📖 Biblical Definition
Gehenna is Christ’s primary term for the place of final, eternal punishment — drawn from the Hebrew Gei-Hinnom, the Valley of Hinnom on the southwest of Jerusalem. The valley was infamous for the child sacrifices of Molech-worship under Ahaz and Manasseh (2 Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:6) and later became a smouldering refuse dump — fire that did not go out. Jesus used the word twelve times: "the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" (Mark 9:43-48; cf. Matthew 5:22, 29-30; 10:28; 23:33). It is final, conscious, eternal punishment, fearfully real. Christ alone preached it more often than anyone in Scripture; we cannot soften what He left so plain.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Christ's term for the place of final punishment.
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The term Jesus uses for the place of final eternal punishment, drawn from the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem — historically the site of idolatrous child sacrifice to Molech and later a continually smouldering refuse pit — appearing in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and James.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 5:22 — "Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire (geenna)."
Matthew 10:28 — "Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (geenna)."
Mark 9:43 — "If thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell (geenna)."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Diluted by 'hell' translations that conflate it with hades, missing how specifically Christ uses it for the final lake of fire.
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Jesus speaks more about Gehenna than anyone else in Scripture. The valley where children were burned to Molech becomes the figure for final judgment. Whatever softer doctrines tempt us, Christ's vocabulary stands. Read the Gehenna sayings sober.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Gei-Hinnom — Valley of Hinnom.
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['Greek', 'G1067', 'Geenna', 'Gehenna']
['Hebrew', 'H2011', 'Hinnom', 'Hinnom (valley)']
Usage
"Heed Christ's Gehenna sayings."
"Distinguish Gehenna (final) from Hades (intermediate)."