Many Christians are confused and would like to know the difference between the many terms the Bible uses with regards to Heaven and Hell. Let me assist with some explanation because I believe each term provides important information about these locations in the afterlife. I must state upfront that this is by no means an exhaustive treatment of this subject. I am sure much more can be added but this is for general information.
Sheol: Is a Hebrew term used in the Old Testament to describe the realm or location of the dead. It occurs sixty-five times. In the King James Version, ‘sheol’ is translated as hell 31 times and “pit” three times. It is sometimes used more specifically in a negative manner as a place of judgment.
Hades: A Greek term used in the New Testament (in the Septuagint) as a rough equivalent to the Hebrew Sheol, commonly refers to the world that lie beneath the surface of the earth (Numbers 16:30-33; Deut. 32:22; Isaiah 7:11) including the grave (Isaiah 14:11) and abode of both the righteous and unrighteous (Ps 30:3; Eccl. 9:10) and the wicked (Ps 9:17) go after death in Old Testament times.
Sometimes Sheol and Hades have been referred to the grave so often that people forget it is also a place of eternal punishment too.
There is another common word for “grave” in the Old Testament ‘queber.” Of the sixty-four times it is used, it is translated “grave” thirty-four times, “sepulcher” twenty-six times and “burying places” four times.
Abaddon: Is a place of destruction in the Old Testament and Revelation indicates that it is also the name of the angel of the Abyss. (Rev. 9:11) It is frequently associated with Sheol (Job 26:6; Prov. 15:11) and sometimes with death (Job 28:22) or a tomb. (Ps 88:11)
Gehenna: Is a Greek word used in the New Testament that referred to the Valley of Hinnom, an actual valley outside of Jerusalem known as a burning rubbish pile. The word appears only 12 times in the New Testament and is often translated “hell.” When used as a term for the dead, it was a way of noting a place of judgment in the afterlife.
The Lord used the word Gehenna to describe the place of eternal punishment because it was a place of filth and stench, a place of smoke and pain, a place of fire and death. (Matt. 5:22; 10:28; 23:33; Mark 9:43; Matt. 5:29-30)
The Pit: It is usually a hole in the ground i.e. a grave. However, in some instances it may refer to the collective abode of the dead. (Isaiah 14:15-19)
Some writers have correctly concluded that “The Pit” (bor) is another word for the grave or Sheol. (Ps 30:3, 9; Proverbs 1;12; Isaiah 14:5; Ezek. 31:16)
The Lake of Fire: It is mentioned in Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 14-15 as the final destination of Satan, Antichrist and False Prophet and unbelievers at the end of time.
Though not the current dwelling place of Satan or unbelievers just yet, it will be the ultimate resting place for all those who do not spend eternity with the Lord.
In using the term, the ‘Lake of Fire’, it is as if John were saying, “Hell is so horrible I cannot completely describe it. Hell is like a vast sea covered in flames and that is only the beginning of the pain and suffering I saw there.” To think this will go forever and ever, time without end.
The Abyss: mentioned mainly as the abode of demonic forces and curses. (Rev. 9:1-2, 11; 11:7; 17:8; 20:1-3) and the same is true in Luke 8:31. But in Romans 10:7 Paul speaks of the Abyss simply as the abode of the dead and specifically as where Christ went when He died. Since the Bible indicates that Jesus did not suffer torment after His death (Luke 23:46), the Abyss does not appear to be restricted to the wicked and to demons.
The word Abyss itself refers to a deep or bottomless pit, so that the image is closely associated with the “the pit” and perhaps with “Abbaddon.” Probably, its meaning is as broad as that of “Sheol” and “Hades.’
Tartarus: Is only used once, so we have very little information on it. It is when the fallen angels are temporarily imprisoned (2 Peter 2:4) prior to the judgment.
Hell: Is an English catch-all term that different translations use in different ways. It is not directly related to any of the terms in the Hebrew or Greek Scriptures.
Outer Darkness: Is a term used in Matthew to refer to a place of cursing, cut off from the blessings of God. (Matt. 8:12; 22:13; 25:30) It is fairly equivalent to Ghenna, except that we have no reference to it mentioned of fire.
Paradise: Paradise is mentioned in three accounts in the New Testament as the place where believers will be with the Lord after this life. It is first seen in Luke 23:43 where Jesus told the repentant man on the cross that he would be with Him that day in Paradise. In 2 Corinthians 12:3 Paul referred to heaven as Paradise as did John in Revelation 2:7.
Abraham’s Bosom: This is only referred to on one occasion in the New Testament in Luke 16:19-31 in the story of the rich man and Lazarus.
Abraham’s Bosom was located “down below” the heavens in the depths of the earth. Jesus referred to it as the “heart of the earth.” (Matt. 12:40) and it was the abode of the righteous dead in the Old Testament prior to Jesus’ resurrection.
Jesus also referred to this place as “Paradise” when He promised the thief on the cross next to Him that he would be with Him that same day, in Paradise. (Luke 23:24)
Today, after the resurrection of Jesus, those that were in Paradise, “in the heart of the earth” had been translated to heaven. Today, when we say Paradise, we mean Heaven.
Those in Hades, (hell) “in the heart of the earth” are still there until the Great White Throne Judgment and then they will be translated into the Lake of Fire permanently.
I trust at least you get a general idea of the terms used in the Bible and its general meaning.
Rev. Dr. Steven Kau
