Bible Study: The Four "Hell" Words -- Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus ¶

Series¶

etc-05 in the etc series (The Final Fate of the Wicked)

Question¶

Semantic range of Sheol (H7585), Hades (G86), Gehenna (G1067), Tartaroo (G5020). Interchangeability? Does any inherently mean eternal torment? LXX translation patterns.

Prior Studies in Series¶

etc-01 (72 items), etc-02 (60 items), etc-03 (50 items), etc-04 (43 items). Total: 225 items.
Do NOT reference etc-01-what-is-man (deleted).

Discovered Scope¶

Topics Found (from naves_semantic.py)¶

Search 1: "sheol hades gehenna hell underworld" | Topic | Score | Key Verse References | |-------|-------|---------------------| | HADES | 0.78 | MAT 10:28; 11:23; 16:18; LUK 10:15; 16:23; ACT 2:27,31; REV 1:18; 6:8; 20:13,14 | | GEHENNA | 0.50 | (See HELL) | | TORMENTS | 0.45 | LUK 16:23-28; REV 14:10,11 | | SHEOL | 0.45 | (See HELL/Hades) | | PARADISE | 0.45 | LUK 23:43; 2CO 12:4; REV 2:7 |

Search 2: "tartarus pit punishment afterlife" | Topic | Score | Key Verse References | |-------|-------|---------------------| | ETERNAL PUNISHMENT | 0.64 | (See PUNISHMENT, ETERNAL) | | EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT | 0.56 | (See PUNISHMENT, ETERNAL) | | FUTURE PUNISHMENT | 0.51 | (See PUNISHMENT, ETERNAL) | | ETERNAL LIFE | 0.51 | (See LIFE EVERLASTING) | | PUNISHMENT | 0.47 | Extensive entry with death penalty, corporal, and future categories |

Study	Score	Question	Relevance
etc2-05-four-hell-words	0.709	English Bibles translate several different words as "hell."	Direct prior version
sheol-hades-gehenna-tartarus	0.699	Distinction between Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, Tartarus	Directly overlapping
etc4-05-four-hell-words	0.660	Same question	Prior version
etc-05-four-hell-words	0.647	Same question	Prior version
etc3-05-four-hell-words	0.639	Same question	Prior version

Nave's Full HELL Entry¶

(In the A. V. this word occurs in O. T. Scriptures, cited below, and is the translation of the Hebrew word "sheol," which signifies the unseen state) - In the R. V. of O. T. it appears only in ISA 5:14; 14:9,15; 28:15,18; 57:9; EZK 31:16,17; 32:21,27; AMO 9:2; JON 2:2; HAB 2:5 - In the R. V., "sheol" is translated "lowest pit" DEU 32:22; PSA 86:13 - And it is translated "pit" in PSA 55:15 - In the R. V. the word "Sheol" itself occurs in the following scriptures 2SA 22:6; JOB 11:8; 26:6; PSA 9:17; 16:10; 18:5; 116:3; 139:8; PRO 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:11,24; 23:14; 27:20 - Sheol is translated "grave" in A. V. in GEN 37:35; 42:38; 44:29,31; 1SA 2:6; 1KI 2:6; 9; JOB 7:9; 14:13; 17:13; 21:13; 24:19; PSA 6:5; 30:3; 31:17; 49:14,15; 88:3; 89:48; 141:7; PRO 1:12; 30:16; ECC 9:10; So 8:6; HOS 13:14 - In the R. V. the Greek word "gehenna" is translated "hell" in the following scriptures MAT 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; MRK 9:43,45,47; LUK 12:5; JAS 3:6 - The R. V. has introduced "Hades," the word found in the Greek text, which signifies the unseen world, in the following scriptures MAT 11:23; 16:18; LUK 10:15; 16:23; ACT 2:27,31; REV 1:18; 6:8; 20:13,14 - THE FUTURE HOME OF THE WICKED PSA 9:17; PRO 5:5; 9:13,15-18; 15:24; 23:13,14; ISA 30:33; 33:14; MAT 3:12; 5:29,30; 7:13,14; 8:11,12; 10:28; 13:30,38-42,49,50; 16:18; 18:8,9,34,35; 22:13; 25:28-30,41,46; MRK 9:43-48; LUK 3:17; 16:23-26,28; ACT 1:25; 2TH 1:9; 2PE 2:4; Jude 1:6-23; REV 2:11; 9:1,2; 11:7; 14:10,11; 19:20; 20:10,15; 21:8

Nave's Full HADES Entry¶

The unseen world, translated "hell" in A. V., but in the R. V. the word "Hades" is retained MAT 10:28; 11:23; 16:18; LUK 10:15; 16:23; ACT 2:27,31; REV 1:18; 6:8; 20:13,14
The realm (state) of the dead 2SA 22:6; JOB 26:5; PSA 6:5; 17:15; 30:9; 49:15; 86:13; 88:10-12; 115:17; 116:3; PRO 15:24; 21:16; 27:20; ECC 9:4-6; ISA 5:14; JON 2:2; LUK 23:42,43; JHN 8:22; 2CO 12:4

Nave's GEHENNA Entry¶

See HELL

Nave's SHEOL Entry¶

See HELL (Hades)

Nave's TORMENTS Entry¶

Of the wicked LUK 16:23-28; REV 14:10,11

Nave's Entries to Retrieve in Full (Research Agent)¶

HELL (full entry -- already above)
HADES (full entry -- already above)
PUNISHMENT, ETERNAL (referenced but not retrieved -- Research Agent must retrieve)
WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF (referenced -- Research Agent must retrieve full text)
HINNOM (Valley of Hinnom -- OT background for Gehenna)
TOPHET (related to Valley of Hinnom)
FURNACE (figurative: of hell -- MAL 4:1; MAT 13:42,50; REV 9:2)
DEATH, SECOND (REV 20:14)

Strong's Lookups¶

H7585: Sheol ¶

Word: שְׁאוֹל (shᵉ'owl)
Pronunciation: sheh-ole
Part of Speech: feminine noun
Definition: Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates -- grave, hell, pit.
Total occurrences: 67
BLB Count: 65
Translation distribution:
"to the grave" (10x, 14.9%)
"hell" (7x, 10.4%)
"of hell" (6x, 9.0%)
"in the grave" (6x, 9.0%)
"the grave" (4x, 6.0%)
"Hell" (4x, 6.0%)
"into hell" (4x, 6.0%)
"of the grave" (4x, 6.0%)
"to hell" (3x, 4.5%)
"into the pit" (2x, 3.0%)
"in hell" (2x, 3.0%)
"from hell" (2x, 3.0%)
Plus 13 other translations (1x each)

Verses translated "hell": Deu 32:22; Psa 86:13; Isa 5:14; Isa 14:15; Isa 28:15; Isa 28:18; Isa 57:9

Verses translated "the grave": Job 17:13; Job 24:19; Psa 30:3; Isa 38:18

Verses translated "to the grave": Gen 42:38; Gen 44:29; Gen 44:31; 1Sa 2:6; 1Ki 2:6; 1Ki 2:9; Job 7:9; Job 21:13; Isa 14:11; Eze 31:15

Verses translated "in the grave": Job 14:13; Psa 6:5; Psa 31:17; Psa 49:14 (2x); Ecc 9:10

G86: Hades ¶

Word: ᾅδης (haidēs)
Pronunciation: hah-dace
Part of Speech: proper locative noun
Definition: From alpha (negative particle) and eido; properly, unseen, i.e. "Hades" or the place (state) of departed souls.
Total occurrences: 11
BLB Count: 11
Translation distribution:
"hell" (7x, 63.6%)
"of hell" (2x, 18.2%)
"O grave" (1x, 9.1%)
"Hell" (1x, 9.1%)

Verses translated "hell": Mat 11:23; Luk 10:15; Luk 16:23; Act 2:27; Act 2:31; Rev 20:13; Rev 20:14

Verses translated "of hell": Mat 16:18; Rev 1:18

Verse translated "O grave": 1 Cor 15:55

G1067: Gehenna ¶

Word: γέεννα (geenna)
Pronunciation: gheh-en-nah
Part of Speech: feminine noun
Definition: Of Hebrew origin (gay + Hinnom); valley of (the son of) Hinnom; ge-henna (or Ge-Hinnom), a valley of Jerusalem, used figuratively as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting punishment.
Total occurrences: 11 (in KJV; BLB counts 12)
Translation distribution:
"hell" (9x, 81.8%)
"of hell" (2x, 18.2%)

Verses translated "hell": Mat 5:22; Mat 5:29; Mat 5:30; Mat 10:28; Mat 18:9; Mar 9:43; Mar 9:45; Mar 9:47; Luk 12:5

Verses translated "of hell": Mat 23:15; Mat 23:33

G5020: Tartaroo ¶

Word: ταρταρόω (tartaroō)
Pronunciation: tar-tar-o-oh
Part of Speech: verb
Definition: From Tartaros (the deepest abyss of Hades); to incarcerate in eternal torment.
Total occurrences: 1
Verse: 2 Pet 2:4 ("cast down to hell")

LXX Translation Map for H7585 (Sheol)¶

The LXX translates sheol using these Greek words (ranked by PMI-weighted score): | Greek Word | Strong's | Count | Score | Meaning | |-----------|----------|-------|-------|---------| | ᾅδης (haidēs) | G86 | 58 | 33.87 | Hades, unseen world | | κατάγω (katagō) | G2609 | 10 | 14.59 | to lead down | | καταβαίνω (katabainō) | G2597 | 17 | 13.15 | to descend | | θάνατος (thanatos) | G2288 | 14 | 11.98 | death | | γῆρας (gēras) | G1094 | 3 | 7.79 | old age | | ὠδίν (ōdin) | G5604 | 3 | 7.23 | a pang, throe | | ῥύομαι (rhyomai) | G4506 | 4 | 5.45 | to deliver | | ἀπώλεια (apōleia) | G684 | 3 | 5.44 | ruin, loss, destruction | | ψυχή (psychē) | G5590 | 9 | 5.29 | breath, soul |

Key finding: The LXX overwhelmingly translates sheol as hades (58 of ~65 instances), confirming semantic equivalence. The next most common translations involve descending/going down vocabulary, death, and destruction -- none involve torment vocabulary.

Hebrew Source Words for G86 (Hades)¶

Hebrew Word	Strong's	Count	Score	Meaning
שְׁאוֹל (shᵉ'owl)	H7585	58	33.87	Sheol, grave, pit
יָרַד (yarad)	H3381	27	15.89	to descend
מָוֶת (maveth)	H4194	17	15.33	death
שֵׂיבָה (seybah)	H7872	5	11.64	old age
בּוֹר (bowr)	H953	6	9.88	a pit, cistern
רָפָא (rapha')	H7496	3	9.72	shades, the deceased
יָגוֹן (yagown)	H3015	3	8.60	grief, sorrow
תַּחְתִּי (tachtiy)	H8482	3	7.99	lowermost, lowest

Key finding: G86 (hades) maps to H7585 (sheol) as its primary Hebrew source (58 instances, score 33.87 -- by far the dominant mapping). The associated vocabulary is descending, death, pit, shades (the deceased), lowest -- consistent with the unseen abode of all the dead, not specifically a place of torment.

Semantic Strong's Search: "hell underworld punishment fire"¶

Top results by semantic relevance: 1. H7585 (sheol) -- score 0.441 2. G929 (basanismos, "torment") -- score 0.421 3. G5020 (tartaroō) -- score 0.403 4. G2851 (kolasis, "punishment") -- score 0.379 5. G86 (hades) -- score 0.356

Verse References (Comprehensive)¶

A. SHEOL (H7585) -- All ~67 OT Occurrences¶

Research Agent MUST retrieve ALL of these from kjv.txt:

Sheol translated "grave": GEN 37:35; 42:38; 44:29,31; 1SA 2:6; 1KI 2:6,9; JOB 7:9; 14:13; 17:13; 21:13; 24:19; PSA 6:5; 30:3; 31:17; 49:14,15; 88:3; 89:48; 141:7; PRO 1:12; 30:16; ECC 9:10; SOS 8:6; HOS 13:14

Sheol translated "hell": DEU 32:22; PSA 9:17; 16:10; 18:5; 55:15; 86:13; 116:3; 139:8; PRO 5:5; 7:27; 9:18; 15:11,24; 23:14; 27:20; ISA 5:14; 14:9,15; 28:15,18; 57:9; EZK 31:16,17; 32:21,27; AMO 9:2; JON 2:2; HAB 2:5

Sheol translated "pit": PSA 55:15; NUM 16:30,33

Additional sheol from lexicon: 2SA 22:6; JOB 3:17-19; 10:21; 11:8; 16:22; 17:16; 21:23-26; 26:5,6; PSA 88:4,5; ISA 7:11; 26:19; 38:10,18; 57:1,2; EZK 16:10,11; 17:15; 31:15

B. HADES (G86) -- All 11 NT Occurrences¶

MAT 11:23; 16:18; LUK 10:15; 16:23; ACT 2:27,31; 1CO 15:55; REV 1:18; 6:8; 20:13,14

C. GEHENNA (G1067) -- All 12 NT Occurrences¶

MAT 5:22,29,30; 10:28; 18:9; 23:15,33; MRK 9:43,45,47; LUK 12:5; JAS 3:6

D. TARTAROO (G5020) -- 1 NT Occurrence¶

2PE 2:4 (with parallel Jude 1:6)

E. Valley of Hinnom OT Background¶

JOS 15:8; 18:16; 2KI 23:10; 2CH 28:3; 33:6; NEH 11:30; JER 7:31,32; 19:2,6; 32:35; ISA 30:33; 66:24

F. Lake of Fire References¶

REV 19:20; 20:10,14,15; 21:8

G. Key Destruction/Judgment Cross-References¶

MAT 25:41,46; MRK 9:43-48 (with ISA 66:24); 2TH 1:9; 2PE 2:4-9; Jude 1:6-7; REV 14:10,11

Key Findings from Prior etc- Study CONCLUSIONS¶

From etc-01 (What Is Man?): - Man became a living soul (Gen 2:7) -- holistic, not dualistic - Nephesh can die (Ezek 18:4,20) -- E016 - God can destroy both soul and body in gehenna (Matt 10:28) -- E028 - Thoughts perish at death (Ps 146:4) -- E011 - The dead know nothing (Ecc 9:5) -- E019 - 72 items total: 56 E, 9 N, 7 I

From etc-02 (Who Has Immortality?): - God alone has immortality (1 Tim 6:16) -- E024 - Immortality must be put on at resurrection (1 Cor 15:53-54) -- E026 - Wages of sin is death, gift of God is eternal life (Rom 6:23) -- E087 - No passage applies immortality to the human soul as inherent possession - 60 items total: 48 E, 6 N, 6 I

From etc-03 (Biblical Death): - Death reverses creation: dust to dust, spirit to God (Gen 3:19; Ecc 12:7) -- E005, E009 - The second death is the lake of fire (Rev 20:14; 21:8) -- E123, E124 - Same death vocabulary (maveth/mut, thanatos/apothnesko) used for physical, spiritual, and second death - The wicked shall be punished with everlasting destruction (2 Thess 1:9) -- E090 - 50 items total: 39 E, 6 N, 5 I

From etc-04 (State of the Dead): - At least 8 OT authors describe the dead as unconscious - Death = sleep by 7+ biblical authors - Being "with the Lord" is tied to resurrection, not death -- N018 - Sheol/hades is the common destination of all dead -- N019 - Hades is temporary (Rev 20:13-14) -- N020 - David has not ascended to heaven (Acts 2:34) -- E162 - Peter quotes Ps 16:10 (sheol) using hades, confirming equivalence -- E168 - Both righteous and wicked go to sheol -- E167 - God's presence reaches sheol (Ps 139:8) -- E169 - Deliverance from sheol equated with resurrection (Ps 16:10; 49:15; Hos 13:14) -- E170 - Isaiah 14:9-10 is a mashal (taunt-poem) using personification -- E171 - Luke 16:19-31 classified Neutral (parabolic genre, Gate 1 and Gate 3 fail) -- E155 - 43 items total (new): 31 E, 5 N, 7 I

Cumulative from etc-01 through etc-04: 225 items. Master evidence file contains E001-E174, N001-N021, I001-I030.

Focus Areas¶

(Derived from tool discoveries and prior study gaps)

Sheol (H7585) -- Comprehensive semantic range: All ~67 OT occurrences. KJV translates this single word as "hell," "grave," and "pit." RV introduced "Sheol" in many places. What does the translation pattern reveal? Who goes to sheol (righteous, wicked, or both)? What is described happening there? Is sheol EVER described as a place of torment in a didactic context? Prior study etc-04 already established sheol = unconsciousness, silence, darkness, no knowledge (N019). This study examines the WORD itself exhaustively.
Hades (G86) -- All 11 NT occurrences: The LXX translates sheol as hades in 58 of ~65 instances. Acts 2:27,31 directly demonstrates this equivalence (Peter quoting Ps 16:10). How does hades function in each NT passage? Special attention to Luke 16:23 (only hades text with torment -- already classified parabolic/Neutral in etc-04), Rev 20:13-14 (hades cast into lake of fire -- already noted as N020), Rev 1:18 (keys of hades and death), Matt 16:18 (gates of hades).
Gehenna (G1067) -- All 12 NT occurrences and OT background: Derived from Hebrew ge-hinnom (Valley of Hinnom). OT: site of child sacrifice (2 Ki 23:10; 2 Chr 28:3; 33:6; Jer 7:31; 32:35), prophetically cursed (Jer 7:32; 19:6). How does Jesus use gehenna? He says God can "destroy both soul and body in gehenna" (Matt 10:28 -- already E028). Mark 9:43-48 quotes Isa 66:24 (corpses, not living beings). Does gehenna vocabulary point to destruction or to ongoing torment?
Tartaroo (G5020) -- 2 Peter 2:4: Only NT occurrence. Applied to angels, not humans. Parallel in Jude 1:6. What is the relationship to Greek mythology? Does Peter borrow the term deliberately?
Interchangeability question: The KJV translates sheol, hades, gehenna, and tartaroo ALL as "hell." Are they interchangeable or do they describe different concepts? The evidence from prior studies and Strong's data suggests distinct concepts: sheol/hades = general abode of all dead (temporary); gehenna = eschatological fire/destruction (final); tartaroo = angel imprisonment.
Does any word inherently mean eternal torment? Examine the lexical definition, LXX patterns, OT background, and actual usage of each word. Strong's definition of G5020 includes "eternal torment" language -- is this definition derived from the text or from theological tradition?
LXX translation patterns: The LXX translates sheol as hades 58 times. The associated vocabulary is descending, death, pit, destruction, shades -- NOT torment. Does the LXX evidence support the idea that sheol/hades means "place of torment"?
Rev 20:13-14 -- Hades cast into the lake of fire: Hades and the lake of fire are demonstrably distinct (one is cast INTO the other). What does this mean for the claim that "hades = hell = eternal torment"?
Isaiah 66:24 and Mark 9:48: "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." Isaiah 66:24 describes CORPSES ("carcases of the men that have transgressed against me"). Jesus quotes this in a gehenna context. Does the OT source point to ongoing torment of conscious beings or to the unquenchable destruction of the dead?

Research Instructions¶

You are the Research Agent. Execute this study following the answer-question workflow.

Required Reading (BEFORE any research)¶

Read D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-series-methodology.md for the full investigative methodology and evidence classification framework
Read D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-master-evidence.md for all 225 existing evidence items
Read CONCLUSION.md from all four prior etc- studies:
D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-01-what-is-man/CONCLUSION.md
D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-02-who-has-immortality/CONCLUSION.md
D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-03-biblical-death/CONCLUSION.md
D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-04-state-of-the-dead/CONCLUSION.md
Do NOT reference etc-01-what-is-man (deleted).

Cross-Testament Parallels (MANDATORY)¶

Run BOTH --hybrid-ot AND --hybrid-nt for these key verses: - Matt 10:28 (destroy soul and body in gehenna) - Mark 9:43-48 (gehenna, worm, fire) - Luke 12:5 (fear him who can cast into gehenna) - Matt 25:41,46 (everlasting fire, everlasting punishment) - 2 Pet 2:4 (tartaroo, angels that sinned) - Rev 20:13-14 (hades cast into lake of fire) - Isa 66:24 (corpses, worm, fire) - Jer 7:31-32 (Valley of Hinnom curse) - Ps 9:17 (the wicked shall be turned into sheol) - Ps 16:10 (sheol/hades -- LXX connection, quoted in Acts 2:27)

Verse Retrieval (02-verses.md)¶

Retrieve EVERY verse containing sheol (H7585) -- all ~67 occurrences
Retrieve EVERY verse containing hades (G86) -- all 11 occurrences
Retrieve EVERY verse containing gehenna (G1067) -- all 12 occurrences
Retrieve 2 Peter 2:4 (tartaroo) and Jude 1:6 (parallel)
Retrieve all Valley of Hinnom OT references: JOS 15:8; 18:16; 2KI 23:10; 2CH 28:3; 33:6; NEH 11:30; JER 7:31,32; 19:2,6; 32:35; ISA 30:33; 66:24
Retrieve lake of fire references: REV 19:20; 20:10,14,15; 21:8
Retrieve Mark 9:43-48 with Isaiah 66:24 background

Word Studies (04-word-studies.md)¶

Core words: - H7585 (sheol) -- full lookup, lexicon, ALL verses, LXX map - G86 (hades) -- full lookup, lexicon, ALL verses, Hebrew source - G1067 (gehenna) -- full lookup, lexicon, ALL verses - G5020 (tartaroo) -- full lookup, lexicon, the one verse

Background words: - H2011 (Hinnom) -- the proper name - H1516 (gay/valley) -- "ge" in ge-hinnom - G3041 (limne) -- "lake" as in lake of fire

Supporting words: - H7496 (rapha/shades) -- inhabitants of sheol - G929 (basanismos/torment) -- Rev 14:10,11 - G928 (basanizo/to torment) -- torment verb - G2851 (kolasis/punishment) -- Matt 25:46 - G4663 (skolex/worm) -- Mark 9:48 - G4442 (pyr/fire) -- fire vocabulary - G166 (aionios/everlasting) -- duration vocabulary (cross-ref etc-08)

Topic Entries (01-topics.md)¶

Retrieve full Nave's entries for: - HELL - HADES - PUNISHMENT, ETERNAL - WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF - HINNOM - TOPHET - FURNACE (figurative section) - DEATH, SECOND - TORMENTS

Specific Research Questions to Answer¶

In how many of sheol's ~67 occurrences does the context describe torment or punishment? (vs. how many describe silence, darkness, unconsciousness, or simply the destination of all who die)
How many of hades' 11 NT occurrences describe conscious torment? (Answer from etc-04: only Luke 16:23, which is parabolic)
In gehenna passages, what does Jesus say happens to people? (Destroy: Matt 10:28. Fire: Matt 5:22; 18:9; Mark 9:43-48. Cast in: Luke 12:5. "Of hell": Matt 23:15,33. Tongue set on fire: Jas 3:6)
What is the OT background of gehenna in the Valley of Hinnom?
Is tartaroo ever applied to humans?
What does the LXX translation pattern (sheol -> hades 58x) tell us about the semantic range?
How does the KJV's uniform translation of all four words as "hell" obscure their distinct meanings?

Output Files¶

Write research files to D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-05-four-hell-words/: - 01-topics.md -- Nave's topics and full entries - 02-verses.md -- All verse texts retrieved with context - 04-word-studies.md -- Strong's research for all four key words plus related terms - 03-analysis.md -- Verse-by-verse analysis following methodology - CONCLUSION.md -- Evidence classification following etc-series-methodology.md

INVESTIGATIVE METHODOLOGY¶

INVESTIGATIVE METHODOLOGY:
- You are an investigator, not an advocate. Your job is to report what the evidence says.
- Gather evidence from ALL sides. If a passage is cited by ECT proponents, examine it honestly. If a passage is cited by conditionalists, examine it honestly.
- Do NOT assume your conclusion before examining the evidence.
- Do NOT state opinions. State what the text says. Do not use editorial characterizations like "genuine tension," "strongest argument," "most significant challenge," "honestly acknowledge," or "non-intuitive reading." Simply state what each passage says and what each side infers from it.
- When presenting findings, state: "The text says X" (explicit). Then state: "From this, Y interpretation infers Z" and "W interpretation infers V" (inferred).
- Never use language like "irrefutable," "obviously," or "clearly proves." Use "the text states," "this is consistent with."
- The conclusion should emerge FROM the evidence, not be imposed ON it.

Evidence Classification Requirements¶

Follow the full methodology in D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-series-methodology.md: - Trees 1-5 for classification - Tree 3 for every E-item classified as Conditionalist or ECT (full 4-gate documentation) - N-tier 3-question test for every N-item - I-B resolution protocol for every I-B inference - Read and update D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-master-evidence.md before writing tally - What CAN Be Said / What CANNOT Be Said sections

Workflow¶

answer-question

Scoped: 2026-02-20 Folder: D:/Bible/bible-studies/etc-05-four-hell-words/

These companion sites use the same tool-driven research methodology:

Site	Description
The Law of God	A 33-study investigation examining every major text, word, and argument about the moral law, ceremonial law, the Sabbath, and what continues under the New Covenant. 810 evidence items classified.
Genesis 6: The "Sons of God" Question	Who are the "sons of God" in Genesis 6:1-4? A 10-part report built on 28 supporting studies examines the angel view vs. the godly human view using explicit biblical evidence.
The Ten Commandments	A 17-study investigation of the Ten Commandments -- origin, meaning, Hebrew and Greek word studies, love and law, faith and obedience. 1,054 evidence items classified.
Bible Study Collection	Standalone Bible studies on various topics -- genealogies, prophecy, biblical history, and more. Each study is a self-contained investigation produced by the same three-agent pipeline.

Bible Study: The Four "Hell" Words -- Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, and Tartarus¶