Gehenna

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ɡɪˈhɛnə/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(gi hen′ə)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
Ge•hen•na  (gi hen′ə),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Biblethe valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, where propitiatory sacrifices were made to Moloch. II Kings 23:10.
  2. Biblehell (def. 1).
  3. any place of extreme torment or suffering.
  • Hebrew Gē-Hinnōm hell, short for gē ben Hinnōm literally, valley of the son of Hinnom
  • Greek Géenna
  • Late Latin

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Gehenna /ɡɪˈhɛnə/ n
  1. the valley below Jerusalem, where children were sacrificed and where idolatry was practised (II Kings 23:10; Jeremiah 19:6) and where later offal and refuse were slowly burned
  2. a place where the wicked are punished after death
  3. a place or state of pain and torment
Etymology: 16th Century: from Late Latin, from Greek Geena, from Hebrew Gê' Hinnōm, literally: valley of Hinnom, symbolic of hell
'Gehenna' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Abaddon - hell

Forum discussions with the word(s) "Gehenna" in the title:


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