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Webster 1913 Edition

Gehenna

Ge-hen′na

(gē̍-hĕn′nȧ)
,
p
rop.
Noun.
[L.
Gehenna
, Gr.
Γέεννα
, Heb.
Gē Hinnōm
.]
(Jewish Hist.)
The valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, where some of the Israelites sacrificed their children to Moloch, which, on this account, was afterward regarded as a place of abomination, and made a receptacle for all the refuse of the city, perpetual fires being kept up in order to prevent pestilential effluvia. In the New Testament the name is transferred, by an easy metaphor, to
Hell
.
The pleasant valley of Hinnom. Tophet thence
And black
Gehenna
called, the type of Hell.
Milton.

Webster 1828 Edition

Gehenna

GEHEN'NA

,
Noun.
[Heb. ge-hinom, the valley of Hinom, in which was Tophet, where the Israelites sacrificed their children to Moloch. 2 Kings 23.10.]
This word has been used by the Jews as equivalent to hell, place of fire or torment and punishment, and the Greek word is rendered by our translators by hell and hell-fire. Matt.18.9. 23.15.

Definition 2024

Gehenna

Gehenna

See also: gehenna

English

Proper noun

Gehenna

  1. In Judaism and the New Testament the place where some or all spirits are believed to go after death.
  2. one of various hells in Abrahamic religions, being the **** into which sinners are cast after judgment for eternal suffering
  3. depending on interpretation of religious texts, one of various names for just one ****
  4. a place of suffering and misery

Quotations

  • Matthew 23:33 – "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of Gehenna?”

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • (Christianity, uncountable): heaven

Translations

Czech

Alternative forms

Proper noun

Gehenna f

  1. Gehenna (one of various hells in Abrahamic religions)

Portuguese

Proper noun

Gehenna f

  1. Alternative spelling of Geena

gehenna

gehenna

See also: Gehenna

English

Noun

gehenna ‎(plural gehennas)

  1. Alternative letter-case form of Gehenna

Czech

Alternative forms

Proper noun

gehenna f

  1. gehenna (one of various hells in Abrahamic religions)

Latin

Etymology

From the Ancient Greek γέεννᾰ ‎(géenna), from the Hebrew גֵּיהִנּוֹם ‎(ge'henom).

Pronunciation

Noun

gehenna f ‎(genitive gehennae); first declension

  1. the Hinnom Valley (a valley near Jerusalem where children were immolated for Moloch)
  2. (transferred sense) Gehenna, ****
    • AD 382–4, Biblia Vulgata, Matth. 5:22:
      Ego autem dico vobis quia omnis qui irascitur fratri suo reus erit iudicio qui autem dixerit fratri suo racha reus erit concilio qui autem dixerit fatue reus erit gehennae ignis.
      But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. ― World English Bible translation

Declension

First declension, with locative.

Case Singular Plural
nominative gehenna gehennae
genitive gehennae gehennārum
dative gehennae gehennīs
accusative gehennam gehennās
ablative gehennā gehennīs
vocative gehenna gehennae
locative gehennae gehennīs

Derived terms

  • gehennālis

References

Etymology

From ecclesiastical Latin gehenna, from Ancient Greek γέεννα ‎(géenna), from Hebrew גֵּיהִנּוֹם ‎(ge'henom, “****, literally valley of Hinnom”).

Thought to be named after the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem, which was constantly filled with the waste of the city, which was then burnt. Heinous deeds are also associated with this valley, as during the time when Jerusalem was ruled by non-Jews (referred to in scriptures simply as 'pagans') child sacrifice was practiced there.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɡəˈhenə/

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