Where Is Hell Located? Discover the Terrifying Truth Buried in the Bible

Where is hell located? Is it symbolic? Spiritual? Just a religious idea?

Or is it also—in some sense—a real place beneath our feet?

Jesus told his disciples He would spend “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). That sounds literal, not poetic.

What if the Bible isn’t just painting metaphors… but mapping spiritual geography?

What Does the Bible Say, Where is Hell located ?

From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible paints a consistent picture: hell is down. Not just as a metaphor—but as a direction in the spiritual realm.

Let’s take a look at key verses that point to a literal descent after death.

Numbers 16:30–33 — Swallowed Alive into Sheol

“…the earth opened its mouth… and they went down alive into Sheol.”

Korah and his followers were judged—and the ground literally swallowed them. This is one of Scripture’s clearest images of hell being beneath us.

Psalm 88:3–6 — In the Deepest Pit

“Put me in the lowest pit, in the regions dark and deep.”

Sheol is described as a place of depth and separation, supporting the idea of a real, dark realm below the surface world.

Proverbs 1:12 — Devoured by a Pit

“Let us swallow them alive like Sheol… like those who go down to the pit.”

Violence and death are connected to Sheol’s devouring nature—a downward, engulfing place of no return.

Ezekiel 32:27–31 — The Mighty Lie Below

“They lie with the mighty who have fallen… who went down to Sheol with weapons of war.”

Ancient warriors are buried in shame beneath the earth, showing whole nations remembered in the depths of the afterlife.

 Up vs. Down: Heaven and Hell’s Geography

This isn’t just imagery—it’s spiritual topography.

• Job 11:8 – “Higher than the heavens… deeper than Sheol.”
• Isaiah 57:9 – “You sent your messengers down to Sheol.”
• Amos 9:2 – “Though they dig into Sheol… I will take them.”

Heaven is consistently described as up. Hell? Always down.

5 Realms of Hell and the Afterlife in Scripture

Scripture outlines multiple specific spiritual realms, giving us insight into what lies beneath and where is hell located- hell’s various compartments .

1️⃣ Tartarus — A Prison for Rebellious Angels

2 Peter 2:4, Jude 6, 1 Peter 3:19

• Separate from normal hell—it’s for fallen angels
• A place of gloom and chains, deeper than Hades
• Jesus proclaimed victory here after His death

2️⃣ Paradise — The Good Side of Sheol

Luke 16:22, Luke 23:43, John 20:17

• Abraham’s Bosom: a comforting place for the righteous
• Jesus went here after His death, not straight to heaven
• A place distinct from torment—but still “below”
• Jesus took these Souls with Him to Heaven when He Ascended to Heaven

3️⃣ Hades / Sheol — The Waiting Realm

Luke 16, Matthew 16:18, Revelation 20:13

• A temporary spiritual “holding place” for the souls of the dead
• Described with gates and influence
• Holds both righteous (pre-Christ) and unrighteous souls

4️⃣ The Abyss — The Bottomless Pit

Luke 8:31, Revelation 9:1–11, 20:1–3

• A terrifying prison even demons fear
• Releases tormenting creatures during the End Times
• Satan will be chained here for 1,000 years

5️⃣ The Lake of Fire — Final Judgment

Revelation 20:11–15, Revelation 21:8

• The final, eternal destination for:
  • Satan
  • Fallen angels
  • Unredeemed humanity
• Even death and Hades will be thrown into it

Paranormal & Cultural Echoes of an Underworld

Across history and cultures, people speak of entrances to a realm of the dead—all pointing downward.

The “Well to Hell” Urban Legend

In the 1980s, Soviet engineers in Siberia allegedly drilled over 9 miles deep—and claimed to hear screams from hell.
Urban myth? Possibly. Still unsettling? Absolutely.

Ancient “Gates to the Underworld”

• Derinkuyu, Turkey — A city 18 stories underground
• Pluto’s Gate, Turkey — Ancient cave said to kill instantly from toxic gas
• Mount Osore, Japan — A volcanic “gateway” to the spirit realm

These echo the biblical view—a reality beneath our feet.

Final Thought: Jesus Didn’t Avoid the Depths—He Defeated Them

Jesus went lower than anyone ever has, so we wouldn’t have to:

“I was dead, and now I am alive forevermore, and I hold the keys to Death and Hades.” — Revelation 1:18

He took on the deepest pit…
So you could be raised to the highest heights.

So… Where Is Hell located?

Maybe the real question is this:

Not just “Where is hell?”
But — “How do I make sure I never go there?”

📖 The answer: Jesus.
He holds the keys. He’s the way out of the pit—and the only way up.

If you would like to let Jesus into your heart, here are some salvation prayers to start your new life in Christ!

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