Gehenna – What is it?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Gehenna, derived from the "Valley of the Son of Hinnom" near Jerusalem, was a site of child sacrifices. Jesus used Gehenna in the New Testament to illustrate hell, portraying it as a place of torment and separation from God. Today, Gehenna serves as a warning about the consequences of rejecting Christ and living without moral integrity, urging us to seek salvation and live according to Christ to avoid the realities of hell, or Gehenna.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The literal word Gehenna refers to a geographic location. Gehenna is the Greek form of the Hebrew word ge-hinnom, or the "Valley of the Son of Hinnom." This valley, south of Jerusalem, was a place where Israelites once sacrificed their children to the Canaanite god Molech (2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; 19:2–6). In Isaiah 30:33 we see this same place called "Topheth" (translated as "a burning place" in the ESV).
• God's hatred of Molech and the worship practices associated with him compelled God to warn the Israelites that judgment would come upon them if they turned their hearts to worship the false god (Leviticus 18:21). God said the valley would no longer be called "Topheth" or the "Valley of the Son of Hinnom" but "the Valley of Slaughter" (Jeremiah 7; 19).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Jesus used Gehenna as an illustration of what hell would be like (Matthew 10:28; Mark 9:47–48).
• Mark 9:43–48 reads: "And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.'" Hell, then, is described as a place of torment with some severe descriptions.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Gehenna is used to describe hell in the New Testament because of its historical association with moral degradation. For us, Gehenna serves as a poignant warning about the consequences of our actions and the importance of living for Christ. Just as Gehenna was a place of perpetual burning and decay, hell is depicted as a state of eternal separation from God, filled with torment and despair. All who reject the reality and implications of Christ’s death on the cross and subsequent resurrection, refusing to receive the forgiveness available to all who turn to Him in trust, will face eternity in hell. The vivid imagery of Gehenna reminds us of the ultimate destination we would want to avoid. We can avoid this destination by finding salvation in Christ and living according to His ways. Gehenna urges us to consider what we are living for.

UNDERSTAND

• Gehenna refers to the "Valley of the Son of Hinnom," located south of Jerusalem.
• This valley was once used for child sacrifices to the Canaanite god Molech; God condemned such practices.
• Jesus used Gehenna as an illustration of hell, describing it as a place of unquenchable fire and torment.

REFLECT

• How does the historical background of Gehenna impact your understanding of Jesus' teachings about hell?
• In what ways do you see Gehenna serving as a warning about the consequences of moral degradation and rejecting God's ways in your own life?
• Reflect on Jesus' description of Gehenna as a place of unquenchable fire and torment. What does this evoke in you about the concept of hell?

ENGAGE

• Some scholars argue that God never intended Gehenna to be used as the image for hell. They argue that the valley was rejected because of what occurred there but that it is not an image of torment. Instead, they argue that Jesus taught annihilation, not torment, for those who rejected Him. We do not adhere do annihilationism , and Jesus specifically references Gehenna to refer to hell for a reason.
• Some people claim that Gehenna was a place where trash was burned. If trash was indeed burned in Gehenna, it was not until much later, as in the thirteenth century. Still, the place was known for the burning of children to Molech. We need to be careful to let Scripture speak for itself and not exaggerate statements that we don’t have evidence for. There is sufficient information in what we do know about Gehenna and how Jesus used it.
• How does the Old Testament understanding of Gehenna as a place of child sacrifice inform our understanding of Jesus' teachings about hell in the New Testament?