The Hell Words of The Bible

The following Charts contain all the words in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures which are translated Hell in some English Bible translations. Tentmaker prepared this material. Please refer to the link at the bottom which contains a long list of Bible translations which felt that NONE of these words should ever have been translated as Hell. One day all correctly translated Bible versions will be without the pagan Hell and the pagan concept of everlasting punishment. Gary Amirault

Sheol (#H7585)

Translation of the word “Sheol (שְׁאוֹל)” in the Old Testament.

Verse	1611 KJV	KJV	NIV	NKJV	YLT	CLV	Latin Vulgate (LV)
Gn. 37:35	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Gn. 42:38	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Gn. 44:29	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Gn. 44:31	graue	grave	grave	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Nu. 16:30	pit	pit	grave *2	pit	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Nu. 16:33	pit	pit	grave	pit	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Dt. 32:22	hell	lowest hell	death	hell	Sheol	unseen	inferni
1Sa. 2:6	graue	grave	grave	grave	Sheol	unseen	infernum
2Sa. 22:6	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	inferi
1Ki. 2:6	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferos
1Ki. 2:9	graue	grave	grave	grave	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Job 7:9	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Job 11:8	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	inferno
Job 14:13	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferno
Job 17:13	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferus
Job 17:16	pit	pit	death *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	infernum
	1611 KJV	KJV	NIV	NKJV	YLT	CLT	LV
Job 21:13	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferna
Job 24:19	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Job 26:6	hell	hell	Death *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	infernus
Ps. 6:5	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferno
Ps. 9:17	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernum *11
Ps. 16:10	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	n/a
Ps. 18:5	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	n/a
Ps. 30:3	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	n/a
Ps. 31:17	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	n/v
Ps. 49:14	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	n/a
Ps. 49:14 *5	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	n/a
Ps. 49:15	graue	grave	grave	grave	Sheol	unseen	n/a
Ps. 55:15	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	n/v
Ps. 86:13	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	n/v
Ps. 88:3	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	n/a
Ps. 89:48	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	n/v
	1611 KJV	KJV	NIV	NKJV	YLT	CLT	LV
Ps. 116:3	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	n/v
Ps. 139:8	hell	hell	depths *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	n/a
Ps. 141:7	graues	grave	grave *2	grave	*6	unseen	n/a
Pr. 1:12	graue	grave	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	infernus
Pr. 5:5	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Pr. 7:27	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	inferi
Pr. 9:18	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	inferni
Pr. 15:11	hell	hell	Death *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernus
Pr. 15:24	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	inferno
Pr. 23:14	hell	hell	death *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	inferno
Pr. 27:20	hell	hell	Death *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernus
Pr. 30:16	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	infernus
Ec. 9:10	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferos
SS. 8:6	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferus
Is. 5:14	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	infernus
Is. 14:9	hell	hell *9	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernus
	1611 KJV	KJV	NIV	NKJV	YLT	CLT	LV
Is. 14:11	hell	grave	grave	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Is. 14:15	hel*10	hell	grave	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Is. 28:15	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	inferno
Is. 28:18	hell	hell	grave	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	inferno
Is. 38:10	graue	grave	death *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	inferi
Is. 38:18	graue	grave	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	infernus
Is. 57:9	hell	hell	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Ez. 31:15	graue	grave	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	inferos
Ez. 31:16	hell	hell	grave	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Ez. 31:17	hell	hell	grave	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Ez. 32:21	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	inferni
Ez. 32:27	hell	hell	grave	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Ho. 13:14	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	mortis
Ho. 13:14 *5	graue	grave	grave *2	grave	Sheol	unseen	inferne
Am. 9:2	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernum
Jon. 2:2	hell	hell *9	grave *2	Sheol	Sheol	unseen	inferni *12
Hab. 2:5	hell	hell	grave *2	hell	Sheol	unseen	infernus

Key: KJV = King James Version; NKJV = New King James Version; NIV = New International Version; YLT = Young’s Literal Translation; CLV = Concordant Literal Version; LV = Latin Vulgate. (EBR = Rotherham’s Emphasised Bible, not in the list.)

An unbiased encyclopedia called Wikipedia: Definition of “sheol”.

N/A = Not Available. The word does not appear in these verses in the Vulgate.
N/V = No Verse. The verse does not appear in the Vulgate.

*2: the footnote says Hebrew Sheol.
*3: note says sheol or hades.
*4: note says Hebrew to Sheol.
*5: the word sheol occurs twice in the verse.
*6: Saul, not Sheol.
*7: Margin: “that is, from destruction.”
*8: NASB: Sheol, NRSV: grave.
*9: marg. or, The grave {The New Englishman’s Hebrew Concordance, p.1220}.
*10: spelled with one L in the original.
*11: verse 18 in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims Bibles. 
*12: verse 3 in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims Bibles. 
*13: verse 3 in the Latin Vulgate and Douay-Rheims Bibles. 
*** The Latin Vulgate is one of the earliest translations of the Hebrew and Greek scripture used before the King James Version was translated in 1611.

Note: Ezek. 31:16-17

Note: Grave was spelled graue in 1611 KJV and Geneva bible.

Hades (#G86)

Translation of the word “Hades (ᾅδης)” in the New Testament.

Verse	1611 KJV	KJV	NIV	Geneva	NKJV	CLV	LV
Mt. 11:23	hell	hell	depths	hell	Hades	unseen	infernum
Mt. 16:18	hell	hell	Hades	hel *4	Hades	unseen	inferi
Lk. 10:15	hell	hell	depths	hell	Hades	unseen	infernum
Lk. 16:23	hell	hell	hell *7	hell	Hades	unseen	inferno
Ac. 2:27	hell	hell	grave	grave	Hades	unseen	inferno
Ac. 2:31	hell	hell	grave	grave	Hades	unseen	inferno
1Cor. 15:55**	grave *2	grave	death	grave	Hades	death	mors
Rv. 1:18	hell	hell	Hades	hell	Hades	unseen	inferni
Rv. 6:8	hell	hell	Hades	Hell *5	Hades	unseen	inferus
Rv. 20:13	hell *3	hell	Hades	hell	Hades	unseen	inferus
Rv. 20:14	hell	hell	Hades	hell	Hades	unseen	inferus

*1: prop. unseen {Strong’s #86}
*2: margin “Or,hell”
*3: margin “Or,hell” in some 1611 printings. Some printings had “grave” in the text and “Or, hell” in the margin. Clearly some peculiar intentional hanky panky going on.
*4: spelled with one L in the original
*5: Capitalized in the original
*7: footnote says Greek Hades
*8: [Hades] The unseen World, the abode of departed spirits, In the A.V. both this word and ‘Gehenna’ are rendered ‘Hell.’ Each occurs twelve times. In this translation the two words are everywhere kept distinct.

**In the King James Version, 1 Corinthians 15:55 reads: “O death, where is thy sting? O grave (hades), where is thy victory?”

This is a reference to the Old Testament: Hosea 13:34: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave (sheol); I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave (sheol), I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”

Gehenna (#G1067)

Translation of the word “Gehenna (yéenna / γέεννα)” in the New Testamant.

Verse	1611 KJV	KJV/NIV/NKJV	Geneva	NASB95	YLT	LV
Mt. 5:22	hell fire	hell	hell *3	hell *6	Gehenna	gehennae
Mt. 5:29	hell	hell	hell	hell	Gehenna	gehennam
Mt. 5:30	hell	hell	hell	hell	Gehenna	gehennam
Mt. 10:28	hell	hell	hell	hell	Gehenna	gehennam
Mt. 18:9	hell fire	hell	hell fire	hell	Gehenna	gehennam
Mt. 23:15	hell	hell	hell	hell	Gehenna	gehennae
Mt. 23:33	hell	hell	hell *4	hell	Gehenna	gehennae
Mk. 9:43	hell	hell	hell	hell	Gehenna	gehennam
Mk. 9:45	hell	hell	hell	hell	Gehenna	gehennam
Mk. 9:47	hel fire*1	hell	hellfire	hell	Gehenna	gehennam
Lk. 12:5	hell	hell	hell	hell	Gehenna	gehennam
Js. 3:6 *2	hell	hell	hell *5	hell	Gehenna	gehenna

*1: spelled with one L in the original.
*2: The only other person in the N.T. besides Jesus who uses this term Gehenna.
*3: Margin reads: “Whereas we read here, Hell, it is in the text itself, Gehenna, which is an Hebrew word made of two, and it as much to say, as the Valley of Hinnon, which otherwise Hebrews called Tophet: It was a place where the Israelites were went most cruelly to sacrifice their children to false gods, whereupon it was taken for a place appointed to torment the reprobates in Jer. 7:31.
*4: Margin reads: “Look Chap 5. Verse 22.”
*5: Margin reads: “So the Grecians called the deep dungeons under the earth, which should be appointed to torment the souls of the wicked in.”
*6: note says Gr., Gehenna.

Jeremiah prophesied that one day this land — a garbage dump in Jerusalem called Gehenna — would one day be holy unto the Lord: “‘The time is coming,’ says the LORD, ‘when all Jerusalem will be rebuilt for me, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. A measuring line will be stretched out over the hill of Gareb and across to Goah. And the entire area—including the graveyard and ash dump in the valley [that’s Gehenna], and all the fields out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the Horse Gate—will be holy to the LORD.'” (Jer. 31:38-40).

Many people claim that this Gehenna (otherwise known as the Valley of Hinnom) represents a hell of eternal suffering. Now, if Gehenna really symbolizes “hell” (though it really does not) and Gehenna will be holy to God, then wouldn’t it also make sense to say that hell will someday be holy to God?

In the Bible translation The New Testament: A Translation, by Dr. David Bentley Hart, he has translated Gehenna as “Hinnom’s Vale.” So for example Matt. 5:22 is “Whereas I say to you that everyone who becomes angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; and whoever says ‘Raka’ to his brother shall be liable to the Council; and whoever says ‘worthless reprobate’ shall be liable to enter Hinnom’s Vale of fire.”

Tartarus (#G5020)

Translation of the word “Tartarus (Tartaróo / ταρταρόω)” in the New Testament.

Verse	1611 KJV	KJV, NKJV, NASB	Geneva	NIV	NRSV	YLT, CLV, WEY	EBR	LV
1 Pt. 2:4 *1	hell	hell	hell	hell	*2 hell	*3 Tartarus	hades	tartarum

*1: The only places in the Bible where this term appears.
*2: note says Greek tartarus.
*3: note says Greek tartaroo.

The Perpetrators of Hell

[Editor’s note (2026): This information originated from Gary Amiraults other website which unfortunately is no longer available ‘what-the-hell-is-hell.com’]

Introduction: The following quotes from early philosophers and Church Fathers prove where the modern concept of a “Hell of everlasting punishment” came from. The quotes also expose those who are still perpetuating those concepts. The first group of quotes represents proof regarding the originators of the concept. The second group of quotations are from Christian leaders who have been instrumental in perpetuating these diabolical thoughts.

Polybius, the ancient historian, says: ” Since the multitude is ever fickle, full of lawless desires, irrational passions and violence, there is no other way to keep them in order but by the fear and terror of the invisible world; on which account our ancestors seem to me to have acted judiciously, when they contrived to bring into the popular belief these notions of the gods, and of the infernal regions.” B. vi 56.

Strabo, the geographer, says: “The multitude are restrained from vice by the punishments the gods are said to inflict upon offenders, and by those terrors and threatenings which certain dreadful words and monstrous forms imprint upon their minds … For it is impossible to govern the crowd of women, and all the common rabble, by philosophical reasoning, and lead them to piety, holiness and virtue — but this must be done by superstition, or the fear of the gods, by means of fables and wonders; for the thunder, the aegis, the trident, the torches (of the Furies), the dragons, &c., are all fables, as is also all the ancient theology. These things the legislators used as scarecrows to terrify the childish multitude.” Geog., B. I

Tertullian, (considered by many to be the father of modern church doctrine): “At that greatest of all spectacles, that last and eternal judgment how shall I admire, how laugh, how rejoice, how exult, when I behold so many proud monarchs groaning in the lowest abyss of darkness.”

Johann Gerhard, “The Blessed will see their friends and relations among the damned as often as they like but without the least of compassion.”

Jonathan Edwards, “Reprobate infants are vipers of vengeance, which Jehovah will hold over hell, in the tongs of his wrath, till they turn and spit venom in his face!” “The view of the misery of the damned will double the ardour of the love and gratitude of the saints of heaven.”

Charles Spurgeon, (Commonly called the “Prince of Preachers” for being a preacher of great eloquence) “I further believe, although certain persons deny it, that the influence of fear is to be exercised over the minds of men and that it ought to operate upon the mind of the preacher himself.”

Thomas Aquinas, “That the saints may enjoy their beatitude more thoroughly, and give more abundant thanks for it to God, a perfect sight of the punishment of the damned is granted them.”

Jeremy Taylor, “Husbands shall see their wives, parents shall see their children tormented before their eyes. The bodies of the damned shall be crowded together in hell like grapes in a wine-press, which press on another till they burst.”

Richard Baxter, “It is not a terrible thing to a wretched soul, when it shall lie roaring perpetually in the flames of hell, and the God of mercy himself shall laugh at them; when God shall mock them instead of relieving them; when none in heaven or earth can help them but God, and he shall rejoice over them in their calamity.” (The Saints Everlasting Rest, 1846)

Reverend J. Furniss, C.S.S.R: “The fifth dungeon is the red hot oven. The little child is in the red hot oven. Hear how it screams to come out; see how it turns and twists itself about in the fire. It beats its head against the roof of the oven. It stamps its little feet on the floor.” (The Sight of Hell. —Quoted from Christ Triumphant by Thomas Allin).

Reverend E. B. Pusey, D.D.: “Gather in one, in your mind, an assembly of all those men and women, from whom, whether in history or in fiction, your memory most shrinks, gather in mind all that is loathsome, most revolting * * * conceive the fierce, fiery eyes of hate, spite, frenzied rage, ever fixed on thee, looking thee through and through with hate * * * hear those yells of blaspheming concentrated hate, as they echo along the lurid vault of hell; everyone hating everyone * * * Yet a fixedness in that state in which the hardened malignant sinner dies, involves, without any further retribution of God, this endless misery.” (Quoted from Christ Triumphant by Thomas Allin).

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Here is a chart containing Bible translations without Hell: https://tentmaker.org/articles/hell-is-leaving-the-bible-forever/

Voltaire: “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”