by Magdalena Kessy | 2 October 2019 08:46 am10
The word Hell in the New Testament is often translated from the Greek word Gehenna, which itself is derived from the Hebrew term Ge-Hinnom—meaning Valley of the Son of Hinnom. This was a real valley located south of ancient Jerusalem. Historically, it was a site of detestable pagan worship where people, including the Israelites at times, sacrificed their children in fire to false gods like Molech.
This horrific practice was so offensive to God that He declared judgment on the people of Judah and allowed their captivity by Babylon as a consequence (Jeremiah 7:30-34).
In the Old Testament, the Valley of Hinnom became a symbol of rebellion against God and divine punishment:
Jeremiah 7:30-31 (NIV):
“The people of Judah have done evil in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols in the house that bears my Name and have defiled it. They have built the high places of Topheth in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.”
This act was not only disobedience but spiritual treason. The valley, originally used for child sacrifice, was eventually desecrated by King Josiah, who turned it into a place no longer fit for religious rituals:
2 Kings 23:10 (NIV):
“He desecrated Topheth, which was in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so no one could use it to sacrifice their son or daughter in the fire to Molek.”
Eventually, the valley became a garbage dump where the city’s waste—including carcasses and even the bodies of criminals—was burned. Fires were kept continually burning, and unquenchable smoke and stench rose from it. This became a vivid image of God’s judgment in Jewish thought.
In the New Testament, Jesus often referred to Gehenna when warning about final judgment and eternal separation from God. He used the physical characteristics of the Valley of Hinnom—fire, worms, filth, and destruction—as symbols of what awaits those who die in sin.
Mark 9:43-48 (NIV):
“If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. […] where ‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.’”
This passage echoes Isaiah 66:24, which also describes divine judgment with undying worms and unquenchable fire. Jesus’ language is symbolic but not merely poetic—He is underscoring the eternal consequence of rejecting God’s grace.
Gehenna became a metaphor for the final destination of the wicked—a place of separation from God, suffering, and eternal regret.
Jesus warned about hell not to scare people into obedience, but to show the gravity of sin and the beauty of salvation. His desire is for people to turn to Him, receive forgiveness, and live in eternal fellowship with God.
If you’ve never made a decision to follow Christ, the invitation is open. Jesus died to save us from sin and its consequences—including hell.
John 3:16 (NIV):
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Repent, believe in the Gospel, and receive Christ. In Him, you’ll find eternal life, peace, and hope. Hell is real—but so is salvation, and it’s offered freely by grace through faith.
Be Blessed, and Share the Good News.
If this message has touched you, consider sharing it with others. You might be the reason someone escapes destruction and finds eternal life.
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