Bible Questions and Answers

What is hell in 2 Peter 2:4? 

2 Peter 2:4  For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Using Strong’s Concordance: Hell <5020> ταρταρόω tartaroo from Tartaros. Meaning: the name of the subterranean region, doleful and dark, regarded by the ancient Greeks as the abode of the wicked dead.... it is the equivalent to the Hebrew term Gehenna.

Tartarus comes from Greek mythology and does not exist. Gehenna was the valley of Hinnom south of Jerusalem used as a rubbish tip. There is no relationship between Tartarus and Gehenna.

Peter is referring to the fate of Dathan and Abiram following their rebellion against Moses — recorded in Numbers 16:1-34

The earth ‘swallowed’ them – meaning that they went much deeper into the earth than a normal burial. We might reasonably suppose that this is why Peter uses the word ‘Tartarus’ which in Greek mythology was the deepest part of Hades. Dathan and Abiram were buried deep in the earth and now await the resurrection to judgment.  John 5:28,29

Angels of God do not sin. The faithful are promised equality with the angels following the resurrection. If angels can sin, we would be no better off than we are now. The word translated angel can also refer to messengers - men who have positions of authority – as was the case with Dathan and Abiram.

I hope this helps.

God bless.
Glenn