Is hell eternal separation from God?

TL;DR:

Yes, hell is eternal separation from God and all that is good. Jesus Himself bore the punishment for our sins, so all who put their faith in Him as Savior will receive His forgiveness and eternal life instead of being eternally separated from Him.

what does the bible say?

Yes, hell is described in the Bible as eternal separation from God. The Old Testament foreshadows this separation through the consequence Satan faced for his rebellion (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:12–17). After death, there are only two destinations—heaven for the righteous who have faith in Jesus Christ and hell for the unrighteous who reject Him (Matthew 25:34, 41, 46; Luke 16:22–23). Hell is characterized by outer darkness (Matthew 8:12), a prison (1 Peter 3:19), and a lake of fire (Luke 16:24; Revelation 20:14–15). Second Thessalonians 1:8–9 describes it as eternal punishment, entirely separated from the Lord’s presence. This is what those who reject Jesus reveal that they desire, but they do not realize what they are asking for. To be apart from God is to be separated from all that is good because He is the source of all that is good (James 1:17). However, Jesus Himself bore our punishment for sins, so all who put their faith in Him as Savior will receive His forgiveness and eternal life.

from the old testament

Hell being eternal separation from God is found primarily in the New Testament, but the Old Testament reveals Satan being separated from God when he rebelled against Him (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:12–17), which prefigures the eternal separation that those in hell will face.

from the new testament

Throughout the Bible, it is evident that there are two locations for human souls to go to after death—heaven or hell (Matthew 25:34, 41, 46; Luke 16:22–23). Those who are righteous inherit an eternity in heaven, while those who are unrighteous are sent to an eternity in hell.
There is only one way to be declared righteous before God, and that is by putting faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, acknowledging His death and resurrection as provision for the forgiveness of sins (John 3:16–18; Romans 10:9).
The souls of those who have been made righteous through salvation immediately enter the presence of the Lord upon death (Luke 23:43; 2 Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23).
The unrighteous are banished to eternity in hell upon death. This eternal damnation is described as outer darkness (Matthew 8:12), a prison (1 Peter 3:19), and a lake of fire (Luke 16:24; Revelation 20:14–15).
Second Thessalonians 1:8–9 describes the eternal consequences for those who are unrighteous before God: "in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might." The worst part of hell is being eternally separated from the Lord.

implications for today

There will be no second chances to repent and be saved after death (Hebrews 9:27; Jude 1:13; Matthew 25:46). Hell has no redemption to offer, only suffering. The distinction between light and darkness, good and evil, will be unmistakable. To be in hell is to be apart from God's light (1 John 1:5), peace (Ephesians 2:14), mercy (Lamentations 3:23–24), joy (Matthew 25:23), and love (1 John 4:8). To be apart from God is to be separated from all that is good because He is the source of all that is good (James 1:17).

Jesus Himself bore our punishment for sin, but until we put our faith in Him as our Savior, we will not receive His forgiveness and eternal life: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). In Jesus, we are no longer condemned but forgiven: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). Instead of being condemned for our sins and sent to an eternity in hell, Jesus's sacrifice gives us the ability to have everlasting life with Him in heaven (John 3:16–18).

If you have not yet received Jesus as your Savior, and you are interested to know more, please read our article "How can I be saved?"

understand

Hell is described as eternal separation from God, cut off from His presence and all that is good.
The Old Testament hints at this separation with Satan’s rebellion and punishment as a prefiguration of hell’s fate.
The New Testament affirms that there are only two destinations after death—heaven for the righteous and hell for the unrighteous who reject Jesus.

reflect

What aspects of God's goodness do you value most, and how might the absence of these in hell influence your understanding of its severity?
How does the reality of eternal separation from God shape your perspective on life and decisions today?
How does the message of Jesus bearing our punishment for sins impact your view on grace and forgiveness?

engage

How is eternal separation from God reconciled with God's nature and character?
How can we better communicate the importance of faith in Jesus to those who do not yet believe?
How does the seriousness of eternal separation from God impact the way we live?