GEHENNA / HELL

"Gehenna" (Latin), "Geenas" (Greek), is the word used for the Hebrew "Valley of Hinnom." This name appears 12 times in the Christian Greek scriptures known as the Bible, and many translators take the word "Gehenna" and translate it as "Hell." A number of modern translations transliterate this word from the Latin "Gehenna."

The "Valley of Hinnom" lies outside of ancient Jerusalem. Judean kings Ahaz and Manasseh carried out idolatrous worship there, which included human sacrifices by fire to Baal. 2 Chronicles. 28: 1, 3. and 33:1, 6. Jeremiah. 7:31, 32. and 32: 35.

God expressed repugnance for such practices saying it was "A thing that I had not commanded, and had not come up in my heart" Jeremiah. 7:31, 32:35. God decreed that the "Valley of Hinnom" would serve as a place of mass disposal of dead bodies. Jeremiah.7: 32, 33. 19:2,6,7,10,11.

Biblical evidence concerning "Gehenna" in New Testament, shows that the "Valley of Hinnom" (modern day Wadi er-Rababi ) was used as a fiery place for the disposal of waste matter from the city of Jerusalem.

It was a loathsome place, where they discarded their unclean things and carcasses, and the fire was burning and smoldering continuously.

"Gehenna" was not a place of torture, but rather a place of complete destruction, and the dead bodies of criminals, who’s punishment was a death sentence, were thrown on "Gehenna." These bodies were usually of those who had been crucified, which was a common form of punishment under Roman rule.

The Romans had their own executioners who were responsible for the crucifixions, (This was a Roman form of punishment) and also for the disposal of the dead bodies by throwing them into the fires of Gehenna.

Matthew 5:30, Jesus speaking. " And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off, and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members (limbs) perish, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

The correct Greek Translation for the word "hell" that is used in this verse is "Gehenna" the fiery rubbish dump outside of Jerusalem.

What Jesus was saying here, if I may paraphrase, is that, if you commit a sin, which may be regarded as a crime, and the Romans crucify you, then your dead body will end up in "Gehenna."

P.S. If you are a person who is serious about understanding God’s word, every time you see the word "Hell," use your Concordance to locate the scriptures containing the word "Hell" and check back through the centre column reference points in your study bible. May I also suggest that if you are serious about God’s word then you also need to have an understanding of the culture of the day.

Jim Lee. 8/99