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Hell vs. Purgatory — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 8, 2023
Hell is considered a place of eternal torment for the damned, whereas Purgatory is seen as a temporary state of purification for souls destined for Heaven.
Hell vs. Purgatory — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Hell and Purgatory

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Key Differences

Hell is a term widely used in religious texts to describe a place of eternal suffering, damnation, and separation from God. It is often depicted as an underworld and is considered a permanent state for souls who are judged unworthy of salvation. Purgatory, on the other hand, is often considered a temporary state, not a place, where souls undergo purification to attain the sanctity needed to enter Heaven.
Hell is frequently illustrated with fire, brimstone, and demons, and is rooted in various religious traditions including Christianity, Islam, and certain philosophies. Purgatory, on the other hand, is mainly a concept in Roman Catholic theology. In Purgatory, the fire is considered purifying rather than punishing, aimed at cleansing the soul of residual sin.
Hell often invokes a sense of finality; it is a destination with no exit. Once a soul is damned to Hell, redemption is typically not possible according to most religious doctrines that include the concept of Hell. In contrast, Purgatory is a transient stage. Souls in Purgatory are destined for Heaven once they are purified, and their stay is temporary.
The concept of Hell is more universally recognized across different religions and philosophies, while the concept of Purgatory is specific to certain Christian denominations, primarily the Roman Catholic Church. While Hell serves as a warning of eternal punishment for wrongdoing, Purgatory offers a message of hope and a second chance for purification and eventual entrance to Heaven.

Comparison Chart

Nature

Permanent
Temporary
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Purpose

Punishment
Purification

Religious Origin

Various
Mainly Roman Catholicism

Imagery

Fire, brimstone, demons
Purifying fire

Finality

No exit, eternal
Leads to Heaven, temporary

Compare with Definitions

Hell

A place of eternal punishment and separation from God.
He feared going to Hell for his actions.

Purgatory

A temporary state of purification for souls destined for Heaven.
She believed her grandmother was in Purgatory.

Hell

An underworld realm depicted in various religious traditions.
Hell is described differently in each religion.

Purgatory

A theological concept of hope and second chances.
Purgatory offers a pathway to Heaven.

Hell

A state of immense suffering.
He described the experience as a living Hell.

Purgatory

A concept primarily in Roman Catholic theology.
Purgatory is less commonly accepted among Protestant denominations.

Hell

An expression denoting a terrible situation.
This traffic is Hell.

Purgatory

A place of temporary suffering.
The waiting room felt like Purgatory.

Hell

The abode of condemned souls and devils.
In Dante's Inferno, Hell has multiple layers.

Purgatory

A transitory condition of the soul.
Purgatory serves as a purifying stopover.

Hell

In religion and folklore, hell is an afterlife location in which evil souls are subjected to punitive suffering, often torture, as eternal punishment after death. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as eternal destinations, the biggest examples of which are Christianity and Islam, whereas religions with reincarnation usually depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations, as is the case in the dharmic religions.

Purgatory

Purgatory (Latin: purgatorium, borrowed into English via Anglo-Norman and Old French) is, according to the belief of some Christians (mostly Catholics), an intermediate state after physical death for expiatory purification. The process of purgatory is the final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.

Hell

A place regarded in various religions as a spiritual realm of evil and suffering, often traditionally depicted as a place of perpetual fire beneath the earth where the wicked are punished after death
Irreligious children were assumed to have passed straight to the eternal fires of hell

Purgatory

(in Catholic doctrine) a place or state of suffering inhabited by the souls of sinners who are expiating their sins before going to heaven
The punishment of souls in purgatory
All her sins were forgiven and she would not need to go to Purgatory

Hell

Used for emphasis or to express anger, contempt, or surprise
Who the hell are you?
Oh, hell—where will this all end?

Purgatory

Having the quality of cleansing or purifying
Infernal punishments are purgatory and medicinal

Hell

Often Hell The place of eternal punishment for the wicked after death, often imagined as being presided over by Satan and his devils.

Purgatory

Roman Catholic Church A state in which the souls of those who have died in grace must expiate their sins.

Hell

A state of separation from God; exclusion from God's presence.

Purgatory

A place or condition of suffering, expiation, or remorse
A purgatory of drug abuse.

Hell

The abode of the dead in any of various religious traditions, such as the Hebrew Sheol or the Greek Hades; the underworld.

Purgatory

Tending to cleanse or purge.

Hell

A situation or place of evil, misery, discord, or destruction
"War is hell" (William Tecumseh Sherman).

Purgatory

(Christianity) Purgatory

Hell

An extremely difficult experience; torment or anguish
Went through hell on the job.

Purgatory

Any situation where suffering is endured, particularly as part of a process of redemption.

Hell

The spirits in hell or the powers of evil
All hell could not stop him.

Purgatory

Tending to cleanse; expiatory.

Hell

(Informal) One that causes trouble, agony, or annoyance
The boss is hell when a job is poorly done.

Purgatory

Tending to cleanse; cleansing; expiatory.

Hell

A sharp scolding
Gave the student hell for cheating.

Purgatory

A state or place of purification after death; according to the Roman Catholic creed, a place, or a state believed to exist after death, in which the souls of persons are purified by expiating such offenses committed in this life as do not merit eternal damnation, or in which they fully satisfy the justice of God for sins that have been forgiven. After this purgation from the impurities of sin, the souls are believed to be received into heaven.

Hell

A tailor's receptacle for discarded material.

Purgatory

A temporary condition of torment or suffering;
A purgatory of drug abuse

Hell

(Printing) A hellbox.

Purgatory

(theology) in Roman Catholic theology the place where those who have died in a state of grace undergo limited torment to expiate their sins

Hell

An outstanding or noteworthy example
You are one hell of a good cook.

Hell

Used as an intensive
How the hell should I know?.

Hell

Used for intensive effect in idioms such as beat the hell out of (someone) for beat (someone) very badly.

Hell

(Archaic) A gambling house.

Hell

To behave riotously; carouse
Out all night helling around.

Hell

Used to express anger, disgust, or impatience.

Hell

A place of torment where some or all sinners and evil spirits are believed to go after death.
May you rot in hell!

Hell

A place or situation of great suffering in life.
My new boss is making my job a hell.
I went through hell to get home today.

Hell

(countable) A place for gambling.

Hell

(figuratively) An extremely hot place.
You don’t have a snowball's chance in hell.

Hell

Used as an intensifier in phrases grammatically requiring a noun.
I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it any more.
What the hell is wrong with you?!
He says he’s going home early? Like hell he is.

Hell

(obsolete) A place into which a tailor throws shreds, or a printer discards broken type.

Hell

Something extremely painful or harmful (to)
That steep staircase is hell on my knees.

Hell

Used to express discontent, unhappiness, or anger.
Oh, hell! I got another parking ticket.

Hell

Used to emphasize.
Hell, yeah!

Hell

Used to introduce an intensified statement following an understated one; nay; not only that, but.
Do it, or, rest assured, there will be no more Middle Eastern crisis – hell, there will be no more Middle East!

Hell

(postpositional) nodot=a or like hell.

Hell

To add luster to; to burnish (silver or gold).

Hell

(rare) To pour.

Hell

The place of the dead, or of souls after death; the grave; - called in Hebrew sheol, and by the Greeks hades.
He descended into hell.
Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell.

Hell

The place or state of punishment for the wicked after death; the abode of evil spirits. Hence, any mental torment; anguish.
It is a knellThat summons thee to heaven or to hell.

Hell

A place where outcast persons or things are gathered

Hell

To overwhelm.

Hell

Any place of pain and turmoil;
The hell of battle
The inferno of the engine room
When you're alone Christmas is the pits

Hell

A cause of difficulty and suffering;
War is hell
Go to blazes

Hell

(Christianity) the abode of Satan and the forces of evil; where sinners suffer eternal punishment;
Hurl'd headlong...To bottomless perdition, there to dwell
A demon from the depths of the pit

Hell

(religion) the world of the dead;
He didn't want to go to hell when he died

Hell

Violent and excited activity;
They began to fight like sin

Hell

Noisy and unrestrained mischief;
Raising blazes

Common Curiosities

Is Purgatory permanent?

No, it's a temporary state.

Who goes to Hell?

Souls judged unworthy of salvation, according to various religious doctrines.

What is Purgatory?

Purgatory is a temporary state for the purification of souls.

What is Hell?

Hell is considered a place of eternal torment and separation from God.

Who goes to Purgatory?

Souls that require purification before entering Heaven, in Roman Catholic belief.

Is Hell permanent?

Yes, according to most religious doctrines that include Hell.

What is the purpose of Hell?

To serve as eternal punishment for the damned.

Is Hell present in all religions?

No, the concept varies among religious traditions.

Is Hell a place or a state?

Traditionally considered a place, but interpretations vary.

Is Purgatory present in all religions?

No, it's mainly a Roman Catholic concept.

How is Purgatory depicted?

Often with purifying fire.

Is Purgatory a place or a state?

More commonly considered a state, not a place.

What is the purpose of Purgatory?

To purify souls for Heaven.

How is Hell depicted?

Often with fire, brimstone, and demons.

Can one escape Hell or Purgatory?

Hell, usually no; Purgatory, yes—upon purification.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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