5 occurrences in 5 dictionaries

Reference: Gehenna

American

See HINNOM.

Easton

(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 (2Ch 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 in Mt 5:22,29-30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; Mr 9:43,45,47; Lu 12:5. In these passages, and also in Jas 3:6, the word is uniformly rendered "hell," the Revised Version placing "Gehenna" in the margin. (See Hell; Hinnom.)

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Hastings

A word derived from Ge-Hinnom, the valley on the west of Jerusalem. In this valley it is possible that Molech and Tammuz were worshipped (2Ki 23:18; 2Ch 28:3; 33:6; Jer 7:31; 32:35). The recollection of this terrible worship gave to the valley a sinister character, and led to its being defiled by Josiah (2Ki 23:6,10), for the purpose of preventing these rites. Thereafter it became the place for the burning of the refuse of the city, along with dead animals and the bodies of criminals. It was natural, therefore, that the name should become a synonym of hell (cf. Mt 5:29; 10:28). In its eschatological force Gehenna was the place of punishment. It generally was conceived of as being under the earth, but it was very much vaster in extent than the earth. It was believed to be filled with fire intended for the punishment of sinners, who apparently went there immediately after death. Late Rabbinic thought would seem to imply that men who are neither great saints nor great sinners might be purified by the fire of Gehenna. Only those who had committed adultery or shamed or slandered their neighbours were believed to be hopelessly condemned to its fires, while the Jews were not to be permanently injured by them. According to the later belief, Gehenna was to be destroyed at the final consummation of the age. There is no clear evidence that Gehenna was regarded as a place for the annihilation of the wicked, although there are some passages which give a certain support to this opinion. No systematic eschatological statement has, however, been preserved for us from Jewish times, much less one which may be said to represent a general consensus of opinion. The NT writers employ the word in its general force as a synonym for the idea of endless punishment for sinners, as over against 'heaven'

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Morish

Gehen'na

See HELL.

Smith

Gehen'na.

[HINNOM]

See Hinnom