Human beings who have died. Scripture provides illustrations of the manner in which the dead are to be buried, as well as explaining the doctrines of resurrection and judgment.
Preparation of the dead for burial
Washing
Acts 9:37 A custom common to both Jews and Greeks.
At that time, however, she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upper room.
Embalming
Matthew 26:12 See also Genesis 50:2, Genesis 50:26; 2 Chronicles 16:14
By pouring this perfume on Me, she has prepared My body for burial.
Grave clothes
John 11:44 See also Mark 15:46 parallels Matthew 27:59, John 19:40; John 20:7; Acts 5:6
The man who had been dead came out with his hands and feet bound in strips of linen, and his face wrapped in a cloth. “Unwrap him and let him go,” Jesus told them.
Provision for the dead
Burial
Genesis 49:29–30 It was the normal practice for the people of God to be buried. See also Joshua 24:30; Ruth 1:17; 1 Kings 11:15; Acts 8:2
Then Jacob instructed them, “I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. The cave is in the field of Machpelah near Mamre, in the land of Canaan. This is the field Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
Cremation
Joshua 7:25 Cremation was not a Hebrew practice, except in cases of difficulty. See also 1 Samuel 31:12; Amos 6:10
“Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies.
The plight of the unburied dead
Psalm 79:2 To be unburied was a disgrace, a mark of judgment. See also Ecclesiastes 6:3; Isaiah 14:19; Jeremiah 7:33, Jeremiah 16:6
They have given the corpses of Your servants as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of Your saints to the beasts of the earth.
Personal contact with a dead body conferred uncleanness
Numbers 19:11 See also Leviticus 21:11; Numbers 6:6
Whoever touches any dead body will be unclean for seven days.
The place of the dead
Sheol and Hades
Ezekiel 31:16 Sheol is the OT term for the place of the dead; a grave, an underworld, a pit. Hades is the NT equivalent. See also 2 Kings 21:26; Psalm 88:3–4, Psalm 89:48, Psalm 116:3; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Isaiah 14:9–10; Acts 2:31
I made the nations quake at the sound of its downfall, when I cast it down to Sheol with those who descend to the Pit. Then all the trees of Eden, the choicest and best of Lebanon, all the well-watered trees, were consoled in the earth below.
A place of judgment
Psalm 49:13–14 See also Psalm 31:17, Psalm 88:3–5; Nahum 1:14; Matthew 5:22, Matthew 11:23 parallel Luke 10:15; Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18, Revelation 20:13–14
This is the fate of the foolish and their followers who endorse their sayings. Selah Like sheep they are destined for Sheol. Death will be their shepherd. The upright will rule them in the morning, and their form will decay in Sheol, far from their lofty abode.
A place of deliverance
Psalm 139:8 See also Psalm 16:10, Psalm 30:3, Psalm 86:13, Psalm 107:20; Hosea 13:14; Jonah 2:2; Acts 2:27
If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.
The plight of the dead outside of Christ
Physical death is the result of sin
Romans 6:23 See also Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 1:32, Romans 5:12, Romans 8:6; James 1:15
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Final judgment will follow resurrection
Revelation 21:8 The “second death” is the throwing of the lost into the lake of fire. See also Matthew 10:28, Matthew 25:41; 1 John 5:16–17; Jude 1:12
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
Promises to the dead in Christ
Death is but a sleep
1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 See also John 11:11–14; 1 Corinthians 15:17–22, 1 Corinthians 15:51–53
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
Death has no hold on believers
John 8:51 See also John 11:25–26; Romans 8:38–39
Truly, truly, I tell you, if anyone keeps My word, he will never see death.”
Believers will be delivered from the second death
Revelation 2:11 See also Revelation 20:6
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who overcomes will not be harmed by the second death.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.