1 – Sheol, occurring in the Old Testament sixty-five times. This word Sheol is derived from a root-word meaning “to ask,” “demand;” hence insatiableness (Prov. 30:15, 16). It is rendered “grave” thirty-one times (Gen. 37:35; 42:38; 44:29, 31; 1 Sam. 2:6, etc.). The Revisers have retained this rendering in the historical books with the original word in the margin, while in the poetical books they have reversed this rule.
In thirty-one cases in the Authorized Version this word is rendered “ hell ” the place of disembodied spirits. The inhabitants of Sheol are “the congregation of the dead” (Prov. 21:16). It is (a) the abode of the wicked (Num. 16:33; Job 24:19; Ps. 9:17; 31:17, etc.); (b) of the good (Ps. 16:10; 30:3; 49:15; 86:13, etc.).
Sheol is described as deep (Job 11:8), dark (Job 10:21, 22), with bars (Job 17:16). The dead “go down” to it (Num. 16:30, 33; Ezek. 31:15, 16, 17).
2 – The Greek word Hades of the New Testament has the same scope of signification as Sheol of the Old Testament. It is a prison (1 Pet. 3:19), with gates and bars and locks (Matt. 16:18; Rev. 1:18), and it is downward (Matt. 11:23; Luke 10:15).
The righteous and the wicked are separated. The blessed dead are in that part of Hades called paradise (Luke 23:43). They are also said to be in Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22).
(3.) Gehenna, in most of its occurrences in the Greek New Testament, designates the place of the lost (Matt. 23:33). The fearful nature of their condition there is described in various figurative expressions (Matt. 8:12; 13:42; 22:13; 25:30; Luke 16:24, etc.). (See HINNOM.) …. Easton’s Dictionary
NOTE: The word most often that refers to the place of eternal punishment is “Greek — Gehenna”. Whenever we look at the words that generally refer to the grave we find that the word in the Old Testament is “Sheol” and in the New Testament is Greek, “Hades”. When looking for word meanings, consider these distinctions. The three words must be translated in their proper place according to context. Remember this: there are three words in the Hebrew and Greek languages that are to be considered as we seek an understanding of the grave, the intermediate state of the dead and the eternal state of the wicked.