What Does the Bible Say About Hell?

Q: Is hell mentioned in the Old Testament?

Yes — the Hebrew word Sheol (H7585) is translated 'hell' throughout the Old Testament. Isaiah 14:9 describes it as a realm that 'is moved' to receive the dead Isaiah 14:9 , and Psalm 55:15 speaks of the wicked going down 'quick into hell' Psalms 55:15 . It's depicted as a real, downward destination for the dead, particularly the unrighteous Psalms 9:17 .

TL;DR: The Bible describes hell as a real place of judgment for the wicked, using Hebrew terms like Sheol (often translated 'hell' or 'the grave') to depict a realm beneath the earth where the dead reside. Passages like Psalm 9:17 warn that the wicked will be 'turned into hell,' while Proverbs 7:27 calls it 'the chambers of death.' Protestant Christianity teaches that hell is God's just response to sin, fully known by the Lord (Proverbs 15:11), and a destiny avoided only through repentance and faith.

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." — Psalm 9:17 Psalms 9:17

The Old Testament word most frequently rendered 'hell' is the Hebrew Sheol (Strong's H7585), a term pointing to the realm of the dead beneath the earth. Isaiah 14:9 vividly personifies this place:

"Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations." Isaiah 14:9

This imagery makes clear that hell is not merely symbolic — it receives the mighty and the lowly alike Isaiah 14:9.

Proverbs reinforces the moral dimension of hell, warning that the path of the adulteress leads directly there:

"Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." — Proverbs 7:27 Proverbs 7:27

Crucially, Proverbs 15:11 reminds us that nothing about hell is hidden from God: "Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" Proverbs 15:11 This means divine omniscience extends even into the deepest reaches of judgment Proverbs 15:11.

Protestant · Christianity

Protestant View of Hell

"The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." — Psalm 9:17

Protestant theology has historically affirmed hell as a literal place of divine judgment, not merely a metaphor for earthly suffering. The Old Testament foundation is unmistakable: Psalm 9:17 declares plainly that "the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" Psalms 9:17 — a verse Reformers like Calvin cited to underscore God's moral governance of history. Hell isn't an accident; it's the just destination of those who reject God Psalms 9:17.

The downward trajectory of hell is a consistent biblical motif. Isaiah 14:15 pronounces judgment on the proud king of Babylon:

"Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." Isaiah 14:15

Protestants read this as both a historical oracle and a theological principle — pride and rebellion lead downward, away from God Isaiah 14:15. Similarly, Psalm 55:15 calls for the wicked to "go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings" Psalms 55:15, reinforcing that hell is the fitting end of unrepentant evil.

What makes the Protestant understanding distinctive is its emphasis on God's total awareness of hell's reality. Proverbs 15:11 states that "Hell and destruction are before the LORD" Proverbs 15:11, meaning God's judgment is never blind or arbitrary — He sees everything, including the state of every human heart Proverbs 15:11. This grounds Protestant preaching: the call to repentance is urgent precisely because hell is real, known to God, and avoidable only through grace Psalms 9:17.

Key takeaways

Psalm 9:17 warns that 'the wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God' — making hell the explicit destination of those who reject Him Psalms 9:17.
The Hebrew word Sheol (translated 'hell' or 'the grave') appears throughout the Old Testament as a real realm beneath the earth that receives the dead Isaiah 14:9.
Proverbs 15:11 teaches that 'Hell and destruction are before the LORD,' meaning God's omniscience fully encompasses the realm of judgment Proverbs 15:11.
Isaiah 14:15 connects pride and rebellion directly to hell: 'Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit' Isaiah 14:15.
Proverbs 7:27 frames moral corruption as a path leading straight to hell: 'Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death' Proverbs 7:27.

FAQs

Is hell mentioned in the Old Testament?

Yes — the Hebrew word Sheol (H7585) is translated 'hell' throughout the Old Testament. Isaiah 14:9 describes it as a realm that 'is moved' to receive the dead Isaiah 14:9, and Psalm 55:15 speaks of the wicked going down 'quick into hell' Psalms 55:15. It's depicted as a real, downward destination for the dead, particularly the unrighteous Psalms 9:17.

Who does the Bible say goes to hell?

Psalm 9:17 is direct: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God" Psalms 9:17. Proverbs 7:27 also warns that the path of moral corruption leads to 'the chambers of death' Proverbs 7:27. The consistent biblical pattern links hell with wickedness, pride (Isaiah 14:15 Isaiah 14:15), and forgetting God Psalms 9:17.

Does God know about hell?

Absolutely. Proverbs 15:11 states verbatim: "Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?" Proverbs 15:11 This verse teaches that God's omniscience fully encompasses hell — nothing there is hidden from Him. If He sees hell itself, He certainly sees every human heart Proverbs 15:11.

Is hell described as being beneath the earth?

Yes, consistently. Isaiah 14:9 says 'Hell from beneath is moved' Isaiah 14:9, Isaiah 14:15 speaks of being 'brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit' Isaiah 14:15, and Psalm 55:15 describes the wicked going 'down quick into hell' Psalms 55:15. The downward spatial language is a recurring biblical motif for the realm of the dead.

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