Hell Terminology (Sheol/Hades/Gehenna/Lake of Fire)

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GehennaGehennaG1067Greek (NT)

The Valley of Hinnom; used as a symbol of final punishment.

Used 12 times in the NT, 11 by Jesus. Named after the Valley of Ben-Hinnom where children were sacrificed to Molech (2 Kings 23:10). NOT the same as Hades/Sheol. Gehenna is post-judgment. In Gehenna, Jesus says God can destroy both soul and body (Matthew 10:28), using apollymi (destroy utterly).

TartarosTartarosG5020Greek (NT)

The deepest abyss; used once for the prison of fallen angels.

Used exactly once (2 Peter 2:4). Describes fallen angels held in chains of darkness until judgment. Not about human punishment. Should not be conflated with Gehenna or the Lake of Fire.

Lake of FireLimne tou PyrosN/AGreek (NT)

The final place of judgment in Revelation.

Appears only in Revelation (19:20, 20:10, 20:14-15, 21:8). Death and Hades are themselves thrown into it (Rev 20:14), called the second death. If death itself is destroyed there, the Lake represents destruction, not preservation. Rev 21:8 equates it with the second death.