The controversy of whether Jesus went to hell after One of the most enigmatic and contentious subjects in Christian theology is his crucifixion. This idea, which has its roots in the Apostles’ Creed’s “He descended into hell,” is based on a number of intricate New Testament passages that allude to Christ’s actions during the three days between His death and resurrection.
The “harrowing of hell,” a theological concept in which Jesus is viewed as a triumphant King who entered the afterlife to proclaim victory, fulfill prophecy, and obtain the keys of death and Hades, rather than as a victim of the underworld, is explored in these verses.
From a scriptural perspective, the conversation frequently revolves around the writings of Peter and Paul, who depict Christ going down into the “lower, earthly regions” and speaking to “the spirits in prison.” These verses imply that Jesus’s work extended into the very center of the grave rather than being completed on the cross.
Traditionally, this descent has been interpreted as a rescue mission—a divine battle against the forces of evil and a release of the good spirits who awaited the arrival of the Messiah. We can better understand the scope of Christ’s victory—from the highest heavens to the lowest depths of the created order—by studying these verses.
It is necessary to carefully distinguish between the different biblical words for the hereafter, such as Sheol, Hades, and Gehenna, to comprehend these verses. The biblical story presents Jesus’ fall as a triumphant admission into the world of the dead to proclaim the accomplishment of His redemptive work, rather than implying that He endured endless punishment. These verses provide the believer with a deep sense of confidence because they attest to the fact that Christ’s power extends to every aspect of life, including the cemetery. The best evidence that Jesus has indeed vanquished all of humanity’s adversaries, even death itself, comes from this study of His descent into the depths.
40 Inspiring Bible Verses About Jesus Going To Hell (2026)
1. 1 Peter 3:18-20
“For Christ also suffered once for sins… being put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—to those who were disobedient long ago.”
This is the foundational text for the descent into hell. Peter describes a specific mission Jesus undertook in the Spirit after His physical death but before His resurrection. This verse teaches us that Jesus’s presence was active even in the grave; He did not remain dormant but “proclaimed” His victory to those in spiritual bondage. It suggests that Christ’s authority extends backward through time, reaching even those who lived in the days of Noah, ensuring that no era of history is outside His jurisdiction.
2. Ephesians 4:9-10
“What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.”
In this passage, Paul argues that Christ’s exaltation is mathematically and spiritually linked to His descent into the “lower regions.” This verse teaches us about the staggering scope of Christ’s mission. To “fill the whole universe,” Jesus had to occupy every extreme—from the lowest depths of the underworld to the highest throne of heaven. It reassures the believer that there is no place we can go where Christ has not already been, effectively “sanctifying” the path from death to life.
3. Acts 2:27
“Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your holy one see decay.”
Quoting the Psalms on the day of Pentecost, Peter applies this prophecy directly to Jesus. This verse clarifies the nature of the descent. While Jesus truly entered the “realm of the dead” (Hades), He was not abandoned there. This teaches us that Christ’s journey into hell was a visitation, not a permanent residence. It provides the crucial distinction that Jesus experienced the reality of death to conquer it, but His divinity and sinlessness prevented the grave from “decaying” or holding Him captive.
4. Revelation 1:18
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
This post-resurrection declaration from Jesus Himself reveals the spoils of His mission. One does not obtain keys to a city without first entering it. This verse teaches us that Jesus’s descent was a tactical strike against the gates of hell. By entering the realm of the dead, He legally and spiritually seized authority over it. For the believer, this means that death is no longer a sovereign power but a door whose key is held by the Savior.
5. Psalm 16:10
“Because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.”
As the prophetic blueprint for the descent, this Psalm anticipates the Messiah’s temporary stay in Sheol. It highlights the absolute trust between the Father and the Son during the three days of darkness. This verse teaches us about the security of God’s promises. Even in the depths of the “realm of the dead,” the covenant remains intact. It serves as an anchor for those facing their own mortality, proving that God’s faithfulness is not limited by the boundaries of the physical world.
6. Zechariah 9:11
“As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.”
This prophetic promise points to the covenantal necessity of the descent. The “waterless pit” was a common metaphor for the holding place of the dead. This verse teaches us that Christ’s blood was the legal price paid to unlock the gates for those who died in faith before the cross. It reminds us that God does not forget His people, even those who lived centuries before the incarnation; the power of the blood reaches backward into the “pit” to bring out the prisoners of hope.
7. Matthew 12:40
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”
Jesus uses the story of Jonah to provide a physical location for His state after death. By saying He would be in the “heart of the earth,” He indicates a descent into the depths rather than just a state of non-existence. This verse teaches us that Jesus’s burial was not a passive sleep but a journey into the deep. Just as Jonah was spit out to bring life to Nineveh, Jesus emerged from the heart of the earth to bring the message of life to the whole world.
8. 1 Peter 4:6
“For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.”
This verse expands on the evangelistic scope of the descent. While debated, it suggests that the “Good News” was made available to those who had already passed away, ensuring God’s judgment is perfectly just. It teaches us that Christ’s victory was so thorough that it broke the barriers of time. Even the “dead” were allowed to see the light of the Gospel, affirming that God’s desire for reconciliation extends to every soul that has ever existed.
9. Psalm 107:14-16
“He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness, and broke their chains. For he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron.”
Often cited in liturgical traditions as the anthem of the Harrowing of Hell, these verses describe the shattering of the underworld’s defenses. This teaches us that the realm of the dead could not withstand the presence of the Holy One. When Jesus descended, the “gates of bronze”—symbolizing the permanence of death—were rendered powerless. It serves as a visual of the “Stronger Man” (Jesus) entering the house of the “Strong Man” (Death) and plundering his goods.
10. Matthew 27:52-53
“The tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”
This miraculous event is the physical evidence of the descent’s success. The opening of the tombs suggests that Christ’s arrival in the realm of the dead caused a seismic shift in the status of the “holy people.” This verse teaches us that the resurrection of Jesus had an immediate “ripple effect” on those waiting in Sheol. Their appearance in Jerusalem was a living testimony that the “King of Glory” had successfully navigated the depths and brought captives with Him.
11. Matthew 16:18
“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”
This is Jesus’s offensive declaration against the underworld. Gates are defensive structures; for the gates of Hades not to “overcome” the Church, it implies the Church is the one attacking. This verse teaches us that Jesus’s descent was the first and greatest assault on these gates. By descending, He proved that Hades is not an impenetrable fortress. Because He broke through those gates first, His followers no longer have to fear being locked behind them.
12. Isaiah 24:21-22
“In that day the Lord will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below. They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days.”
This prophecy speaks to the imprisonment of rebellious powers. Often linked to the “spirits in prison” in 1 Peter, this verse describes a cosmic “dungeon.” This teaches us that Christ’s descent included a judicial component. He did not just go to rescue the righteous; He went to verify the incarceration of the fallen “powers.” His presence in the depths served as a final sentencing, proving that His sovereignty extends even to the most rebellious corners of the spirit world.
13. Colossians 2:15
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
While the cross was the primary site of victory, the public spectacle took place in the unseen realm. Ancient “triumphs” involved a conquering general parading defeated enemies through the city. This verse teaches us that Christ’s descent was a victory march. He “disarmed” the demonic authorities who claimed ownership of the souls in the underworld. By walking through their territory, He showed the entire spiritual hierarchy that they had been stripped of their legal right to hold humanity captive.
14. Luke 16:22-26
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side… In Hades, where he was in torment, [the rich man] looked up and saw Abraham far away.”
This parable provides the map of the afterlife before Christ’s resurrection. It describes a “great chasm” between the place of torment and “Abraham’s Side” (Paradise). Many theologians believe that when Jesus descended, He emptied the “Paradise” side of Hades and moved it into the presence of God. This verse teaches us that the descent changed the location of the righteous dead; because of Christ’s work, we no longer wait in a “holding cell” in the earth, but are “away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
15. Hosea 13:14
“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?”
This bold Old Testament challenge is the prophetic taunt that Jesus made a reality. By descending into the grave, Jesus became the “destruction” of the grave. This verse teaches us that God’s plan was always to consume death from the inside out. Jesus’s visit to hell was like a physician entering a plague-ridden city to provide the cure; His presence acted as a “plague” to Death itself, eventually leading to its total abolishment.
16. Colossians 1:18
“And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.”
This verse establishes Jesus as the pioneer of the resurrection. To be the “firstborn from among the dead,” He had to truly occupy the place of the dead. This teaches us that Jesus’s descent was a necessary step in His becoming the “Head” of a new humanity. By being the first to enter the grave and come out the other side with a glorified body, He broke the “monopoly” that death held over the human race, ensuring His supremacy over both the living and the departed.
17. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22
“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.”
Using agricultural imagery, Paul describes Jesus as the “firstfruits” of the harvest. In the Old Testament, the first sheaf of grain was a promise of the entire harvest to come. This verse teaches us that Jesus’s successful return from the “lower regions” is the guarantee of our own. Because the “firstfruits” (Jesus) were not held by the grave, the rest of the harvest (the believers) can be certain that they too will be brought out of the earth in due time.
18. Romans 14:9
“For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living.”
This verse explains the jurisdictional purpose of the descent. Jesus did not just want to be the King of those currently on earth; He went into the grave to stake His claim over those who had already passed away. This teaches us that Christ’s lordship is retroactive and all-encompassing. Whether a person is “asleep” in the grave or walking the earth, they are under the authority of the One who has navigated both realms.
19. Hebrews 2:14-15
“Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.”
This passage highlights the spiritual warfare inherent in the descent. To “break the power” of the one who holds death, Jesus had to meet death on its own turf. This verse teaches us that the descent was a pursuit. Jesus shared our “flesh and blood” so He could die, and He died so He could follow the devil into the stronghold of the grave and dismantle his weapon of fear.
20. Acts 26:23
“…that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”
Paul’s defense before Agrippa emphasizes that the Messiah’s return from the depths was a light-bearing mission. This verse teaches us that Jesus didn’t just escape the grave; He brought “the message of light” out with Him. His descent into the “darkness” of the afterlife was the means by which that darkness was finally dispelled, offering a new perspective on eternity to both Jews and Gentiles alike.
21. Acts 2:24
“But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”
This verse refers to the breaking of the “birth pains” of death. The Greek word for “agony” or “pains” (ōdin) often refers to labor pains. This teaches us that Christ’s time in the grave was like a tumultuous “birthing” process for the new creation. It was “impossible” for the grave to hold Him because Life cannot be permanently contained by death; the descent was the necessary pressure before the explosive release of the Resurrection.
22. Psalm 18:4-5
“The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me.”
Often interpreted as the Messiah’s experience in the tomb, these verses describe the suffocating nature of the afterlife before Christ’s victory. This teaches us that Jesus truly felt the “entanglement” of mortality. He allowed Himself to be “coiled” by the grave so that He could snap the cords from the inside. It reminds us that our Savior understands the visceral fear of death because He stood where the “torrents of destruction” were at their strongest.
23. Jonah 2:2-3
“In my distress I called to the Lord… From the deep in the realm of the dead I called for help… You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas.”
As Jesus explicitly linked Himself to Jonah, this prayer becomes the voice of the descending Christ. This verse teaches us that even in the “realm of the dead,” Jesus maintained communication with the Father. It highlights the profound isolation of the “heart of the seas” (the center of the grave), proving that Jesus descended into the furthest point of separation to ensure that even there, God’s ear is open to those who call.
24. Psalm 88:3-6
“I am counted among those who go down to the pit… You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.”
Psalm 88 is the only lament in the Bible that does not end in a note of praise, representing the darkest moment of the descent. It describes the “lowest pit”—a place of perceived abandonment. This teaches us that Jesus’s descent was a complete identification with the lost. He entered the “darkest depths” so that there would be no pit so deep that His light could not reach it. He took on the silence of the grave so that we might have the song of the redeemed.
25. Lamentations 3:55-57
“I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea… You came near when I called you, and you said, ‘Do not fear.’”
This passage provides the divine response to the descent. It echoes the transition from the burial to the early movements of the Resurrection. This verse teaches us that God’s presence is not restricted by geography. Even in the “depths of the pit,” the Father was “near” to the Son. This serves as a final comfort to believers: if God was present with Jesus in the depths of the earth, He will surely be present with us in our moments of deepest trial.
26. Luke 11:21-22
“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.”
This parable provides the military strategy of the descent. In this context, the “strong man” is the devil and his “house” is the realm of death. This verse teaches us that Jesus’s entry into the grave was a violent intrusion. He didn’t just walk in; He “overpowered” the guardian of death and “divided the plunder”—liberating the souls that had been held captive under the armor of fear and sin.
27. Isaiah 53:12
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death… and bore the sin of many.”
This prophecy links the act of dying with the act of looting. By “pouring out his life,” Jesus earned the right to “divide the spoils.” This teaches us that the “spoils” of the descent are the redeemed souls of humanity. The grave was forced to give up its treasures because Jesus satisfied the legal debt of sin that kept them locked away. He entered the underworld to reclaim His property.
28. Matthew 12:29
“Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.”
Jesus emphasizes the necessity of “binding” the enemy. The descent was the moment the binding was finalized in the heart of the enemy’s territory. This verse teaches us that the Resurrection was only possible because the “strong man” had been neutralized in the depths. By “tying up” the authority of death during those three days, Jesus ensured that when He rose, He could carry off the “possessions”—the keys to life and the souls of the faithful.
29. Colossians 2:14
“…having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
While the nailing happened on the cross, the cancellation of the debt was proclaimed in the descent. The “legal indebtedness” was the contract that gave death power over humans. This verse teaches us that Jesus entered the grave with a “paid in full” receipt. By presenting His own sinless life as the settlement, He made the prison of the grave legally unenforceable for those who belong to Him.
30. Isaiah 49:24-25
“Can plunder be taken from warriors, or captives be rescued from the fierce? But this is what the Lord says: ‘Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you.’”
This is the divine challenge to the power of the grave. The “warrior” here is Death, and the “captives” are the righteous dead. This verse teaches us that God’s power is greater than the “fierceness” of the underworld. It confirms that the descent was an act of “contending”—a divine rescue mission where God Himself stepped into the arena to snatch His people back from a seemingly invincible captor.
31. Psalm 24:7-10
“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.”
Often associated with the “triumphal entry” into the underworld, this psalm depicts a demand for entry that the gates of death cannot refuse. This verse teaches us that Jesus did not approach the grave as a beggar, but as a “Warrior-King.” When He descended, He commanded the “ancient doors” of Sheol to yield. It shows that His presence in the depths was a demonstration of “might in battle,” forcing the very structures of the afterlife to acknowledge His sovereignty.
32. Philippians 2:10-11
“…that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord.”
This verse outlines the triple jurisdiction of Christ. By including the phrase “under the earth,” Paul confirms that Jesus’s lordship was formally established in the subterranean realm of the dead. This teaches us that the descent was the moment the “under the earth” inhabitants—both human spirits and fallen angels—were forced to bow. It was not an invitation to believe, but a mandatory recognition of the fact that the “Last Adam” had successfully reclaimed the cosmos.
33. 1 Peter 3:22
“…who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in universal submission to him.”
While this describes His current state, it is the result of His downward journey. Peter links the submission of “powers” to Christ’s movement. This verse teaches us that the “authorities” in the spirit world were put into “universal submission” because Jesus confronted them in their own territory. By descending before He ascended, He proved there was no stronghold left where rebellion could hide from His authority.
34. Micah 2:13
“The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out… Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.”
Known as the “Breaker” prophecy, this describes a leader who smashes through a barrier to lead his people to freedom. This verse teaches us that Jesus’s descent was the “breaking open” of the way. He acted as the divine pioneer who smashed the gate of the prison from the inside. Because the King “passed through before them,” the path from the depths to the heights is now an open highway for all who are in Him.
35. Hebrews 12:23-24
“…to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God… to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant.”
This verse highlights the perfection of the Old Testament saints. Many theologians believe this “perfection” occurred when Jesus descended and applied the New Covenant to those “spirits of the righteous” who had died under the old system. This teaches us that the descent was the bridge between “waiting” and “perfection.” Jesus’s visit to the depths provided the mediation necessary to bring those souls into the full, heavenly presence of God.
36. Hosea 13:14
“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?”
This prophetic challenge is the ultimate taunt of the victor. By entering the grave, Jesus became the “plague” that destroyed death from within. This verse teaches us that Christ’s descent was a medicinal strike; He introduced His perfect life into the realm of death, acting as a divine “virus” that dismantled the grave’s power. It assures us that the “destruction” of death is not a future hope alone, but a historical reality achieved during those three days.
37. 2 Timothy 1:10
“…but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”
Paul explicitly states that Jesus “destroyed death.” This destruction was finalized when Jesus walked out of the lower regions. This verse teaches us that the “darkness” of the afterlife has been replaced by the “light” of immortality. Because Jesus brought this light out of the depths, we no longer view the grave as a place of shadows, but as a conquered territory that has been illuminated by the Gospel.
38. Romans 6:9
“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.”
This verse highlights the finality of the victory. When Jesus descended and returned, He broke the “mastery” of death forever. This teaches us that the descent was a one-time, decisive event. Death exhausted its full power on Jesus, and it failed to hold Him. Therefore, for those united with Christ, death has lost its “mastery” over us as well; it is no longer a lord to be feared, but a defeated servant that must yield to the life of God.
39. Revelation 20:14
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.”
This describes the final disposal of the underworld. Because Jesus already conquered Hades during His descent, its eventual destruction is a legal certainty. This verse teaches us that “Hades” is a temporary holding place that has already been judged. By visiting it and taking its keys, Jesus marked it for demolition. For the believer, this means the “second death” is an impossibility, because we belong to the One who has already survived the first death and stripped the second of its sting.
40. Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons… nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
We end with the universal guarantee of God’s love. By specifically mentioning that “depth” cannot separate us from God, Paul alludes to the reality that Christ has claimed the “depths” for Himself. This verse teaches us that there is no spiritual “basement” or underworld where God’s love cannot reach. Because Jesus descended into the “depth,” He filled that space with His presence, ensuring that even in death, we are held within the love of the Father.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the evidence found in the Bible about Jesus’s descent into the afterlife is a potent illustration of how comprehensive His redeeming work was. Whether read as a literal voyage into the earth’s heart or as a symbolic victory over the “keys of death and Hades,” these verses highlight how Christ’s authority affects all aspects of the human experience. Jesus showed that His victory extended beyond the material world and the living by going into the depths. He chased the enemy all the way to the gates of the grave, ensuring that death would no longer have the last say.
In the end, a believer might get a deep and unwavering hope by studying Christ’s activities between the crucifixion and the resurrection. It gives us comfort in knowing that the Savior’s hand can reach the “lowest region,” the depth of despair, and the finality of death. Because He descended, He has sanctified even death for those who follow Him, demonstrating that a King who has previously traveled this route before us is keeping an eye on the passage from this life.
