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Geological Location of Hell in Christian Eschatology

The concept of hell in Christian eschatology is primarily understood as a state or place of eternal punishment, though its precise geological location is not explicitly defined in scripture. Instead, biblical texts use various terms and imagery to describe the destination of the wicked, often drawing on real-world locations as metaphors for judgment [5].

The Old Testament frequently uses the Hebrew word Sheol to refer to the realm of the dead [1, 3]. Sheol is generally translated as "hell" in older English versions, but it more accurately means "the unseen world" or "the place of the dead," without necessarily specifying whether it is a place of misery or happiness [1]. For instance, Sheol is rendered as "grave" in passages like Genesis 37:35 and Job 14:13 [1, 3]. It can also denote insatiableness, as suggested by its root meaning "to ask" or "demand" [3]. While Sheol often refers to the grave, some passages imply a notion of punishment [1]. The invisible state of the departed, or Hades, is known to God, as is the place and state of the damned [10].

In the New Testament, two primary Greek words are translated as "hell": Hades and Gehenna [6, 7]. Hades corresponds to the Old Testament Sheol, referring to the general abode of the dead [6, 7]. For example, Acts 2:31 mentions Christ visiting Hades, and Luke 16:23 describes it as containing both a place of rest (Abraham's bosom) and a place of torment [4].

Gehenna, however, carries a much stronger connotation of eternal punishment [7]. This term originates from "Ge bene Hinnom," meaning "the valley of the sons of Hinnom," a deep glen south of Jerusalem [2]. Historically, this valley was a site where idolatrous Jews offered their children as sacrifices to Molech (2 Chr. 28:3; 33:6; Jer. 7:31) [2, 9]. Later, it became a refuse dump for the city, where dead bodies of animals and criminals, along with all kinds of filth, were cast and consumed by perpetually burning fires [2, 9]. This historical context transformed the Valley of Hinnom into a powerful image of everlasting destruction and a metaphor for the final place of judgment for the wicked [2, 9, 12]. Jesus himself used Gehenna in this sense [2, 9]. For instance, in Matthew 5:22, 30, and 23:15, Gehenna is explicitly linked to eternal punishment [7]. James 3:6 also refers to Gehenna as the source of evil speech, alluding to the devil as the ultimate source of evil [7].

The imagery associated with hell in the New Testament further emphasizes its nature as a place of severe judgment. It is described as "everlasting punishment" (Matthew 25:46), "everlasting fire" (Matthew 25:41), a "furnace of fire" (Matthew 13:42, 50), a "lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15), and characterized by "fire and brimstone" (Revelation 14:10) and "unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:12) [4]. The "fiery lake of burning sulfur" in Revelation provides a picture of eternal punishment, where God's enemies—including the beast, the false prophet, the dragon, death, and unsaved humans—are cast [5]. This imagery aligns with Old Testament descriptions of God's judgment, where "deepest darkness and wildfire" are associated with divine judgment (Exodus 9:23-24; 10:21-29; Deuteronomy 4:11; 5:22-23; Hebrews 12:18) [8].

While the Bible uses geographical references like the Valley of Hinnom to illustrate the concept of hell, these are primarily metaphorical rather than literal geological locations for the afterlife [2, 9, 12]. The focus is on the nature of the punishment and separation from God, rather than a specific physical coordinate. The idea of "destruction" is also linked to hell, with some interpretations connecting it to "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer [11]. All of the unseen world, including the state of the damned, is open to God [10, 11].

Therefore, Christian eschatology does not pinpoint a specific geological location for hell in the way one might locate a city on a map. Instead, it employs vivid imagery and historical references to convey the reality of eternal judgment and separation from God, primarily through the concepts represented by Sheol, Hades, and especially Gehenna [1, 2, 4, 7]. The descriptions serve to emphasize the severity and finality of divine judgment.

Sources

  1. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Hell — In the Old Testament this is the word generally and unfortunately used by our translators to render the Hebrew Sheol . It really means the place of the dead, the unseen world, without deciding whether it be the place of misery or of happiness. It is clear that in many passages of the Old Testament Sheol can only mean "the grave," and is rendered in the Authorized Version; see, for example, (Genesis 37:35; 42:38; 1 Samuel 2:6; Job 14:13) In other passages, however, it seems to Involve a notion of punishment, and is therefore rendered in the Authorized Version by”
  2. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gehenna — (originally Ge bene Hinnom; i.e., "the valley of the sons of Hinnom"), a deep, narrow glen to the south of Jerusalem, where the idolatrous Jews offered their children in sacrifice to Molech (2 Chr. 28:3; 33:6; Jer. 7:31; 19:2-6). This valley afterwards became the common receptacle for all the refuse of the city. Here the dead bodies of animals and of criminals, and all kinds of filth, were cast and consumed by fire kept always burning. It thus in process of time became the image of the place of everlasting destruction. In this sense it is used by our Lord i”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hell — Derived from the Saxon helan, to cover; hence the covered or the invisible place. In Scripture there are three words so rendered: (1.) Sheol, occurring in the Old Testament sixty-five times. This word sheol is derived from a root-word meaning "to ask," "demand;" hence insatiableness (Prov. 30:15, 16). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times (Gen. 37:35; 42:38; 44:29, 31; 1 Sam. 2:6, etc.). The Revisers have retained this rendering in the historical books with the original word in the margin, while in the poetical books they have reversed this rule. In thirty-o”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hell — The place of disembodied spirits -- Ac 2:31. Which Christ visited. -- Lu 23:43; Ac 2:31; 1Pe 3:19. Contains, a place of rest, Abraham's bosom. -- Lu 16:23. Paradise. -- Lu 23:43. And a place of torment. -- Lu 16:23. The place of future punishment Destruction from the presence of God. -- 2Th 1:9. Described as Everlasting punishment. -- Mt 25:46. Everlasting fire. -- Mt 25:41. Everlasting burnings. -- Isa 33:14. A furnace of fire. -- Mt 13:42,50. A lake of fire. -- Re 20:15. Fire and brimstone. -- Re 14:10. Unquenchable fire. -- Mt 3:12. Devouring fire. -- Isa 3”
  5. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 19:20: 19:20 beast . . . false prophet See 13:1-10. • The fiery lake of burning sulfur provides a picture of eternal punishment (see 20:10, 14-15; 21:8; see also Isa 66:24; Matt 13:41, 49-50; Mark 9:43, 48). • God’s enemies are thrown into the fiery lake. The two beasts (Rev 19:20) are followed by the dragon (20:10) and then by death (20:14) and unsaved humans (20:15).”
  6. Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 11:23: 11:23 the place of the dead: Greek Hades, which corresponds to the Hebrew term Sheol (see study note on Ps 6:5).”
  7. James (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on James 3:6: 3:6 It is a whole world of wickedness: The tongue acts as an agent of the whole unrighteous world opposed to God (1:27; 4:4). • hell itself: Greek Gehenna, the place of eternal punishment (Matt 5:22, 30; 23:15), in contrast to Hades, the abode of the dead (Luke 16:23; Acts 2:31). The reference to hell is an allusion to the devil (Jas 4:7; Matt 5:22; John 8:44) as the ultimate source of evil speech.”
  8. Job (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Job 20:26: 20:26 Images such as deepest darkness and wildfire are often associated with God’s presence (Deut 4:11; 5:22-23; Heb 12:18) and especially with his judgment (Exod 9:23-24; 10:21-29).”
  9. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 12:5: 12:5 hell (Greek Gehenna): The Valley of Hinnom was a ravine along the southwestern side of Jerusalem. It became a metaphor for hell because Israelites had offered their children as sacrifices there (Jer 32:35) and later used it as a place to burn garbage (Jer 19:2, 10-13). Jesus’ disciples should never be afraid of enemies who can only take away their life on earth. Instead, they should fear God, who can give eternal punishment.”
  10. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 15:11: Hell and destruction are before the Lord,.... Or "the grave" (a), which is the pit of destruction; where bodies being put, putrefy, and are destroyed by worms: this is known by the Lord, even the grave of everyone from the beginning; the graves of Adam, Abel, Abraham; he knows where their dust lies, and will raise it up again at the last day. Hades, or the invisible state of the departed, as the Septuagint has it, is manifest before him; he knows where departed spirits are; what their condition and employment be; and so the place and state of the damned, known by t”
  11. Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 15:11: Hell-- (Psa 16:10). destruction--or, "Abaddon," the place of the destroyer. All the unseen world is open to God, much more men's hearts.”
  12. Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 9:43: 9:43 hell: Greek Gehenna, referring to the Valley of Hinnom, which bordered Jerusalem on the southwest. It was a garbage dump for the city, and the continual burning of refuse there became a metaphor for the final place of judgment for the wicked. 9:43-48 Most of the best manuscripts do not include 9:44, 46, but a few include them. These two verses were almost certainly copied from 9:48 and were not in the original text of Mark.”
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