Jesus’ journey into hell, sometimes known as the “harrowing of hell,” is one of the most enigmatic and potent aspects of His atoning ministry. This belief, which has its roots in early Christian creeds like the Apostles’ Creed, states that Jesus went to the afterlife following His crucifixion. This act proclaims victory over sin, death, and the afterlife rather than defeat.
The Bible makes reference to Jesus’ descend into the lower parts of the earth, even though it doesn’t say “Jesus went to hell” outright. Scriptures such as Acts 2:31, 1 Peter 3:18–20, and Ephesians 4:9 provide insights into this time. According to these bible verses about Jesus descending into hell, Jesus entered the realm of the dead and rose from the grave, declared His victory, released prisoners, and fulfilled prophecy.
Because Jesus fully experienced every aspect of human life, including death in its most complete form, His descent is significant. Jesus showed that no realm is out of His grasp and that His might reaches to the depths of the grave by going down into hell. This confirms to believers that Christ’s salvation is comprehensive, bringing hope and life to every part of the world.
We are encouraged to consider the extent of Jesus’ sacrifice and the entirety of His victory as we read Bible verses about Jesus descending into hell. This sometimes disregarded facet of Jesus’ mission emphasizes that, in addition to atoning for our sins, He also went to the point of final separation so that we would never have to. These words point to a Savior who provides redemption even from the depths and vanquishes all darkness.
30 Most Effective Bible Verses About Jesus Descending Into Hell in 2025
1. Ephesians 4:9
“(What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?)”
This verse directly addresses Christ’s descent before His ascension. Paul explains that Jesus not only rose to the heavens but also descended to the lower parts of the earth, often interpreted as His descent into Hades. This action reveals the fullness of His redemptive mission—to reach even the depths of death and darkness to proclaim victory and liberate the captives. It testifies to the completeness of Christ’s authority over all realms, both spiritual and physical.
2. 1 Peter 3:18-19
“He was 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.”
Peter offers one of the clearest biblical references to Jesus descending to preach to the spirits in prison. This mysterious passage is often interpreted to mean that Jesus, after His crucifixion, entered the realm of the dead to proclaim His triumph. It reflects His divine authority and the cosmic impact of His sacrifice—not just for the living but also for those awaiting redemption.
3. Acts 2:31
“Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.”
Peter, quoting Psalm 16, affirms that Jesus entered the realm of the dead (Sheol or Hades) but was not left there. This verse underscores both His descent and His victorious resurrection. It reveals that Jesus’ experience of death was complete, yet it did not end in defeat. Instead, His resurrection marks the defeat of death and the promise of eternal life for all believers.
4. Romans 10:6-7
“Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”
Paul uses this rhetorical argument to emphasize that the gospel is near and accessible, not dependent on human effort to reach the heights or depths. His reference to descending into “the deep” echoes the reality of Christ’s death and descent, affirming that Jesus has already accomplished what no human could. This passage deepens our understanding of Christ’s redemptive journey through death and resurrection.
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.”
This prophetic verse, quoted in Acts 2, is seen by Christians as a foretelling of Christ’s death and resurrection. It affirms the promise that Jesus, though He descended into the realm of the dead, would not remain there. God’s faithfulness ensured that the Messiah would rise, defeating death and affirming His divine identity.
6. Colossians 2:15
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”
Though it doesn’t explicitly mention hell, this verse alludes to Christ’s victory over spiritual powers through His death and descent. Many interpret this as referring to Jesus proclaiming triumph over demonic forces in the lower realms. His descent was not one of defeat, but of authority, reclaiming dominion over all creation.
7. Revelation 1:18
“I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
Jesus declares His eternal life and His absolute authority over death and Hades. Holding the keys symbolizes complete control and access—proof that He entered the domain of death and emerged victorious. This verse stands as a powerful testimony to His descent and conquering of the grave.
8. 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 Jonah’s story as a metaphor for His own death and burial. The “heart of the earth” is understood as a poetic reference to His descent into the realm of the dead. This comparison not only foretells His death but also His ultimate deliverance and resurrection, mirroring Jonah’s return from the depths.
9. 1 Peter 4:6
“For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead…”
Peter expands on Christ’s descent by explaining that the gospel reached even those who had died. This reinforces the theme of Jesus’ mission extending beyond physical life, offering redemption to souls awaiting judgment. His descent was part of God’s redemptive plan for all humanity, past and present.
10. Philippians 2:10
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth.”
This verse captures the cosmic scope of Christ’s lordship. “Under the earth” is often understood as a reference to the realm of the dead or demonic forces. Jesus’ name commands reverence across all creation—including the places He descended to after His death—affirming His total supremacy.
11. Job 33:28
“God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.”
Though spoken by Elihu in Job, this verse echoes the hope of deliverance from death. In Christian theology, it foreshadows Christ’s victory over the grave. Jesus descended into the pit, but God raised Him to life, making this deliverance available to all who believe in Him.
12. 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 verse speaks of covenantal freedom through blood—a powerful image fulfilled in Christ. Jesus’ descent into death was to liberate the souls imprisoned in darkness. Through His blood, He opens the gates of salvation and brings freedom to the captives of sin and death.
13. Isaiah 61:1
“He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.”
Jesus quoted this passage at the start of His ministry, signaling His mission to set people free. Many scholars see this as spiritually connected to His descent—where He proclaims release to those bound by death. His gospel message reaches even the darkest places to bring light and life.
14. Hosea 13:14
“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.”
This powerful promise from Hosea finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ. His descent into death was not just symbolic—it was the battlefield on which He paid the ransom for humanity. This verse proclaims the defeat of the grave and the future resurrection promised to all believers.
15. Matthew 27:52-53
“The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.”
After Jesus’ death, a supernatural event took place where many dead saints were raised. This unique moment suggests that Christ’s death and descent disrupted the realm of the dead. It foreshadows the resurrection power that comes through His victory over the grave.
16. Luke 23:43
“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.’”
Jesus’ promise to the repentant thief reveals that His death would lead directly to a realm of peace—paradise. Many interpret this as a temporary resting place for the righteous dead, where Jesus descended before His resurrection, proclaiming peace and salvation.
17. John 5:25
“A time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.”
This verse presents Jesus as the life-giver, even to the dead. His voice reaches beyond the grave, awakening hearts and souls. It reflects His divine authority during His descent—to call forth life from death and to declare the coming resurrection.
18. Psalm 88:6
“You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths.”
This psalm of lament is often seen as a prophetic foreshadowing of Christ’s descent into the depths. Jesus bore the weight of abandonment and death, descending into the darkest places on our behalf. It reveals the cost of redemption and the depth of His love.
19. Jonah 2:2
“From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”
Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish is rich with resurrection imagery. Jesus likens His own experience to Jonah’s time in the depths. This verse points to God’s power to hear and rescue, even from the heart of Sheol—the realm of the dead.
20. 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.”
Paul emphasizes the comprehensive lordship of Christ—He is not only Lord over the living but also the dead. This statement affirms His descent and resurrection as essential to His authority over all life, securing salvation across both realms.
21. Hebrews 2:14
“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.”
Jesus took on human nature so that through His death, He could destroy the one who wielded the power of death. This verse affirms the cosmic battle that took place through His descent—where Christ faced death and Satan, and overcame them both. His victory freed humanity from the grip of fear and eternal separation.
22. 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.”
In this declaration, Jesus asserts that the power of death (Hades) will not prevail against His church. This implies His authority over the underworld, further fulfilled by His descent into Hades after the crucifixion. Christ’s church is built on His victory over death, not just His teachings.
23. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…”
Paul summarizes the gospel message: death, burial, and resurrection. The burial signifies Christ’s descent—His full entry into death. Yet this was not the end, for the resurrection marks His triumphant return. This sequence forms the foundation of Christian faith and hope.
24. Isaiah 53:9
“He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.”
This prophetic passage describes the death and burial of the suffering servant—Jesus. Though innocent, He fully entered into death. His grave experience was not symbolic; it was real. This validates His descent and shows He shared fully in the human experience of dying.
25. Psalm 139:8
“If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”
This verse highlights God’s omnipresence—even in the realm of the dead. It reflects the truth that Jesus’ presence extended to Sheol (Hades). His descent was not abandonment but fulfillment—God was present even in death, reaching into the deepest places to redeem.
26. Luke 16:22-23
“The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment…”
In Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus, He describes Hades as a real place of awareness after death. While not a direct reference to His own descent, this parable provides context for the afterlife in Jewish understanding, into which Christ Himself descended following His death.
27. Revelation 20:13-14
“The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them…”
This eschatological verse shows that even death and Hades are under God’s command. Jesus’ descent was a prelude to this final victory, where Hades itself will surrender its captives. It is a promise that all who belong to Christ will be raised and judged in righteousness.
28. Lamentations 3:55-56
“I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: ‘Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.’”
This heartfelt prayer from the pit resonates with Jesus’ experience in the realm of the dead. Though written during Israel’s suffering, it reflects the spiritual reality Christ faced—and overcame. It reassures us that God hears even in the deepest despair and delivers powerfully.
29. Zephaniah 3:15
“The Lord has taken away your punishment, he has turned back your enemy…”
This prophetic verse foreshadows Christ’s mission—to remove punishment and defeat our enemy. His descent into death was not defeat, but a redemptive invasion. Through it, He disarmed sin, death, and Satan, fulfilling this ancient promise of divine reversal and victory.
30. 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 proclaims the ultimate purpose of Christ’s mission: to destroy death and bring life. His descent into death was necessary to dismantle its power from within. The gospel now shines with hope—not only for life on earth but eternal life, secured by Jesus’ journey through and beyond the grave.
Conclusion
A significant and astounding fact that serves as a reminder of the breadth of Jesus’ redemptive mission is His descend into hell. Not only did He die on the cross, but He also descended into the depths of death itself, proclaiming victory and destroying the hold of sin and death. No area is too lost, too dark, or too far from God’s love and might, as this act reassures us.
The fullness of Christ’s work becomes more clear to us when we consider the Scriptures that describe His descent. Jesus came into the world of the dead as a victor, not a victim. All believers can find great hope in His victory there, which confirms that death has been vanquished and that eternal life is guaranteed through Him.
In the end, those who believe in Jesus find solace and assurance in His journey into death and His victorious resurrection. The One who reigns in grandeur is also the One who went to such lengths for us. These verses serve as a reminder that we have a Savior who brings salvation, light, and eternal life by conquering all obstacles, including death itself.
