Grafted-In Ministries

Did Yehoshua go to hell between His death and resurrection?

There is a great deal of confusion in regards to this question. The concept that Yehoshua went to hell after His death on the cross comes primarily from the Apostles’ Creed, which states, “He descended into hell.” There are also a few Scriptures which, depending on how they are translated, describe Yehoshua going to “hell.” In studying this issue, it is important to first understand what the Bible teaches about the realm of the dead.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word used to describe the realm of the dead is She'ol.

It simply means “the place of the dead” or “the place of departed souls/spirits.” The New Testament Greek equivalent of She'ol is hades, which also refers to “the place of the dead.”

Other Scriptures in the New Testament indicate that She'ol is a temporary place, where souls are kept as they await the final resurrection and judgment. Revelation 20:11–15 gives a clear distinction between She’ol and the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the permanent and final place of judgment for the lost.

She’ol, then, is a temporary place. Many people refer to both She’ol and the lake of fire as “hell,” and this causes confusion. Yehoshua did not go to a place of torment after His death, but He did go to She’ol.

She'ol was a realm with two divisions—a place of blessing and a place of judgment (Matthew 11:23; 16:18; Luke 10:15; 16:23; Acts 2:27–31). The abodes of the saved and the lost are both generally called “She’ol” in the Bible.

The abode of the saved is also called “Abraham’s bosom” (KJV) or “Abraham’s side” (NIV) in Luke 16:22 and “paradise” in Luke 23:43.

The abode of the unsaved is called “hell” (KJV) or “She’ol” in Luke 16:23. The abodes of the saved and the lost are separated by a “great chasm” (Luke 16:26). When Yehoshua died, He went to the blessed side of She'ol and, from there, took the believers with Him to heaven (Ephesians 4:8–10).

The judgment side of She'ol has remained unchanged. All unbelieving dead go there awaiting their final judgment in the future. Did Yehoshua go to She'ol/hades? Yes, according to Ephesians 4:8–10 and 1 Peter 3:18–20.

Some of the confusion has arisen from such passages as Psalm 16:10–11 as translated in the King James Version: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. . . . Thou wilt show me the path of life.” “Hell” is not a correct translation in this verse.

A correct reading would be “the grave” or “She'ol.” Yehoshua said to the thief beside Him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43); He did not say, “I will see you in hell.” Yehoshua’ body was in the tomb; His soul/spirit went to be with the blessed in She'ol.

Unfortunately, in many versions of the Bible, translators are not consistent, or correct, in how they translate the Hebrew and Greek words for “She'ol,” and “hell.”

Some have the viewpoint that Yehoshua went to “hell” or the suffering side of She'ol in order to further be punished for our sins.

This idea is completely unbiblical. It was the death of Yehoshua on the cross that sufficiently provided for our redemption. It was His shed blood that effected our own cleansing from sin (1 John 1:7–9). As He hung there on the cross, He took the sin burden of the whole human race upon Himself. He became sin for us: “Elohim made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of Elohim” (2 Corinthians 5:21). This imputation of sin helps us understand Messiah’s struggle in the garden of Gethsemane with the cup of sin which would be poured out upon Him on the cross.

As Yehoshua neared death, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). His suffering in our place was completed. His soul/spirit went to She’ol (the place of the dead).

Yehoshua did not go to “hell” or the suffering side of She’ol; He went to “Abraham’s side” or the blessed side of She’ol. Yehoshua’ suffering ended the moment He died. The payment for sin was paid. He then awaited the resurrection of His body and His return to glory in His ascension.

 Did Yehoshua go to hell? No. Did Yehoshua go to She'ol? Yes.