Introduction
According to the Bible, hell refers to the fate of those who remain separated from God to the very end. Jesus speaks about it seriously, but he presents it first as a warning offered out of love. The biblical text stays sober about the details, and it stresses above all the way of escape that God opens in Christ.
Many people avoid this subject, because it brings up fear or exaggerated images. Yet the Bible addresses it with restraint, and almost always through the words of Jesus himself. This page looks at the words used, what Jesus teaches, what hell is not, and then how to hold together the justice and the love of God, with humility.
What Words Does the Bible Translate as "Hell"?
The English word covers several terms. In Hebrew, sheol is the place of the dead, a shadowy place where everyone goes at death, whether good or bad. In Greek, Hades plays the same role in the New Testament. These two words speak mainly of the state of the dead, without describing a specific punishment.
The word gehenna is different. It comes from a valley near Jerusalem, which became an image of God's judgment. Jesus uses it to warn that a person can be lost. Translations render these words in various ways, which is why it helps to identify the original term before drawing any conclusion.
Psalm 16:10
"For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, neither will you allow your holy one to see corruption."
This psalm expresses a believer's hope in the face of death. Sheol appears there as the place of the dead, not as a place of torture. The psalmist trusts God not to leave him there. Read all of Psalm 16.
What Jesus Says About Hell
In the Gospels, Jesus speaks about judgment more often than anyone else, and always with seriousness. He does it to warn his listeners, like a shepherd who calls out before a cliff. Mark 9:43-48 uses strong images to say that nothing, however precious, is worth losing. These images are a call to life, not a description of a place.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, in Luke 16, Jesus shows that our choices here have consequences, and that compassion for the poor matters in God's eyes. Matthew 25 speaks of those who refused to love in practical ways. These texts invite us to turn to God now.
Luke 16:23
"In Hades, he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far off, and Lazarus at his bosom."
In this parable, a rich man finds himself far from God and in great anguish. Jesus mainly wants to make clear that the opportunities to love and to turn to God are given today. Read all of Luke 16.
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;"
This passage is addressed to those who did not live out concrete love. Jesus specifies that the fire was prepared for the devil and his angels, not for human beings, whom God created for life. Read all of Matthew 25.
Matthew 25:46
"These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
The text sets two destinies side by side, eternal life and eternal punishment. Jesus does not linger on the details. He reminds us that our choices and the way we love carry real weight. Read all of Matthew 25.
What Hell Is Not
Hell is not the kingdom of the devil, where he would reign over his victims. The texts say the opposite: the fire was prepared for him, and he is himself the one condemned. The idea of a devil who rules in hell comes more from popular imagination and movies than from the Bible.
The Bible also does not describe a detailed torture, with precise scenes. The images it uses, such as fire, darkness or the worm that does not die, are powerful symbols for loss and separation. Taking them as a news report often leads to fear, whereas the text aims at seriousness and hope.
God's Justice and Love Go Together
Some think that a God of love cannot judge, and others that a just God cannot love. The Bible rejects this either/or. God is holy and takes evil seriously, because he loves the people that evil wounds. A God indifferent to injustice would not be good.
The New Testament also clarifies God's attitude: he takes no pleasure in anyone being lost. His patience is an extended invitation to return. Judgment is therefore not the opposite of love; it is its serious side, the side that truly respects our choices.
2 Peter 3:9
"The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
This verse shows the heart of God. His waiting does not come from slowness, but from patience, because he desires that no one be lost. Judgment remains real, and the door remains open. Read all of 2 Peter 3.
Is There a Way Out?
Yes, and this is the center of the biblical message. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but to save it. Every person can receive what God offers through faith in his Son. The purpose of everything said about judgment is to lead to this gift, not to produce anguish.
If this question troubles you, you can simply speak to God honestly. The Bible presents trust in Christ as a path open to everyone, with no performance required. You can also talk about it with a trusted believer, who will help you see things clearly without fear.
John 3:16-18
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God."
This passage sums up the Gospel. God gave his Son out of love, so that whoever believes would not perish. Jesus came to save, and faith in him is the answer offered. Read all of John 3.
How Do We Talk About Hell With Humility?
Christians do not all agree on the details. Some understand the punishment as eternal, others see it as a final destruction, and still others hope for a broader salvation. Each draws on texts, and all acknowledge that God is just and good. On these points, it is better to speak with respect than with certainty.
This humility does not diminish the seriousness of the subject. It reminds us that we are not the judge, that God knows every heart, and that our role is to proclaim his goodness gently. We never talk about hell to threaten someone, but to say, tenderly, that God wants life.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "gehenna" mean in the Bible?
Gehenna takes its name from a valley near Jerusalem, used as an image of God's judgment. Jesus uses this word to warn how serious it is to be lost. Many translations render it as "hell," which can be confused with sheol or Hades, the words for the realm of the dead.
Is hell a place of torture according to the Bible?
The Bible uses powerful images such as fire and darkness, but it does not describe a detailed scene of torture. These symbols speak of loss and separation from God. Christians understand these images in different ways, and the text stays restrained about the details.
Does God want to send people to hell?
No. The New Testament affirms that God does not want anyone to be lost, but that all return to him. He sent his Son to save the world. His judgment is real, and it always comes with a sincere invitation to turn to him.
How can I stop being afraid of hell?
The Bible invites you to trust in Christ rather than in your own efforts. Whoever believes in him is not condemned. If the fear persists, speak to God simply, then to a trusted believer. God does not seek to frighten you, but to reassure you.