The Origin and Meaning of Gehenna in the Bible

Описание: Jesus Christ uses the word “Gehenna” to describe a place of punishment after death. It has come to be used as another word for hell.

Jesus used the phrase frequently, but here are some specific examples of what he said:

“. . . will be liable to fiery Gehenna.” (Matthew 5:22)
“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna” (Matthew 5:29)
“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.” (Mark 9:43)
“Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one." (Luke 12:5)

In these cases Jesus describes a place where bodies and souls are destroyed (Matthew) in an unquenchable fire (Mark).

The word Gehenna is a Greek version of the Hebrew word referring to the Valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem.

The place has a tragic history. It is the location where the kings of Judah who turned away from God to worship false gods in terrible ways including the religious sacrifice of their own children by fire. It was cursed by the Lord through the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer 19:2-5). God renamed it in this prophecy not the Valley of Ben Hinnom but the Valley of Slaughter.

The word, therefore, came to more generally refer to a place of divine punishment, hence Jesus’s use of the term Gehenna.

The connection is interesting. Gehenna is the place where God’s own children will suffer the pain of fire not as a sacrifice but as a consequence for their own sins.

SUBSCRIBE for more Catholic videos: http://www.youtube.com/subscription_c...

CONNECT WITH THE RELIGION TEACHER:
-- Facebook:   / thereligionteacher  
-- Twitter:   / religionteacher  
-- Pinterest:   / religionteacher  

CONNECT WITH JARED:
-- Instagram:   / jareddees  
-- Twitter:   / jareddees  
-- LinkedIn:   / jareddees  

ARE YOU A RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR? CHECK OUT THESE RESOURCES:

-- Activities: https://www.thereligionteacher.com/re...
-- Popular Lesson Plans: https://www.thereligionteacher.com/ca...
-- The Religion Teacher's Guide to Lesson Planning: https://www.thereligionteacher.com/gu...
-- BECOME A MEMBER: Access hundreds of printable worksheets, class videos, and online courses here: https://members.thereligionteacher.co...