Dictionary entry

γέεννα

G. Abbott-Smith's A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament

γέεννα (γέενα, Mk 9:45, Rec.), -ης, ἡ (perh. through Aram. גֵּיהִנָּם, from Heb. גֵּי הִנֹּם, Ne 11:30; גֵּי בֶּן־הִנֹּם, Jo 18:16; גֵּי בּנֵי־הִנֹּם, IV Ki 23:10; valley of (the son, sons of) lamentation);

[in LXX the nearest approach to γ. is γαίεννα, Jos 18:16 (Γαὶ Ὀννόμ, A), elsewhere φάραγξ Ὀνόμ (Jos 15:8, al.), V. Swete on Mk 9:43;]

Gehenna, a valley W. and S. of Jerusalem, which as the site of fire-worship from the time of Ahaz, was desecrated by Josiah and became a dumping-place for the offal of the city. Later, the name was used as a symbol of the place of future punishment, as in NT: Mt 5:29, 3010:28, Mk 9:43, 45, 47, Lk 12:5, Ja 3:6; γ. τ. πυρός, Mt 5:2218:19, prob. with ref. to fires of Moloch (DB, ii, 119b); υἱὸς γεέννης, Mt 23:15; κρίσις γεέννης, 23:33.†