Go to Hell !
What the Hell !
To Hell with You !
For the Hell of it !
Is this what happens to unbelievers at death or in the afterlife ?
! ! ! What is Hell about ? ? ?
Yes, just what is “HELL“ all about? When someone is very upset or completely disgusted with someone they just might, out of frustration, exasperation, irritation, and/or disgust at that person, declare “Go to “HELL“!” This is an unsettling phrase utilizing the word “HELL“ that is found in our ENGLISH Judeo-Christian Bibles. The meaning of the word, “HELL“, varies usually determined by one’s religious denominational affiliation.
DENOMINATIONAL AFFILIATION COMMENT
- The majority (not all) of “Christian” sects/denominations teach that when a person dies, (depending upon whether they are Believers in God) some part of a Believing person goes to Heaven, and if they are not a Believer, when a person dies some part of this Unbelieving person goes to Hell to begin his or her eternal punishment (continual punishing).
- Let me repeat that not all, but the majority of “Christian” sects/denominations affirm that the above position is Scripturally true.
- The minority of “Christian”sects/denominations teach that when both Believers and nonbelievers in God die that person remains unconscious in the grave until they are brought back to life at either the resurrection of life or the resurrection of condemnation.
John 5
(28) Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice
(29) and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
ANALYSIS – SUMMATION
The use (or misuse) of the word “HELL“ is critical for us to correctly understand. We will need to investigate why this is important to us in today’s world. The primary reason this is very important is because when we learn about the behavior of someone it most certainly affects out relationship with that someone . . . even if that someone is our Creator YHWH.
DIGGING DEEPER ! HEBREW, GREEK, and ENGLISH !
As we learn more about our Bibles, including the languages which they were originally written in, we discover that our Bibles have been divided (not by God but by human beings) into two parts, the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament was written primarily in the Hebrew language while the New Testament was written mostly in the Greek language.
Even though our Bibles were initially written in the Hebrew and Greek languages, the Bibles we commonly read from today have been translated (not originally written) in English.
Moses, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, King David, King Solomon, Peter, Paul, John, and ,yes, even Jesus/Yashua, did not write nor converse in English. They spoke primarily in Hebrew and Greek, the languages the Scriptures for the most part were penned in.
The various words used are as follows:
- Hebrew Old Testament (1 word used for Hell – Sheol.)
- Greek New Testament (3 words used for Hell – Hades, Gehennah, and Tartarus.)
- English (1 word for Hell – Hell.)
ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH WORD HELL !
It is important for us to comprehend that when the writers (not the translators) of our Bibles wrote the various documents which eventually found their way into what is now called the BIBLE they absolutely did not use the English word “HELL“!
In the Old Testament Scriptures (written mostly in the Hebrew language) the Hebrew word Sheol is the Hebrew word from which “HELL” is translated from. In order to ascertain whether “sheol” equals “HELL“, we need to compare the original meanings of each of these words.
First we will look at the first and last verses the word “HELL” is used in the Old Testament.
ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH WORD HELL !
It is important for us to comprehend that when the writers (not the translators) of our Bibles wrote the various documents which eventually found their way into what is now called the BIBLE they absolutely did not use the English word “HELL“ !
In the Old Testament Scriptures (written mostly in the Hebrew language) the Hebrew word Sheol is the Hebrew word from which “HELL“ is translated from. In order to ascertain whether “sheol” equals “HELL“, we need to compare the original meanings of each of these words.
First we will look at the first and last verses the word “HELL“ is used in the Old Testament.
also Hell, Old English hel, helle, “nether world, abode of the dead, infernal regions, place of torment for the wicked after death,” from Proto-Germanic *haljō “the underworld” (source also of Old Frisian helle, Old Saxon hellia, Dutch hel, Old Norse hel, German Hölle, Gothic halja “hell“). Literally “concealed place” (compare Old Norse hellir “cave, cavern”), from PIE root *kel- (1) “to cover, conceal, save.”
Old Norse Hel (from Proto-Germanic *halija “one who covers up or hides something”)was the name of Loki’s daughter who ruled over the evil dead in Niflheim, the lowest of all worlds (nifl “mist”) It might have reinforced the English word “as a transfer of a pagan concept to Christian theology and its vocabulary” [Barnhart].
In Middle English, also of the Limbus Patrum, place where the Patriarchs, Prophets, etc. awaited the Atonement. Used in the KJV for Old Testament Hebrew Sheol and New Testament Greek Hades, Gehenna. Used figuratively for “state of misery, any bad experience” at least since late 14c. As an expression of disgust, etc., first recorded 1670s.
To have hell break loose is from c. 1600. Expression hell in a handbasket is attested by 1867, in a context implying use from a few years before, and the notion of going to Heaven in a handbasket is from 1853, implying “easy passage” to the destination. Hell or high water (1874) apparently is a variation of between the devil and the deep blue sea. To wish someone would go to hell is in Shakespeare (“Merchant of Venice”). Snowball’s chance in hell “no chance” is from 1931; till hell freezes over “never” is from 1832.
To do something for the hell of it “just for fun” is from 1921. To ride hell for leather is from 1889, originally with reference to riding on horseback.
NOTE: Please notice that the word hell has no direct connection to any Biblical word.
WEBSTERS DICTIONARY
HELL, n.
1. The place or state of punishment for the wicked after death. Mat 10. Luke 12.
Sin is hell begun, as religion is heaven anticipated.
2. The place of the dead, or of souls after death; the lower regions, or the grave; called in Hebrew, sheol, and by the Greeks, hades. Psa 16. Jonah 2.
3. The pains of hell, temporal death, or agonies that dying persons feel, or which bring to the brink of the grave. Psa 18.
4. The gates of hell, the power and policy of Satan and his instruments. Mat 16.
5. The infernal powers.
While Saul and hell cross’d his strong fate in vain.
6. The place at a running play to which are carried those who are caught.
7. A place into which a tailor throws his shreds.
8. A dungeon or prison.
STRONG’S DICTIONARY
Strong’s Dictionary has no direct definition for “HELL“. There is only a reference to the one Hebrew word (SHEOL) and three Greek words (Hades, Gehenna, & Tartaroo.)
SHEOL, GEHENNAH, HADES, TARTARUS, & HELL !
It is important for us to comprehend that when the writers (not the translators) of our Bibles wrote the various documents which eventually found their way into what is now called the BIBLE they absolutely did not use the English word “HELL“ !
In the Old Testament Scriptures (written mostly in the Hebrew language) the Hebrew word Sheol is the Hebrew word from which “HELL“ is translated from. In order to ascertain whether “sheol” equals “HELL“, we need to compare the original meanings of each of these words.
First we will look at the first and last verses the word “HELL“ is used in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy 32:22
For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell/H7585, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Habakuk 2:5
Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell/H7585, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH WORD HELL !
It is important for us to comprehend that when the writers (not the translators) of our Bibles wrote the various documents which eventually found their way into what is now called the BIBLE they absolutely did not use the English word “HELL“ !
In the Old Testament Scriptures (written mostly in the Hebrew language) the Hebrew word SHEOL is the Hebrew word from which “HELL“ is translated from. In order to ascertain whether SHEOL equals “HELL“, we need to compare the original meanings of each of these words.
First we will look at the first and last verses the word “HELL“ is used in the Old Testament.
Deuteronomy 32:22
For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell/H7585, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
Habakuk 2:5
Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell/H7585, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
SUMMARY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT ENGLISH WORD HELL !
The two verses cited above are the first and last instances where the English word “hell” is found. They are both translated from the Hebrew word “Sheol”. What I did not provide are the additional twenty nine Old Testament verses which also use the English word “hell”. And they also are from the Hebrew word Sheol.
Hell (Hewbrew) Hell (Greek) G86 ᾅδης hadēs hah’-dace From G1 (as a negative particle) and G1492; properly unseen, that is, “Hades” or the place (state) of departed souls: – grave, hell. G1067 γέεννα geenna gheh’-en-nah Of Hebrew origin ([H1516] and [H2011]); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; gehenna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment: – hell. G5020 ταρταρόω tartaroō tar-tar-o’-o From Τάρταρος Tartaros̄ (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment: – cast down to hell. |
( common, שאול / she-ol) Translation: UNDERWORLD Definition: The place of the dead. Relationship to Root: as an unknown place. KJV Translations: grave, hell, pit Strong’s Hebrew #: