Expert: Dean Gade - 9/27/2008

Question
Hello,



I was wndering if you translate the words pits and chains into koine greek for me. The context is:



For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into pits of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement.



The other version is:



For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delievered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement.



So I would like to know the translations of pits and chains in this context,



Thankyou for your time and help,

Alice


Answer

The koine Greek for "chains" (seira)is the common Greek word for chains from a verb which means "to fasten". The adverb defining the chains is (dzophou) which is tranlated "of darkenss".

The "pit" is (Tartaros) the deepest abyss of Hades to the Greeks or "to incarcerate in eternal torment":

When Jesus speaks of the place which God "prepared" for the devil and his angel:Matt 25:41
41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."  NIV
.....He uses the phrase, "the eternal fire" (iaoenen pur)
Though He uses different words  for "hell", it is still that same special place which God "prepared" initially for the devil and his angels. And does give us a bit more information about hell.

I hope this helps.  If you have further questions on this subject, please write again.