10 Different Locations Of Hell Explained

There are ten different words or phrases used in Scripture to represent hell, and each has its own distinct meaning and place. The words are as follows:

Sheol
Hades
Pit
Gehenna
Lake of Fire
Tophet
Outer Darkness
Abyss
Bottomless Pit
Tartarus

1. Sheol

Sheol is the Hebrew word for the current hell. The meaning of the word in Strong’s Concordance is “realm of death.” This is the location where people exist now who never put their trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation.

The word Sheol is used sixty-one times in the Old Testament. In the King James Version, it is translated as hell thirty-one times and grave thirty times. However, in those thirty instances, the word grave should also be translated as hell, because the original Hebrew word is Sheol. Therefore, all sixty-one occurrences refer to Sheol.

The Hebrew word for grave is Qeber, which means a burial site. Sheol should not be used as a synonym for grave. A grave is a private place for one individual, whereas Sheol is a public place for many. Sheol means “realm of death” or “world of the dead.”

In the Old Testament, Sheol held both the righteous and the wicked. It was divided by a great gulf or chasm in the earth. In Luke chapter 16, the rich man was on the torment side, while Abraham and Lazarus were in Abraham’s Bosom, the place of comfort.

After Jesus rose from the dead, He took those who were in Abraham’s Bosom and brought them to Heaven (Matthew 27:52–53; Ephesians 4:8–9). Now, only the torment side of Hades exists deep within the earth.

It is interesting that when Jesus arose from the dead, an astonishing event occurred:

Matthew 27:52–53 says, “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”

Many who had previously died were raised at the time of Jesus’ resurrection. They were given physical bodies that could be seen by others in the city. Some scholars believe these were the “firstfruits,” those who were in Abraham’s Bosom, presented to the Father. Jesus likely took them to Heaven when He ascended, as stated in Ephesians 4:8–9.

All who believed in the one true God prior to the Resurrection were in Abraham’s Bosom.

Another individual mentioned as being in Abraham’s Bosom appears in First Samuel 28:13–15. King Saul went to the witch of Endor to summon the prophet Samuel, who had previously died. Samuel was alive in the comfort side of Sheol, or Abraham’s Bosom. The passage states, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.” Saul then asked, “What is his form?” She replied, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” Saul perceived that it was Samuel.

Samuel was ascending out of the earth from Abraham’s Bosom, as God allowed this unusual event. It had nothing to do with the witch’s power, but was an act of God for reasons not addressed here.

2. Hades

Hades is the Greek word for the current hell and is synonymous with Sheol. Its meaning in Strong’s Concordance is “place of the dead” or “the underworld.” The location of hell is in the lower parts of the earth (Ezekiel 26:20; Numbers 16:32–33).

This is where the rich man exists, as Jesus described in Luke chapter 16. This is also where every unbeliever exists today, experiencing torment while awaiting Judgment Day.

3. Pit

In the Old Testament, there are thirteen different Hebrew words translated as pit. Five of these are used to represent the current hell: Sheol, Bowr, Shachat, Beer, and Mahamoroth.

Each word reflects a different aspect of hell, such as a place of departed spirits, slime pit, dungeon, well, shaft, miry pit, corruption, and decay. The word pit is used thirty-nine times in the Old Testament to represent hell.

4. Gehenna

Gehenna is the Greek word derived from the Hebrew phrase “Valley of Hinnom.” Jesus used this word eleven times to describe hell, and James used it once (James 3:6).

This refers to the future hell, the Lake of Fire, where people will go after Judgment Day.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary describes the Valley of Hinnom as follows:

“Hell, the place of eternal punishment for the unrighteous… Hell also translates Gehenna, the Greek form of the Hebrew phrase meaning ‘Valley of Hinnom.’ In the time of Jesus, the Valley of Hinnom was used as the garbage dump of Jerusalem. Into it were thrown the filth and refuse of the city, including dead animals and executed criminals. Fires burned continually to consume the waste. Maggots thrived in the filth. When the wind blew toward the city, the stench was unmistakable. At night, wild dogs fought over the garbage. Jesus used this horrific scene as a symbol of hell.”

5. Lake of Fire

The Lake of Fire is mentioned in Revelation 19:20; 20:10; 20:14–15; and 21:8.

This is the future hell that follows Judgment Day. No one occupies it at the present time. Revelation 19:20 states that the beast and the false prophet will be its first occupants at the end of the Tribulation. Revelation 20:10 confirms that they remain there after the one-thousand-year Millennium.

All who are cast into hell will remain there forever (Revelation 14:10–11; Matthew 25:41, 46; Second Thessalonians 1:8–9).

Revelation 20:12–15 states that all inhabitants of the current hell will be cast into the Lake of Fire at Judgment Day. In addition, Satan himself will be cast into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10).

6. Tophet

Tophet is a specific location within the Valley of Hinnom. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary describes it as “a place southeast of Jerusalem in the Valley of Hinnom where child sacrifices were offered and where dead bodies were burned or consumed.”

7. Outer Darkness

Jesus mentioned “outer darkness” three times, describing it as a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30).

This term may represent hell’s location after Judgment Day, which may no longer be within the earth but possibly in deep space. Revelation 20:14 states, “Death and Hades were cast into the Lake of Fire.” If the current hell were to remain within the earth after Judgment Day, it would not need to be cast into the Lake of Fire. This suggests the Lake of Fire is a separate location, possibly indicated by the phrase outer darkness.

8. Abys

The Greek word Abyssos means “deep place, underworld, abode of the dead and demons, unfathomable depth,” according to Strong’s Concordance. This is a place designated for demons.

In Luke 8:31, demons begged Jesus not to command them to go into the Abyss. The same Greek word Abyssos appears in the book of Revelation seven times, translated as “bottomless pit.” Therefore, the Abyss and the Bottomless Pit are synonymous.

9. Bottomless Pit

The phrase bottomless pit is used seven times in the book of Revelation. Additionally, the word pit appears twice, all referring to a holding place for demons.

The New Testament Greek word for pit is Phrear, meaning “well, shaft, abyss, or bottomless pit.” Some ask how a pit can have no bottom if it is located in the earth.

Dr. Chuck Missler suggested that it may be located at the center of the earth, where there is no bottom because all directions are up. This is an interesting observation.

Revelation 11:7 and 17:8 state that the demon who possesses the Antichrist arises from the Bottomless Pit. Revelation 20:2 explains that Satan will be bound in the Bottomless Pit for one thousand years at the end of the Tribulation.

10. Tartarus

Second Peter 2:4 states, “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell (Tartarus), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment…”

This word appears only once in the Bible. The Greek word Tartaroo means “a place of torture and torment lower than Hades,” according to Strong’s Concordance, and is used in Greek and Jewish literature.

This refers to the place where rebellious angels who abandoned their original estate took on physical form, had relations with women, and produced offspring described as giants. This rebellion occurred prior to the flood of Noah (Genesis 6:4) and is also referenced in Jude 6–7.

This is a unique place reserved specifically for those fallen angels.

Sheol, Hades, and the Pit mentioned in the Old Testament all represent the place where unbelievers currently exist.

Gehenna, the Lake of Fire, and Outer Darkness represent the future hell following the Great White Throne Judgment. Satan, and likely his demons, will be cast into the Lake of Fire, as stated in Revelation 20:10.

The Abyss, Bottomless Pit, and Tartarus represent locations where demons are currently confined, possibly with different classifications of fallen angels assigned to each.

I hope this teaching has brought clarity regarding the differences and meanings of these terms. God’s desire is that people turn from sin, seek forgiveness, and place their trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Those who do so will never experience any of these horrific places.