What Is Tartarus? A Biblical and Doctrinal Examination of 2 Peter 2:4

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The Biblical Context of Tartarus

Tartarus, as used in Scripture, is a term of unique specificity. It appears only once in the entirety of the Bible—in 2 Peter 2:4:

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into Tartarus and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment.” (UASV)

The phrase “cast them into hell” from the ESV, CSB, NASB translates the Greek participle ταρταρώσας (tartarōsas), derived from Tartarus, a term borrowed from Greek mythological language but used in Scripture with entirely different theological significance. The LEB is similar to the UASV. It is critical to observe that Peter is not affirming the Greek mythos, but is utilizing the term for illustrative purpose under divine inspiration to designate a specific punitive state for a specific group of beings—namely, fallen angels.

The Identity of the Sinning Angels

Scripture identifies these sinning angels in correlation with Genesis 6:1–4, where “the sons of God” took wives from among human women and fathered the Nephilim. These “sons of God” are not men, kings, or godly lineages as some suggest, but angelic beings—as the consistent Old Testament use of the term in Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7 clearly identifies. Their sin was a severe rebellion against God’s created order, violating their assigned realm and engaging in unauthorized relations with humanity. Jude 6 echoes this:

“And the angels who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling place, he has kept in eternal bonds under deep darkness for the judgment of the great day” (UASV).

This abandonment of “proper dwelling” (Greek: oikētērion) indicates a transgression of ontological boundaries set by God. The parallel structure between Jude 6 and 2 Peter 2:4 confirms that both refer to the same group of angels—those who rebelled during Noah’s time.

Tartarus Defined: A State, Not a Location

Unlike Sheol (Hebrew: שְׁאוֹל), or its Greek counterpart Hades (ᾅδης)—both of which refer to the realm of the dead—Tartarus is not a place for human souls. Tartarus, as presented in Scripture, is not a literal prison in space or time, but a spiritual condition of judicial restraint and shame. These angels are not roaming freely, but are bound in a punitive state—described as “chains of gloomy darkness”—awaiting the eschatological judgment (2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6).

Their restraint is not annihilation, but functional incapacitation. That is, they are no longer permitted the liberty to interact with the physical realm as they did prior to the Flood. This understanding is reinforced by Peter’s reference to Christ “preaching to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:19-20), a phrase signifying His proclamation of divine victory, not offering repentance or salvation to these angels.

Differentiating Tartarus, Hades, the Abyss, and Gehenna

Scripture identifies several distinct realms or conditions related to post-mortem existence or divine punishment. It is important to distinguish each one:

Sheol/Hades is the common grave of mankind, a realm of unconscious existence (Ecclesiastes 9:5,10). It contains both righteous and unrighteous dead, awaiting resurrection (Luke 16:23 is a parabolic image, not literal geography).

Tartarus is exclusive to rebellious angels, a condition of divine restraint and disgrace instituted at the time of the Flood, not a general location for demons or human souls.

The Abyss (Greek: abussos) is a future holding place for Satan during the 1,000-year reign of Christ (Revelation 20:1–3). It is not the same as Tartarus, as evidenced by the demons’ fear of being sent into the abyss in Luke 8:31—long after Tartarus was already in operation.

Gehenna refers to the final state of eternal destruction—the second death—reserved for Satan, his angels, and all unrepentant humans (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:14). It is a place of irreversible judgment, not temporary restraint.

The Chronology and Location in Scripture

According to literal Bible chronology, the angels were judged and confined in Tartarus at the time of the Flood in 2348 B.C.E. They have remained in this spiritual prison from that time until now and will continue in this state until the final judgment. They are not the same as the demons still active in the heavenly realms today (Ephesians 6:12), indicating that not all fallen angels were confined—only those who committed the specific transgression of Genesis 6.

The “chains of darkness” are symbolic of their current spiritual state—cut off from God’s favor, restrained from former privileges, and consigned to awaiting destruction. The word for “chains” in some manuscripts is “pits,” suggesting confinement rather than bondage alone. Both variants emphasize a condition of restraint, not annihilation.

Tartarus in Relation to Greek Mythology

Though the term Tartarus originates in Greek literature, its biblical usage is not mythological. In Greek cosmology, Tartarus was a deep abyss used as a dungeon of torment for the wicked, especially for divine beings like the Titans. The New Testament repurposes this term under divine inspiration to describe a real spiritual condition—not borrowing mythology, but employing language familiar to the Hellenistic audience to convey a theological truth. This reflects similar usage patterns, such as the use of the word Gehenna—originally a literal valley—now denoting the lake of fire.

The Final Judgment Awaiting These Angels

The angels confined in Tartarus are not annihilated or forgiven; they are reserved for final judgment. Revelation 20:10 and Matthew 25:41 both speak of an eternal fire “prepared for the devil and his angels.” This confirms their future destiny is complete and eternal destruction, not restoration. Their current state is not the end, but a preliminary phase in the divine judgment process.

Paul speaks of this final day in 1 Corinthians 6:3, where he reminds believers, “Do you not know that we are to judge angels?”—indicating that redeemed humanity will participate in the pronouncement of their condemnation.

Why Understanding Tartarus Matters

Understanding Tartarus offers crucial doctrinal clarity. It highlights the severity of angelic rebellion and the certainty of divine justice. It refutes universalism or annihilationism with respect to Satan and his host. Moreover, it affirms that God intervenes decisively in history to preserve righteousness, as He did in Noah’s day.

It also provides a sobering reminder of the cost of unrepentant rebellion. These angels had access to Heaven, knowledge of God’s will, and tremendous power—yet their defiance brought eternal disgrace. Their punishment in Tartarus prefigures the ultimate doom of all who follow the path of rebellion (cf. Jude 7).

In summary, Tartarus is not a mythical underworld nor a general place of the dead, but a real and present state of restraint for a specific category of fallen angels who violated God’s established order during the days leading up to the Flood. They remain imprisoned in shameful spiritual darkness until their destruction in the lake of fire after the final judgment.

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About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).