Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Hell. What’s the difference? (click to read more)

Many Christian believers blend several terms together and treat them as different ways of expressing what we call “Hell.” Let us examine the usage of the word Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Hell from a whole biblical perspective. Understanding these words and their roots will help clarify biblical teachings on death, the afterlife, and eternal judgment.

Sheol (Hebrew: שְׁאוֹל, Strong’s Concordance H7585) appears frequently in the Old Testament (OT). It generally refers to the grave, or the realm of the dead, rather than a place of punishment. Sheol is depicted as the destination for both the righteous and the unrighteous after death, a shadowy and silent abode beneath the earth.¹ English translations vary significantly in rendering Sheol, with older translations such as the King James Version (KJV) inconsistently translating it as “grave,” “hell,” or “pit,” while modern translations like the English Standard Version (ESV) and New American Standard Bible (NASB) typically transliterate it as “Sheol.”² For instance, in Genesis 37:35 (ESV), Jacob speaks of descending into “Sheol,” clearly meaning the grave or place of the dead, not a fiery torment.³ One story that may shock Christians is when the first King of Israel, Saul, consults a medium (the witch of En Dor in 1 Samuel 28: 3-25)⁴ to get advice from Samuel, who is in Sheol.  Samuel was clearly a righteous man of God, so the modern Christian would expect that he would be in heaven, but wait until the end of this article because we will come back to this. This act by Saul shows how desperate he was and how far he had fallen from God, but it also reveals that Samuel was in the underworld.

In the New Testament (NT), the Greek equivalent of Sheol is Hades (Greek: ᾅδης, Strong’s G86), meaning “unseen.”⁵ Hades similarly denotes a temporary abode for the dead awaiting final judgment or resurrection. For example, in Luke 16:23 (NASB), the rich man finds himself in torment in Hades, illustrating its intermediate nature and temporary status.⁶ The Book of Revelation specifically clarifies Hades as a temporary holding place that will ultimately be emptied at the final judgment. Revelation 20:13-14 describes Death and Hades as delivering up the dead who were in them before both are cast into the Lake of Fire, representing their final destruction and the end of their role.⁷

Gehenna (Greek: γέεννα, Strong’s G1067), distinct from Hades, explicitly refers to the final place of eternal punishment, often translated as “hell.” Originating from the Hebrew “Ge Hinnom,” or Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem, Gehenna was historically associated with idol worship and child sacrifice and symbolically with continual fire and destruction.⁸ At one point, it was also used as a landfill where trash was known to burn, and bodies of criminals being denied proper burials were dumped. Jesus frequently used Gehenna as a term to warn of eternal punishment for sin. For instance, Matthew 10:28 (NIV) quotes Jesus warning to fear God, who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna (“hell”).⁹ So in Christ’s usage of the term Gehenna, it is the ultimate destination of the wicked following final judgment, distinct from Sheol and Hades.

The English word “Hell” has historically been used broadly, especially in the KJV, encompassing Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna. Modern protestant translations have become more precise, typically reserving “Hell” specifically for Gehenna, emphasizing its meaning as the eternal state of punishment.¹⁰

In the Book of Revelation, Hell is explicitly described as a type of eternal prison. Revelation 20:1-3 describes Satan being bound in the Abyss (Greek: ἄβυσσος), a temporary spiritual prison, illustrating the concept of Hell as a place of imprisonment and containment. Revelation 20:10 further describes the Devil, the beast, and the false prophet being cast into the Lake of Fire, tormented eternally, signifying an eternal prison from which there is no escape.¹¹ This portrays Hell as a secure, inescapable prison designed for Satan, fallen angels, and all who reject God, permanently separating evil from God’s new creation.

The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus significantly shifted the biblical understanding of these terms. Christ’s victory over death means believers no longer reside in Sheol or Hades after death but immediately enter His presence (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8).¹² Absent from the body, present with the Lord. Revelation emphasizes Christ’s authority over death and Hades (Revelation 1:18), symbolizing His ultimate victory and power to rescue believers from death’s grasp and the final judgment. Specifically, in Revelation 1:18, Jesus proclaims that he has the keys of Hades and Death. Now, many catholic and catholic derivative denominations still hold to creeds that express that after Jesus’ crucifixion, he descended to Hell. The term here, however, is misapplied. Jesus went to Hades to set his people free and lead the captives into captivity.¹³  We also see in the book of Matthew 27:52-53 that the resurrection of those who had been waiting for Jesus to come and set them free happened. There are some who contest this as it is the only mention in the New Testament of this event. ¹⁴ Lastly, in Psalm 16:10, even David knew that he would not be abandoned in Sheol.¹⁵ He was looking forward to the day when the Lord would come and get him.

In conclusion, understanding the biblical distinctions among Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Hell clarifies the Bible’s teachings on death, the intermediate state, final judgment, and eternal punishment. The resurrection of Jesus Christ transforms the believer’s experience, providing hope, and assurance of eternal life with God by direct demonstration. While the saints before the resurrection had to wait in Sheol until Christ came for them, that event has happened 2000 years ago, and now Sheol only holds the captives for the Day of Judgement.

References:

1. Strong’s Concordance H7585
2. Encyclopedia of the Bible, “Hell”
3. Genesis 37:35 ESV
4. 1 Samuel 28: 3-25
5. Strong’s Concordance G86
6. Luke 16:23 NASB
7. Revelation 20:13-14 NASB
8. Strong’s Concordance G1067
9. Matthew 10:28 NIV
10. Theopedia, “Hell”
11. Revelation 20:1-3, 20:10 NIV
12. Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV
13. Ephesians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 2:14-16; Colossians 2:15 NKJV
14. Matthew 27:52-53 NKJV
15. Psalm 16:10