Gehenna (Matt. 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5.)

(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 (2 Chr. 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 Matt. 5:22, 29, 30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 12:5. In these passages, and also in James 3:6, the word is uniformly rendered "hell," the Revised Version placing "Gehenna" in the margin. (See HELL; HINNOM.)

1. GEHENNA (Matthew 5:20, Mk 9:42-47; Mt 18:9, Mt 10:28; Lk 12:5; Mt 23:15,33)
In the New Testament it refers to the place of torment of the ungodly. Valley of Hinnom on the Southwest side of Jerusalem. A place where historically people sacrificed humans to ghe god Molech. Later it was the scene of a rubbish heap for burning refuse. Thus it became known as the place of final judgement of God against the ungodly. (See Isaiah 30:33, 66:240) There was a distinction in Jewish thought between Hades and Gehenna. Hades was the place of waiting between death and the resurrection and Gehenna was the place of eternal punishment. Jesus referred to it often in his preaching (Matthew 5:22,29-30; 10:28; 23:15,33; 28:9; Lk 12:5; Lk 16:28 (see James 3:6)

Gehenna - 1067 geenna gheh'-en-nah
of Hebrew origin Mnh-ayq, 01516 and 02011; TDNT-1:657,113; n f AV-hell 9, hell fire+3588 +4442 3; 12 1) Hell is the place of the future punishment call "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire". This was originally the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, where the filth and dead animals of the city were cast out and burned; a fit symbol of the wicked and their future destruction.