Biblical Word Etymology
The Etymology of “Gehenna”
The biblical word “Gehenna” traces back to Hebrew / Greek (גֵּי־הִנּוֹם (Gei-Hinnom) / γέεννα (geenna)), where it meant “The Valley of Hinnom; a place of judgment and destruction; hell”. Across 3eras it evolved into the modern sense: “Hell; a place of punishment; a state of misery and destruction”.
How the Meaning Evolved
Ancient Hebrew/Greek
Hebrew / Greekגֵּי־הִנּוֹם (Gei-Hinnom) / γέεννα (geenna)The Valley of Hinnom; a place of judgment and destruction; hell
Hebrew gei-hinnom (H1516, the valley of Hinnom) near Jerusalem, historically a place of pagan sacrifice. Jesus used Gehenna as a metaphor for judgment and destruction in the NT.
Medieval Latin / Church
Greek via Latin ecclesiastical traditionGehennaThe place of eternal punishment and fiery judgment; hell
Medieval theology established Gehenna as the distinct theological term for hell, a place of fire and torment, rooted in Christ's teaching. Differentiated from Hades/Sheol.
Modern English
EnglishGehennaHell; a place of punishment; a state of misery and destruction
Via Greek geenna from Hebrew Gei-Hinnom. Modern biblical usage retains the NT sense of a place of judgment and punishment, distinct from Sheol or Hades.