  6. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 19:20: 19:20 beast . . . false prophet See 13:1-10. • The fiery lake of burning sulfur provides a picture of eternal punishment (see 20:10, 14-15; 21:8; see also Isa 66:24; Matt 13:41, 49-50; Mark 9:43, 48). • God’s enemies are thrown into the fiery lake. The two beasts (Rev 19:20) are followed by the dragon (20:10) and then by death (20:14) and unsaved humans (20:15).”
  7. Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 10:15: To hell - To hades. See this explained, Mat 11:23 (note).”
  8. James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 3:6: 3:6 It is a whole world of wickedness: The tongue acts as an agent of the whole unrighteous world opposed to God (1:27; 4:4). • hell itself: Greek Gehenna, the place of eternal punishment (Matt 5:22, 30; 23:15), in contrast to Hades, the abode of the dead (Luke 16:23; Acts 2:31). The reference to hell is an allusion to the devil (Jas 4:7; Matt 5:22; John 8:44) as the ultimate source of evil speech.”
  9. Job (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Job 20:26: 20:26 Images such as deepest darkness and wildfire are often associated with God’s presence (Deut 4:11; 5:22-23; Heb 12:18) and especially with his judgment (Exod 9:23-24; 10:21-29).”
  10. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 5:29: 5:29-30 good eye . . . gouge it out . . . stronger hand . . . cut it off: These graphic images call for radical separation from sin. But even self-mutilation, radical as it would be, cannot stop a lustful mind. Jesus is calling for the surpassing righteousness that only he can bring. 5:29 hell (Greek Gehenna): Gehenna originally referred to a valley outside Jerusalem where some of the kings of Judah worshiped idols and performed human sacrifice by fire (2 Chr 28:3; 33:6; Jer 7:31; 32:35). The site was eventually destroyed by Josiah (2 Kgs 23:10). In the New Testa”
  11. Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 31:16: hell--Sheol or Hades, the unseen world: equivalent to, "I cast him into oblivion" (compare Isa 14:9-11). shall be comforted--because so great a king as the Assyrian is brought down to a level with them. It is a kind of consolation to the wretched to have companions in misery.”
  12. Revelation (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 20:13: death and hell--Greek, "Hades." The essential identity of the dying and risen body is hereby shown; for the sea and grave give up their dead. The body that sinned or served God shall, in righteous retribution, be the body also that shall suffer or be rewarded. The "sea" may have a symbolical [CLUVER from AUGUSTINE], besides the literal meaning, as, in Rev 8:8; Rev 12:12; Rev 13:1; Rev 18:17, Rev 18:19; so "death" and "hell" are personifications (compare Rev 21:1). But the literal sense need hardly be departed from: all the different regions wherei”
  13. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 14:8: the fir trees--now left undisturbed. Probably a kind of evergreen. rejoice at thee-- (Psa 96:12). At thy fall (Psa 35:19, Psa 35:24). no feller--as formerly, when thou wast in power (Isa 10:34; Isa 37:24). Hades (the Amenthes of Egypt), the unseen abode of the departed; some of its tenants, once mighty monarchs, are represented by a bold personification as rising from their seats in astonishment at the descent among them of the humbled king of Babylon. This proves, in opposition to WARBURTON [The Divine Legation], that the belief existed among the”
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