What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
What Does the Bible Say About Hell? The Bible describes hell as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering and darkness, prepared for the devil and his angels.
Key verse: Matthew 25:41 (KJV)
The Bible describes hell as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering and darkness, prepared for the devil and his angels.
The Bible describes hell as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering and darkness, prepared for the devil and his angels.
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." — Matthew 25:41 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
Hell is a difficult but clearly biblical doctrine. Jesus spoke more about hell than anyone else in Scripture, describing it as a place of 'outer darkness' (Matthew 25:30), 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' (Matthew 13:42), and 'everlasting fire' (Matthew 25:41). The rich man in Luke 16 experienced conscious torment. Revelation describes the 'lake of fire' as the final destiny of the unrepentant (Revelation 20:15). Hell was originally prepared for Satan and fallen angels (Matthew 25:41), not for humans—God desires all to be saved (2 Peter 3:9). Hell's existence underscores the seriousness of sin, the reality of human choice, and the urgency of the gospel message. God has done everything possible through Christ to keep people from hell.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
What the Bible reveals about heaven, eternal life, and our future home with God.
Key Scripture References
"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels."
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Does the Bible Say About Heaven?
Heaven is the eternal dwelling place of God where believers will live in perfect joy, free from sin, death, and suffering forever.
What Happens When You Die According to the Bible?
The Bible teaches that after death, believers are present with the Lord, while unbelievers face judgment.
Is Heaven a Real Place?
Yes — Jesus explicitly said He was going to prepare a place for believers, and Revelation describes heaven in vivid detail.
What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
Hell is described as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering, darkness, and fire.
What is the New Jerusalem?
The New Jerusalem is the heavenly city described in Revelation 21-22 that will descend from heaven as God's eternal dwelling place with His people.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Matthew. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Matthew on day 284 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What Does the Bible Say About Hell?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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