In the previous blog post, we saw that the Hebrew sheol and the Greek hades are synonymous terms. If we compare the meanings of the terms, we see that in death there is no consciousness, no knowledge, no deliberation, and that death is an invisible “place.”
Translations
The word hades appears ten times in the New Testament and is only (consistently) translated as hell in the Statenvertaling (State Bible). The Revised Statenvertaling (HSV) renders the word in three different ways: hell, realm of the dead, and grave. The NBG and NBV all translate as realm of the dead. Here, too, we find a significant difference between the various translations, because it makes quite a difference whether we say: my grandmother is in the realm of the dead, or whether we say: my grandmother is in hell.
Untranslated
It is noteworthy that the Telos translation leaves the word untranslated. In the footnote to the first occurrence of the word (Matt. 11:23), it is stated that it corresponds to sheol and that the word should be distinguished from Gehenna.
Death and Hades
In Revelation, we encounter the phrase “death and Hades” four times (1:18; 6:8; 20:13, 14). This could be interpreted as a hendiadys, a figure of speech in which one means one thing but says it with two words. The word “and” can then be read as “namely.” Death and Hades are not synonyms, but are connected because they are linked. Death is the state that occurs when life ends; with hades, we think of the people who are dead.
At the Great White Throne Judgment, we read that the dead are raised for that occasion to be judged.
Revelation 20
13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each according to their works.
14 And death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
15 And if anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
Verse 14 states that death and hades are cast into the lake of fire, which is the second death. This means that death continues in the lake of fire, hence its name: the second death.
The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
Regarding the concept of Hades, it should be noted that we also encounter this concept in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. Contrary to what we read in the Tanakh about the dead, this parable reveals that there is deliberation in Hades. It also mentions emotions and pain, as well as eyes, fingers, etc.
not Listening to Moses and the prophets
The Lord spoke this parable to the leaders of the Jewish people to make it clear to them that they were not listening to “Moses and the prophets.” It is not a representation of reality, but a narrative in which the Lord mocks the myths and human traditions taught by the Pharisees and Scribes. In the series What is Death? We discussed this parable. See the links below.
The rich man and Lazarus (1)
The rich man and Lazarus (2)
The rich man and Lazarus (3)