What Does the Bible Say About Hell?
What Does the Bible Say About Hell? Hell is described as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering, darkness, and fire.
Key verse: Matthew 25:41 (KJV)
Hell is described as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering, darkness, and fire.
Hell is described as a place of eternal separation from God, characterized by suffering, darkness, and fire.
"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
The Bible describes hell in sobering terms. Jesus spoke more about hell than any other biblical figure, using words like 'Gehenna' (a reference to the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem) to describe a place of unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43-48). He described it as 'outer darkness' where there is 'weeping and gnashing of teeth' (Matthew 25:30). Revelation 20:15 calls it the 'lake of fire' — the final destination for those whose names are not found in the Book of Life. Hell was originally prepared 'for the devil and his angels' (Matthew 25:41), not for humanity. God's desire is that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), which is why He sent His Son. Whether the descriptions of fire and darkness are literal or metaphorical, the consistent biblical teaching is that hell represents the ultimate consequence of rejecting God — eternal separation from His love, goodness, and presence. This makes the gospel message all the more urgent and precious.
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."
"And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."
"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
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 Happens When You Die According to the Bible?
The Bible teaches that after death, believers are present with the Lord, while unbelievers face judgment.
What Is the Unforgivable Sin?
The unforgivable sin, or blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, is the persistent, willful rejection of the Spirit's testimony about Jesus Christ.
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.
What does the Bible say about heaven?
Heaven is described as God's dwelling place, a realm of perfect joy, no suffering, and eternal fellowship with God — the ultimate hope for all believers.
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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