Yes, it is true that many theologians describe hell as **separation from God**, but the specific claim that **Psalm 139** in the King James Version (KJV) says God is present in hell requires a closer look at the text.
### The Theological View: Hell as Separation
The idea of hell as "separation from God" is a dominant theme in Christian theology, particularly in traditions that view hell not as a place where God actively punishes with His presence, but as a state of existence where a person has voluntarily rejected God's love and grace.
* **C.S. Lewis** famously wrote, "The gates of hell are locked from the inside," implying the separation is self-imposed.
* **Traditional View:** Hell is the absence of the "beatific vision" (seeing God face-to-face).
### The Psalm in Question: Psalm 139
The passage you are likely thinking of is **Psalm 139:7–10**. In the KJV, it reads:
> "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
> If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there:
> if I make my bed in **hell**, behold, thou art there.
> If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
> Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me."
**Does this mean God is present in hell?**
* **Literal Text:** Yes, the KJV translates the Hebrew word *Sheol* as "hell" in verse 8. In this context, the Psalmist (David) is asserting that **God's omnipresence** is inescapable. There is no place in the universe, even the realm of the dead (*Sheol*), where God's spirit cannot reach.
* **The Nuance:** Theologians who hold to the "separation" view often distinguish between:
1. **God's Omnipresence (Essence):** God is *everywhere* by His nature. He sustains the universe, including the place of the dead. He sees and knows what happens there.
2. **God's Favorable Presence (Grace/Love):** This is the presence of comfort, joy, and relational intimacy. Hell, in this view, is the absence of *this specific type* of presence.
### Reconciling the Two Views
The apparent contradiction is usually resolved by distinguishing between **presence** and **relationship**.
* **Psalm 139** argues that you cannot hide from God (He is *there* to judge or sustain).
* **The "Separation" theology** argues that while God is *there* in His power, the *blessing* of His presence is removed.
**Analogy:** Think of the sun. The sun's light and heat are physically present in a dark cave (it illuminates the air), but if a person is in a deep hole or a sealed room, they do not experience the *warmth* or the *light* directly. God sustains hell (otherwise it would cease to exist), but the sinner there does not experience His love.
### Summary
* **Is the Psalm true to the KJV?** Yes, Psalm 139:8 in the KJV explicitly says, "if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there."
* **Do theologians say hell is separation?** Yes, they argue it is separation from God's *grace* and *favor*, even if His *power* and *omnipresence* are still there.
* **The Conflict:** It is not a logical contradiction but a distinction between God's **ubiquity** (being everywhere) and His **benevole
nce** (being with you in love).