Hell is one of the most talked-about topics in the Bible. Its portrayal in Scripture varies from a place of suffering and torment to a place of separation from God’s presence. Throughout the Bible, hell is described with vivid imagery, warnings, and exhortations, urging believers to be aware of the consequences of sin and to seek salvation through Christ. This article explores 55 Bible verses about hell, providing context and explanation for each one.
What is Hell in the Bible?
Hell, as depicted in the Bible, is often described as a place of punishment and eternal separation from God. It is referred to using several names such as Gehenna, Hades, and the lake of fire. The Bible portrays hell as a place where the wicked face eternal torment, while those who accept Christ experience eternal life in Heaven. However, the concept of hell is not one of arbitrary punishment but one of justice—where individuals face the consequences of their choices and rejection of God.
The existence of hell is firmly rooted in both the Old and New Testaments, where it serves as a dire warning about the consequences of living a life apart from God.
55 Bible Verses About Hell
1. Matthew 5:22
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to hell of fire.”
This verse highlights the severe consequences of harboring anger and hatred toward others. The term “hell of fire” here is an indication of the ultimate separation from God that awaits the unrepentant.
2. Matthew 5:29
“If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of avoiding sin at all costs. The severity of hell is used to show how much one should be willing to sacrifice to avoid spiritual ruin.
3. Matthew 10:28
“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Here, Jesus teaches that the fear of God is greater than the fear of physical harm, for God has the authority over both the body and the soul, including eternal destiny.
4. Matthew 23:33
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?”
Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees serves as a powerful reminder of the danger of hypocrisy and sin. Hell is the final destination for those who reject righteousness.
5. Mark 9:43
“And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.”
This verse underscores the dire consequences of sin, encouraging believers to take radical steps to avoid temptation and eternal separation from God.
6. Mark 9:45
“And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell.”
Similar to the previous verse, this passage stresses the importance of dealing with sin promptly and decisively to avoid eternal punishment.
7. Luke 12:5
“But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!”
Jesus makes it clear that we should fear God, who has ultimate authority over life and death, and the power to cast souls into hell.
8. Luke 16:23
“And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.”
In this parable, the rich man in torment experiences the agony of hell and the irreversible separation from the righteous.
9. Luke 16:24
“And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’”
This verse highlights the intense suffering of hell, where even a drop of water would provide relief, but it is unavailable.
10. Luke 16:26
“And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”
This verse emphasizes the unbridgeable divide between heaven and hell, illustrating that once someone is in hell, there is no chance of escape or relief.
11. Revelation 14:11
“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
This verse warns of the eternal nature of hell. There is no reprieve, and the torment will last forever for those who reject God and follow evil.
12. Revelation 20:10
“And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
The ultimate fate of Satan and his followers is described here, emphasizing the eternal punishment that awaits those who align themselves with evil.
13. Revelation 20:14
“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.”
Hell is referred to here as the “second death,” representing the final separation from God and eternal destruction.
14. Revelation 21:8
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
This passage describes the characteristics of those who will be cast into hell, emphasizing that sin leads to eternal death and separation from God.
15. 2 Peter 2:4
“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment.”
Peter explains that even angels who rebelled against God were cast into hell, showing that no one is exempt from God’s justice.
16. 2 Peter 2:9
“Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.”
This verse reassures believers that God will protect the righteous but punish the wicked, keeping them in torment until the final judgment.
17. Jude 1:7
“Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”
Sodom and Gomorrah’s destruction serves as a reminder of the consequences of wickedness, pointing to hell as the final destination of the unrighteous.
18. Matthew 13:42
“And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Hell is depicted as a place of intense suffering, where those who are rejected by God will experience eternal anguish.
19. Matthew 13:50
“And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Again, hell is described as a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, emphasizing the regret and pain felt by those who are cast into it.
20. Matthew 22:13
“Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
The outer darkness symbolizes hell, a place of separation from God’s presence and eternal torment.
21. Matthew 25:30
“And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Hell is again portrayed as a place of misery and regret, reserved for those who do not follow God’s will.
22. Mark 9:48
“Where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
Hell is depicted as an eternal place of suffering, where torment never ceases, and there is no hope of relief.
23. Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Jesus warns that the path to hell is broad and easy, while the path to eternal life is narrow and difficult, highlighting the importance of choosing the right path.
24. Luke 13:28
“In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves cast out.”
This verse stresses the regret that will be felt by those cast into hell when they realize they missed the opportunity to enter the kingdom of God.
25. Romans 2:5
“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”
Hell is not just a place of punishment; it is also the result of a person’s hard heart, unwilling to repent and seek God’s forgiveness.
26. Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
This verse contrasts the eternal death—symbolized by hell—due to sin, with the eternal life offered through Jesus Christ. Hell is the destination for those who continue in sin without accepting Christ’s gift of salvation.
27. 2 Thessalonians 1:9
“They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”
Paul here underscores that hell involves eternal destruction and separation from God’s presence. This reflects the nature of hell as the final and irreversible separation from God.
28. Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
This passage highlights that merely professing faith is not enough. Those who do not genuinely follow God’s will face rejection and separation from God, potentially leading to hell.
29. John 3:36
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
This verse stresses the importance of obedience to Christ. Those who reject Christ and His commands face the wrath of God, which includes eternal punishment in hell.
30. James 4:4
“You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”
James explains that aligning oneself with worldly values and priorities makes one an enemy of God, potentially leading to hell. This shows that sin and worldliness stand in direct opposition to God’s righteousness.
31. Matthew 18:8
“And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.”
Again, the severity of hell is highlighted, with Jesus emphasizing that it is better to sacrifice anything that leads to sin rather than risk eternal punishment.
32. Matthew 25:41
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
Hell is depicted as a place prepared for the devil and his followers. The curse is pronounced on those who reject Christ, and they are cast into the eternal fire.
33. 2 Peter 3:7
“But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
Peter describes the future destruction awaiting the ungodly—eternal punishment, represented by fire. This links hell to the final judgment.
34. Revelation 21:27
“But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
This verse underscores the purity of Heaven and the exclusion of all evil, which will be cast into hell. Those who live in unrepentant sin will not inherit eternal life.
35. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
This passage explicitly lists the behaviors that prevent individuals from inheriting the kingdom of God, which implies that those who persist in such actions without repentance face hell.
36. Hebrews 10:26-27
“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.”
The fear of judgment and hell is emphasized here for those who reject God’s grace after knowing the truth. This verse highlights the seriousness of sin and its consequences.
37. Matthew 24:51
“And will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
This verse describes the fate of those who are unfaithful and hypocritical, once again reinforcing the image of hell as a place of sorrow and regret.
38. Revelation 14:10-11
“He also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
This passage presents a graphic and solemn description of hell, where those who follow the beast are subjected to eternal torment, with no relief.
39. Luke 10:15
“And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.”
Jesus warns of the consequences of rejecting His message. Capernaum’s downfall represents the fate of those who reject Christ and His salvation.
40. Luke 12:47-48
“And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating. Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
This passage emphasizes that those who know God’s will and reject it face more severe consequences than those who are ignorant. This highlights the responsibility of knowing and following God’s word.
41. Romans 9:22
“What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?”
Paul reflects on God’s patience with the wicked. While God patiently withholds judgment, the vessels of wrath will eventually be destroyed, which points to hell as the ultimate consequence of rejection.
42. Jude 1:13
“Wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.”
Jude describes the fate of false teachers and those who lead others astray. The darkness refers to hell, reserved for those who reject the truth.
43. Matthew 25:46
“And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Jesus draws a sharp contrast between the eternal fate of the wicked and the righteous. The wicked face eternal punishment—hell—while the righteous enjoy eternal life.
44. Matthew 5:30
“And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”
Here, Jesus uses a drastic metaphor to emphasize the importance of dealing with sin. Hell is presented as the ultimate consequence of sin, so it is better to sacrifice anything that leads to sin.
45. Matthew 13:42
“And throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Hell is again described as a place of intense suffering, where the lost experience regret and sorrow.
46. 2 Peter 2:17
“These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.”
Peter speaks about false teachers and their eventual fate—gloom and darkness reserved for them. This speaks to the eternal separation from God that awaits the unrepentant.
47. Revelation 21:8
“But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
This verse clearly identifies the types of people who will face hell—those who reject God’s standards for living.
48. Mark 9:49-50
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
This passage speaks about purification through fire, which could be interpreted as both the refining process for believers and the judgment of hell for the wicked.
49. Revelation 19:20
“And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”
The ultimate fate of the false prophet and the beast is depicted—being thrown into the lake of fire, a representation of hell and eternal torment.
50. Psalm 9:17
“The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.”
Hell is often referred to as Sheol, the place of the dead, where the wicked face the consequences of their rejection of God.
51. Revelation 20:15
“And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
This verse indicates the final judgment when those who are not found in the Book of Life—those who have rejected Christ—will face eternal punishment in the lake of fire, which is a representation of hell.
52. Luke 16:23-24
“And in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’”
In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus paints a vivid picture of the torment and suffering of hell. The rich man’s plea for mercy reflects the despair that comes with eternal separation from God.
53. Matthew 13:41-42
“The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Here, Jesus again speaks of the final judgment, where sinners are cast into the fiery furnace—hell. The phrase “weeping and gnashing of teeth” indicates the immense regret and suffering that will characterize the experience of the lost.
54. Revelation 14:11
“And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
This verse offers a chilling depiction of hell’s eternal nature. The torment is unceasing, and the absence of rest highlights the relentless nature of the suffering in hell.
55. Isaiah 66:24
“And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
Isaiah prophetically speaks about the consequences of rebellion against God. The imagery of eternal fire and undying worms is used to describe the unending torment of hell. This verse underscores the eternal nature of hell’s suffering.
Conclusion
Throughout the Bible, hell is consistently portrayed as a place of severe and eternal punishment for those who reject God’s salvation, live in sin, or choose to worship idols and other false gods. It is described using vivid imagery such as fire, weeping, gnashing of teeth, darkness, and eternal torment.
The Bible also stresses that hell was never intended for humanity, but rather for the devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41). However, those who choose to reject Christ’s gift of salvation and continue in sin are said to face the same fate. These scriptures serve as a warning, urging people to turn to God, repent of their sins, and accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.
Hell, as described in these verses, is not just a distant or abstract idea but a serious and eternal reality. The severity of the punishment in hell calls for a deep response—one that reflects the seriousness of sin and the urgent need for salvation. Through Jesus, God offers a way of escape from the fate of hell, inviting all to come to Him and be saved. The call to repentance and faith is urgent, as the consequences of rejecting Christ are eternal and irreversible.
In light of these verses, it is clear that the Bible does not treat hell lightly. It is a reality that must be acknowledged, and the opportunity for salvation through Jesus Christ is an urgent invitation to escape such a fate. The love and mercy of God through Jesus stand in stark contrast to the grim reality of hell, and it is this message that Christians are called to share with the world: that through Christ, eternal life is available, and hell can be avoided.
Related topics:
