Hell

derived from the Saxon helan, to cover; hence the covered or the invisible place. In Scripture there are three words so rendered:

(1.) Sheol, occurring in the Old Testament sixty-five times. This word sheol is derived from a root-word meaning "to ask," "demand;" hence insatiableness (Prov 30:15 ; 30:16). It is rendered "grave" thirty-one times (Gen 37:35 ; 42:38; 44:29; 44:31; 1Sam 2:6 ), etc. The Revisers have retained this rendering in the historical books with the original word in the margin, while in the poetical books they have reversed this rule.

In thirty-one cases in the Authorized Version this word is rendered "hell," the place of disembodied spirits. The inhabitants of sheol are "the congregation of the dead" (Prov 21:16 ).

It is

(a) the abode of the wicked (Num 16:33 ; Job 24:19 ; Ps 9:17 ; 31:17), etc.;

(b) of the good (Ps 16:10 ; 30:3; 49:15; 86:13), etc.

Sheol is described as deep (Job 11:8 ), dark (Job 10:21 ; 10:22), with bars (Job 17:16 ). The dead "go down" to it (Num 16:30 ; 16:33; Ezek 31:15 ; 31:16; 31:17).

(2.) The Greek word hades of the New Testament has the same scope of signification as sheol of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1Pet 3:19 ), with gates and bars and locks (Matt 16:18 ; Rev 1:18 ), and it is downward (Matt 11:23 ; Luke 10:15 ).

The righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of hades called paradise (Luke 23:43 ). They are also said to be in Abraham's bosom (Luke 16:22 ).

(3.) Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost (Matt 23:33 ). The fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions (Matt 8:12 ; 13:42; 22:13; 25:30; Luke 16:24 ), etc. (See HINNOM)

EBD - Easton's Bible Dictionary