Often the question comes, "While Jesus’ body was in the tomb, did his spirit go to hell?"

The answer has to be in the meaning of the word "hell." The only meaning from the lips of Jesus (11 times recorded) is "hell fire" (Matthew 5:22; 18:9; Mark 9:47), "the damnation of hell" (Matthew 23:23), and "unquenchable fire" (Mark 9:43). After Jesus died, his "body" was placed in Joseph’s "tomb" (Matthew 27:58-60), and his "spirit" went to Paradise (Luke 23:43, 46). Consequently, as Jesus defined "hell," he did not go there.

But why is there a reputable translation, prepared by 54 selected scholars, telling how Jesus rejoiced that "his soul was not left in hell" (Acts 2:27, 31, KJV)? If the only meaning of the word "soul" is that which leaves a person’s body at death (Genesis 35:18; Matthew 10:28; 22:32; Revelation 6:9), and if the only meaning of the word "hell" is a place of torment (Mark 9:43), then certainly Jesus went to hell (Acts 2:27, 31).

However, the word "soul" has other meanings besides a person’s immortal nature. Surprisingly, after one’s immortal spirit (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Luke 23:46) leaves his body, his dead body is sometimes called his "soul" (nephesh, Numbers 5:2; 6:6; 9:6, 7, 10; 19:11, 13). And, surprisingly, the original meaning of the word "hell," now not in use at all, was a hole, a hollowed out place, a covered place (derived from the German word hohle).

But in 1611, when the King James Version was published, the original meaning of the word was still in use. The KJV translators used the word "hell" with the first meaning, a "hole," "a covered place," in Psalm 16:10 (for she’ol) and in Acts 2:27, 31 (for haides), meaning "grave." The second meaning of the word "hell," as "unquenchable fire" (Mark 9:43), they were aware of, for they used in 12 times in the New Testament, but not in regard to Jesus’ going there. The word "hell," used by the KJV translators in Psalm 16:10 and in Acts 2:27, 31, was not a place of torment, but simply Joseph’s tomb (Matthew 27:60).

The word "hell," meaning a place of torment, was impossible in regard to Christ, but the word "hell," meaning a grave, was exactly what Jesus experienced. Likewise, the meaning of "soul" as an undying spirit was impossible in regard to Christ, for his spirit did not go into his grave ("Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit," Luke 23:46). But another meaning of the word "soul," namely, a dead body (Numbers 5:2, etc.), exactly fits the context of Psalm 16:10 and Acts 2:27, 31.

Thus the translation of Psalm 16:10 becomes: "for you will not leave me in the grave, neither will you allow your holy one to see decay," and the translation of Acts 2:27, 31 becomes: "You will not leave my body in the grave, neither will you allow your holy one to see decay," and "he was not left in the grave, neither did his flesh see decay."

Yes, Jesus went to "hell" by the meaning of the word, "the grave," but not by its meaning, "the place of torment."