Encyclopedia entry
Hades
That which is out of sight, a Greek word used to denote the state or place of the dead. All the dead alike go into this place. To be buried, to go down to the grave, to descend into hades, are equivalent expressions. In the LXX. this word is the usual rendering of the Hebrew sheol, the common receptacle of the departed (Gen. 42:38; Ps. 139:8; Hos. 13:14; Isa. 14:9). This term is of comparatively rare occurrence in the Greek New Testament. Our Lord speaks of Capernaum as being “brought down to hell” (hades), i.e., simply to the lowest debasement, (Matt. 11:23). It is contemplated as a kind of kingdom which could never overturn the foundation of Christ’s kingdom (16:18), i.e., Christ’s church can never die.
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In Luke 16:23 it is most distinctly associated with the doom and misery of the lost.
In Acts 2:27-31 Peter quotes the LXX. version of Ps. 16:8-11, plainly for the purpose of proving our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. David was left in the place of the dead, and his body saw corruption. Not so with Christ. According to ancient prophecy (Ps. 30:3) he was recalled to life.
Also from Smith's (1884) +−
in Revised Version. [See Hell]
In the Bible
10
Verses where Hades is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- Acts 2:27
because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.
- Acts 2:31
Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
- Luke 10:15
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!
- Luke 16:23
In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.
- Matthew 11:23
And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.
- Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
+4 more verses naming Hades.
Scripture on Hades
14
Voices on Hades
5
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
![Search the Scriptures Live - The Descent Into Hades [Matthew #114]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/oHcLCu85Wb8/hqdefault.jpg)
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897) · Smith's Bible Dictionary (1884)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.