What does the Bible say about hell?
Retrieved texts include Revelation 20:14, Revelation 21:8, Proverbs 30:16, Psalms 11:6.
The texts do not directly address broader modern formulations; NO DIRECT REFERENCE IN SOURCE TEXTS and INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE apply beyond retrieved passages.
THEOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
1. QUESTION
What does the Bible say about hell, based on the provided source texts?
2. PRIMARY TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
Terminology and Location
Job 10:22 (KJV):
"A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness."
Proverbs 15:11 (KJV):
"Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?"
Revelation 9:2 (KJV):
"And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit."
Nature: Fire and Torment
Matthew 13:42 (KJV):
"And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 13:50 (KJV):
"And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth."
Matthew 25:41 (KJV):
"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."
Psalms 11:6 (KJV):
"Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup."
Isaiah 33:14 (KJV):
"The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"
Duration
Revelation 20:10 (KJV):
"And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
Jude 1:7 (KJV):
"Even as Sodom and Gomorrha... are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire."
2 Thessalonians 1:9 (KJV):
"Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power."
The "Second Death" and Lake of Fire
Revelation 20:14 (KJV):
"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death."
Revelation 21:8 (KJV):
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
3. LINGUISTIC/HISTORICAL DATA
From the texts provided:
- The KJV renders the term "hell" in Proverbs 15:11, though the underlying Hebrew term is not specified in these sources.
- Revelation distinguishes between "hell" (cast into the lake) and the "lake of fire" itself, termed the "second death" (Rev. 20:14).
- The phrase "for ever and ever" in Revelation 20:10 uses language suggesting perpetuity.
4. SCHOLARLY POSITIONS
The provided texts do not contain scholarly commentary. However, the texts themselves present data that interpreters historically debate:
- Whether "everlasting destruction" (2 Thess. 1:9) denotes ongoing torment or permanent annihilation is not resolved within these texts alone.
- Whether apocalyptic imagery (furnace, lake of fire, brimstone) is literal or symbolic is not addressed in the sources provided.
5. SOURCES
- Revelation 20:10, 14; 21:8; 9:2 (KJV)
- Matthew 13:42, 50; 25:41 (KJV)
- 2 Thessalonians 1:9 (KJV)
- Jude 1:7 (
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE: retrieved texts do not resolve this question explicitly.