Where is the location of hell?

Understanding the Terminology

The subject of “hell” in Scripture draws from multiple biblical terms, each reflecting nuances of punishment, final judgment, and separation from God. The original Hebrew and Greek words—namely “Sheol,” “Hades,” and “Gehenna”—all appear in various contexts to denote the realm of the dead or a place of final judgment. While Sheol (primarily Old Testament) often refers to the “grave” or the “realm of the dead,” the Greek Hades carries a similar connotation. Gehenna (from the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem), however, is specifically referenced in the New Testament as a place of fiery judgment.

References to “Below the Earth” in Scripture

Some passages describe descending “into the earth” as a metaphor for going down to the realm of the dead. In Numbers 16:30–33, the earth “opened its mouth” to swallow Korah and his followers, and they went “down alive into Sheol.” Although presented in a physical way, this imagery supports a widespread ancient belief that the abodes of the dead are found in lower or unseen regions.

Job 11:8 also notes that God’s mysteries are “deeper than Sheol,” implying a location beneath humanity’s everyday world. Others see parallels in Ephesians 4:9, which says that Christ “descended into the lower parts of the earth.” While this is sometimes interpreted literally, many understand it as a spiritual or metaphorical statement about Christ’s experience of death and His triumph over the grave.

Gehenna as a Physical and Symbolic Location

The mention of Gehenna in passages such as Matthew 5:22 and Mark 9:43–44 connects the Greek word to the Valley of Hinnom, a ravine south of Jerusalem historically known as a site for pagan sacrifice and later as a place for burning refuse. Because of its association with fire and destruction, it became a vivid symbol for the final place of judgment.

Though Gehenna was an actual location on Earth, its use in the New Testament transcends the physical valley. Jesus employs Gehenna imagery to warn of an eternal, fiery judgment prepared for the unrepentant (see Matthew 25:41). This language underscores the seriousness of sin and the reality of eternal punishment, yet it does not necessarily affirm that the “eternal Gehenna” is a literal extension of that earthly valley.

Spiritual Dimension and “Outer Darkness”

Other passages describe hell as a place of “outer darkness,” a spiritual domain of isolation. Matthew 25:30 speaks of the unprofitable servant being thrown “into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Rather than pointing to a geographical site, these verses highlight the separation from God’s presence.

The idea of hell being in “outer darkness” suggests a realm distinct from the joys and light of God’s kingdom. It implies an otherworldly location rather than a place that can be mapped in purely physical or geological terms.

The Lake of Fire in Revelation

In Revelation, the final judgment of the wicked unfolds with the “lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14 states: “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.” This event follows the final judgment scene, signifying a permanent state rather than a temporary holding place. The location is not identified with any known earthly region; instead, it points to a final, eschatological reality beyond our current realm.

Revelation’s lake-of-fire depiction consolidates the ultimate destiny of the devil, his angels, and all who reject God (Revelation 20:10). Thus, while “Hades” is sometimes viewed as a temporary holding place, the “lake of fire” represents an eternal state of punishment.

Archaeological and Geological Considerations

Efforts to pinpoint a physical location for hell have not uncovered a geographical “hell” accessible to excavation or exploration. Biblical references to “under the earth” were part of an ancient framework that often spoke of the dead as dwelling in lower regions. The Valley of Hinnom can be visited today, and archaeological work confirms its past use for refuse and possibly for child sacrifice in the era of certain idolatrous practices (cf. Jeremiah 7:31). However, beyond its historical significance, the valley only symbolizes a far more severe, eternal judgment.

No modern geological findings indicate a cavern or fiery subterranean realm corresponding to the scriptural depictions of Gehenna or the lake of fire. Rather, these biblical descriptions point to a spiritual or supernatural dimension, one not subject to ordinary empirical investigation.

Philosophical and Theological Perspectives

From a broader theological standpoint, the essence of hell is not primarily about physical coordinates but about a state of separation from God and the just penalty for sin. Passages that speak of darkness, fire, and “the worm that never dies” (Mark 9:48) are frequently interpreted to underscore the gravity and duration of the punishment rather than to designate a mappable earthly site.

In discussing “where hell is located,” the conversation shifts from simple geography to the nature of eternal destinies. Many theologians conclude that its location is beyond our current spatiotemporal experience—part of a spiritual reality that will come into full view in the final judgment. As a result, Scripture emphasizes the urgency of reconciling with God through Christ to avoid this fate.

Conclusions on the Location of Hell

1. The Bible uses terms like Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna, indicating a place of the dead or final judgment.

2. References to descending “below the earth” serve as figurative or poetic expressions linking death and punishment with lower regions, but do not provide a verifiable physical address.

3. The Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem (Gehenna) is a sobering historical backdrop symbolizing the ultimate destruction awaiting the unrepentant.

4. New Testament passages often speak of “outer darkness,” highlighting separation from God far more than an earthly geographic coordinate.

5. Revelation’s “lake of fire” points to the final, eternal state of judgment, transcending present physical reality.

6. Archaeology affirms historic sites like the Valley of Hinnom but does not reveal a tunnel or gateway to a literal hell.

7. Theologically, hell emphasizes an eternal, spiritual state of judgment, rather than a physical location we could visit or map.

In essence, Scripture presents hell as an actual realm of judgment beyond our ordinary earthly domain. While metaphors and geographical terms are used, the overarching biblical teaching is that its “location” is in a spiritual dimension reserved for those who persist in rebellion against God. The emphasis throughout is a sober warning and a call to receive God’s grace—through the salvation offered by Christ—rather than exacting a purely literal pinpoint on a map of creation.