The place of eternal punishment in fire and darkness intended for Satan and his angels, but also for human beings who choose to reject God.
Hell was originally created for the devil and his angels
Matthew 25:41 See also Luke 8:31; 2 Peter 2:4; Revelation 20:1–3, Revelation 20:10
Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Hell is a consequence of rejecting God
Matthew 13:40–42 See also Deuteronomy 32:22 Fire is often referred to in the OT as a symbol of divine judgment; Mark 9:42–48; John 3:36; Romans 2:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; Hebrews 10:26–29; 2 Peter 3:7; Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:8
As the weeds are collected and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will weed out of His kingdom every cause of sin and all who practice lawlessness. And they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus Christ possesses authority over hell
Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18 The Greek word “Hades” often simply means “death”. However, at points it implies the experience of punishment after death. See also John 5:27; Acts 10:42, Acts 17:31
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
The Valley of Hinnom as a figure of hell
The Valley of Hinnom as a geographical feature
The Valley of Hinnom as a place of child sacrifice
2 Chronicles 28:3 parallel 2 Kings 16:3 See also 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 33:6 parallel 2 Kings 21:6; Jeremiah 32:35
Moreover, Ahaz burned incense in the Valley of Ben-hinnom and sacrificed his sons in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.
The Valley of Hinnom as a place of God's judgment
Jeremiah 7:30–32 See also Jeremiah 19:1–15
For the people of Judah have done evil in My sight, declares the LORD. They have set up their abominations in the house that bears My Name, and so have defiled it. They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben-hinnom so they could burn their sons and daughters in the fire — something I never commanded, nor did it even enter My mind. So behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when this place will no longer be called Topheth and the Valley of Ben-hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. For they will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no more room.
The Valley of Hinnom as a synonym for hell
Matthew 10:28 parallel Luke 12:4–5 The word used for “hell” is “Gehenna”, from the Hebrew “Ge Hinnom”, meaning “the Valley of Hinnom”. See also Matthew 5:29–30, Matthew 18:8–9 parallel Mark 9:43–48
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.