What does the Bible say about hell?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that hell is God’s righteous and final judgment against unrepentant sin, a real and dreadful exclusion from his gracious presence, while salvation from this judgment is found only through Jesus Christ. Jesus warns of both body and soul being judged (Matthew 10:28) and contrasts eternal punishment with eternal life (Matthew 25:46). Revelation describes the final lake of fire and the irreversible doom of Satan and all whose names are not written in the book of life (Revelation 20:10, 20:15; 21:8). Romans 6:23 declares that sin earns death, yet God freely gives eternal life in Christ. These warnings call sinners to repent, trust Christ, and receive his mercy.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Revelation 21:8
But for the cowardly, unbelieving, sinners, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their part is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."
- Matthew 10:28
Don't be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
- Matthew 25:46
These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
- Revelation 20:10
The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
- Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Matthew 25:41
Then he will say also to those on the left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;
- Revelation 20:15
If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.
- Matthew 5:22
But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.
- Revelation 14:11
The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:9
who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might,
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- (In the A. V. this word occurs in O. T. Scriptures, cited below, and is the translation of the Hebrew word “sheol,” which signifies the unseen state)
- In the R. V. of O. T. it appears only in Isaiah 5:14; Isaiah 14:9; Isaiah 14:15; Isaiah 28:15; Isaiah 28:18; Isaiah 57:9; Ezekiel 31:16; Ezekiel 31:17; Ezekiel 32:21; Ezekiel 32:27; Amos 9:2; Jonah 2:2
- In the R. V., “sheol” is translated “lowest pit” Deuteronomy 32:22; Psalms 86:13
- And it is translated “pit” in Psalms 55:15
- In the R. V. the word “Sheol” itself occurs in the following scriptures 2 Samuel 22:6; Job 11:8; Job 26:6; Psalms 9:17; Psalms 16:10; Psalms 18:5; Psalms 116:3; Psalms 139:8; Proverbs 5:5; Proverbs 7:27; Proverbs 9:18; Proverbs 15:11
- “Sheol” is translated “grave” in A. V. in Genesis 37:35; Genesis 42:38; Genesis 44:29; Genesis 44:31; 1 Samuel 2:6; 1 Kings 2:6; 1 Kings 9; Job 7:9; Job 14:13; Job 17:13; Job 21:13; Job 24:19
- In the R. V. the Greek word “gehenna” is translated “hell” in the following scriptures Matthew 5:22; Matthew 5:29; Matthew 5:30; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 23:15; Matthew 23:33; Mark 9:43; Mark 9:45; Mark 9:47; Luke 12:5; James 3:6
- The R. V. has introduced “Hades,” the word found in the Greek text, which signifies the unseen world, in the following scriptures Matthew 11:23; Matthew 16:18; Luke 10:15; Luke 16:23; Acts 2:27; Acts 2:31; Revelation 1:18; Revelation 6:8; Revelation 20:13; Revelation 20:14
- THE FUTURE HOME OF THE WICKED Psalms 9:17; Proverbs 5:5; Proverbs 9:13; Proverbs 9:15-18; Proverbs 15:24; Proverbs 23:13; Proverbs 23:14; Isaiah 30:33; Isaiah 33:14; Matthew 3:12; Matthew 5:29; Matthew 5:30
- See WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- The place of disembodied spirits Acts 2:31
- Which Christ visited Luke 23:43; Acts 2:31; 1 Peter 3:19
- Contains, a place of rest, Abraham’s bosom Luke 16:23
- Paradise Luke 23:43
- And a place of torment Luke 16:23
- The place of future punishment
- Destruction from the presence of God 2 Thessalonians 1:9
- Described as
- Everlasting punishment Matthew 25:46
- Everlasting fire Matthew 25:41
- Everlasting burnings Isaiah 33:14
- A furnace of fire Matthew 13:42; Matthew 13:50
- A lake of fire Revelation 20:15
- Fire and brimstone Revelation 14:10
- Unquenchable fire Matthew 3:12
- Devouring fire Isaiah 33:14
- Prepared for the devil, & c Matthew 25:41
- Devils are confined in, until the judgment day 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6
- Punishment of, is eternal Isaiah 33:14; Revelation 20:10
- The wicked shall be turned into Psalms 9:17
- Human power cannot preserve from Ezekiel 32:27
- The body suffers in Matthew 5:29; Matthew 10:28
- The soul suffers in Matthew 10:28
- The wise avoid Proverbs 15:24
- Endeavour to keep others from Proverbs 23:14; Jude 1:23
- The society of the wicked leads to Proverbs 5:5; Proverbs 9:18
- The beast, false prophets, and the devil shall be cast into Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10
- The powers of, cannot prevail against the Church Matthew 16:18
- Illustrated Isaiah 30:33
- Herbs, & C
- Called the green herbs 2 Kings 19:26
- God
- Created Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:12; Genesis 2:5
- Causes to grow Job 38:27; Psalms 104:14
- Each kind of, contains its own seed Genesis 1:11; Genesis 1:12
- Given as food to man Genesis 1:28; Genesis 1:29; Genesis 9:3
- Found in
- The fields Jeremiah 12:4
- The mountains Proverbs 27:25
- The marshes Job 8:11
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