Reich des Todes

German

Etymology

Literally, “realm of death”.

Noun

Reich des Todes n (strong, genitive Reichs des Todes, no plural)

1. netherworld, underworld, Hades, Sheol (kind of afterlife that is neither heaven nor hell)

   Synonyms: Todesreich, Totenreich, Unterwelt, Schattenreich, Hades, Scheol

2. (Christianity specifically) the place that the dead went to before the resurrection of Christ, “hell” as in harrowing of hell

   Gekreuzigt, gestorben und begraben, hinabgestiegen in das Reich des Todes, am dritten Tage auferstanden von den Toten.

   Crucified, dead and buried, he descended into hell, on the third day he rose again from the dead. (Apostles' Creed)

Usage notes

• (Christianity): There are different theological views on whether the “hell” of the Apostles’ Creed is the same as the place of eternal punishment. Therefore the German translation avoids the word Hölle usually associated with the latter.