Does hell have levels, each with a different degree of punishment?

from the old testament

• Potential levels of hell are not recorded in the Old Testament. Rather, the Old Testament consistently presents a contrast between the blessed side of eternity and the side of punishment. The righteous are promised rest and peace in God's presence (Psalm 16:10-11; Daniel 12:2-3), while the wicked face judgment and separation from Him (Isaiah 66:24; Psalm 9:17).
• This division is seen in Sheol, the realm of the dead, where the faithful anticipate God's redemption, and the unfaithful experience distress (Job 21:30; Proverbs 15:24). Though the concept of eternal destinations is more fully revealed in the New Testament, the Old Testament affirms that God's justice ensures both reward and punishment beyond this life.

from the new testament

• While it is not enjoyable to discuss the afterlife of unbelievers, Jesus was clear that many would spend the afterlife apart from Him. Matthew 7:13-14 notes, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Notice that Jesus emphasized following Him to avoid hell, not to seek a lower punishment in hell.
• Luke 16:19-31 notes the punishment of hell will be severe for all who endure it. In Luke 16:24, a certain rich man begged for a drop of water on his tongue to quench his agony. Furthermore, he begged God to send someone to warn his family about the agony of hell so they would not receive the same punishment (Luke 16:28).
• Revelation 20:11-15 is the primary passage to support the possibility of levels in hell . There, people are judged according to what they had done as "recorded in the books" (Revelation 20:12). While this may indicate that the "lake of fire" is made up of varying degrees of torment, the Bible emphasizes avoiding eternal separation from God as He desires that no one would perish (John 3:16) but that we would have eternal life.
• Scripture focuses on avoiding hell and helping others to avoid it rather than on possible degrees or levels of hell . God went to great lengths to provide salvation for us through Jesus, including subjecting His own son to a painful crucifixion. He did this to provide an opportunity for us to experience eternity with Him. We are called to receive Him (John 1:12) as well as to tell others about the love of Christ so that they, too, can enjoy heaven with Him (Matthew 28:18-20).

implications for today

The Bible does not explicitly tell us whether there are different "levels" of hell. Rather, the idea that hell includes different levels was first popularized in the Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri between 1308 and 1321. In it, Roman poet Virgil guides Dante through the nine circles of hell. The circles are concentric, representing a gradual increase in wickedness, and culminating at the center of the earth, where Satan is held in bondage. Each circle's sinners are punished in a fashion befitting their crimes. Each sinner is afflicted for all of eternity by the chief sin he committed. According to Dante, the circles range from the first circle, where dwell the unbaptized and virtuous pagans, to the very center of hell reserved for those who have committed the ultimate sin—treachery against God.

We often focus on the details of hell, but the Bible’s primary concern is that we do not end up there. Whether or not hell has different levels, it is a place of suffering and separation from God—a fate Jesus repeatedly warned against. Instead of speculating on degrees of punishment, we should focus on the certainty of God’s justice and His offer of salvation. God does not desire that anyone perish (2 Peter 3:9), and He has made a way for us to be with Him through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). We should respond with gratitude for our salvation and urgency in sharing the gospel so others may escape judgment and receive eternal life.