Hell

Hell a term which originally corresponded more exactly to HADES, being derived from the Saxon helan, to cover, and signifying merely the covered, or invisible place-the habitation of those who have gone from this visible terrestrial region to the world of spirits. But it has been so long appropriated in common usage to the place of future punishment for the wicked, that its earlier meaning has been lost sight of. In the English Bible it is used in the wider sense.

I. Hebrew and Greek Terms. — The three words, which all but monopolize the subject, are שַׁאוֹל, Sheol’, in the O.T.; and ῞Αιδης, Hades, and Γέεννα, Gehenna, in the N.T. שׁאוֹל occurs 65 times; in 61 of these it is rendered in the Sept. By ῞Αδης; twice by θάνατος (2 Samuel 22:6, and Proverbs 23:14); and twice omitted in the common text (Job 24:19; Ezekiel 32:21). In the Vulg. שׁאוֹל is translated 48 times by Infernus, and 17 times by Inferus [mostly Inferi (plur.)]. In our A.V. it is represented 31 times by Grave, 31 times by Hell, and 3 times by Pit. In the N. Test. our word Hell occurs 23 times; 12 times it stands for Γέεννα, and 11 times [perhaps the twelfth should be added, see Tischendorf and Bruder (Concord.) on Revelation 3:7] for ῞Αδης. The Vulg. closely follows the original in its N.T. renderings; in all the twelve passages Γέεννα is simply copied into Ge'henna, while Infernus stands for every occurrence of ῞Αδης, except once (Matthew 16:18), where the phrase πύλαι ¯δου (“gates of hell”) becomes “portae inferi.” Since, therefore, שׁאוֹל, ςΑδης, and Γέεννα, are employed in the sacred original to designate the mysteries of HELL, we proceed to give first their probable derivation, and then their meaning, so far as Holy Scripture assists ῥ in its discovery.

(I.) Their Derivation. —

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Author: McClintock and Strong Cyclopedia

Keywords: Hell

Bible reference(s): 1 Corinthians 15:55, 1 Kings 2:6, 1 Peter 3:19, 1 Samuel 2:6, 2 Corinthians 12:4, 2 Peter 2:4, 2 Samuel 22:6, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Acts 2:27, Deuteronomy 32:22, Ecclesiastes 9:10, Ezekiel 24:23, Ezekiel 26:20, Ezekiel 31:15, Ezekiel 32:21, Genesis 14:5, Genesis 19:24, Genesis 25:8, Genesis 37:35, Genesis 42:38, Genesis 44:29, Habakkuk 2:5, Hosea 13:14, Isaiah 14:4, Isaiah 26:19, Isaiah 30:33, Isaiah 38:18, Isaiah 44:23, Isaiah 5:14, Isaiah 57:9, Job 10:21, Job 11:8, Job 14:13, Job 17:13, Job 21:13, Job 24:19, Job 26:6, Job 3:21, Job 7:9, John 5:28, Jonah 2:2, Joshua 18:16, Jude 1:6, Luke 10:15, Luke 12:48, Luke 16:24, Luke 23:43, Mark 9:43, Matthew 10:15, Matthew 11:23, Matthew 13:42, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 22:13, Matthew 23:33, Matthew 25:30, Matthew 5:29, Matthew 7:21, Matthew 8:12, Numbers 13:18, Numbers 16:30, Proverbs 1:12, Proverbs 21:16, Proverbs 23:14, Proverbs 27:20, Proverbs 30:15, Proverbs 5:5, Proverbs 9:18, Psalms 107:10, Psalms 115:17, Psalms 141:7, Psalms 16:10, Psalms 30:3, Psalms 55:23, Psalms 6:6, Psalms 86:13, Psalms 88:6, Psalms 89:49, Psalms 9:17, Psalms 94:17, Revelation 1:18, Revelation 14:10, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 2:7, Revelation 20:14, Revelation 21:8, Revelation 3:7, Romans 2:9, Song of Solomon 8:6

Source: John McClintock and James Strong, Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature.

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