5288 dead, the
Dictionary of Bible Themes

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.

Acts 9:37

Preparation of the dead for burial

Washing

Matthew 26:12

A custom common to both Jews and Greeks.

See also

Embalming

Genesis 50:2,26
2 Chronicles 16:14
John 11:44

See also

Grave clothes

Mark 15:46
John 20:7

pp Mt 27:59

Acts 5:6

pp Jn 19:40

Genesis 49:29-30

Provision for the dead

Burial

See also

Joshua 24:30

It was the normal practice for the people of God to be buried.

Ruth 1:17
1 Kings 11:15
Acts 8:2
Joshua 7:25

Cremation

See also

1 Samuel 31:12

Cremation was not a Hebrew practice, except in cases of difficulty.

Amos 6:10
Psalms 79:2

The plight of the unburied dead

See also

Ecclesiastes 6:3

To be unburied was a disgrace, a mark of judgment.

Isaiah 14:19
Jeremiah 7:33; 16:6
Numbers 19:11

Personal contact with a dead body conferred uncleanness

See also

Leviticus 21:11
Numbers 6:6
Ezekiel 31:16

The place of the dead

Sheol and Hades

See also

2 Kings 21:26

Sheol is the OT term for the place of the dead; a grave, an underworld, a pit. Hades is the NT equivalent.

Psalms 88:3-4; 89:48; 116:3
Ecclesiastes 9:10
Isaiah 14:9-10
Acts 2:31
Psalms 49:13-14

See also

A place of judgment

Psalms 31:17; 88:3-5
Nahum 1:14
Matthew 5:22; 11:23
Matthew 16:18
Revelation 1:18; 20:13-14

pp Lk 10:15

Psalms 139:8

See also

A place of deliverance

Psalms 16:10; 30:3; 86:13; 107:20
Hosea 13:14
Jonah 2:2
Acts 2:27
Romans 6:23

The plight of the dead outside of Christ

See also

Physical death is the result of sin

Genesis 2:17
Ezekiel 18:20
Romans 1:32; 5:12; 8:6
James 1:15
Revelation 21:8

Final judgment will follow resurrection

See also

Matthew 10:28; 25:41

The "second death" is the throwing of the lost into the lake of fire.

1 John 5:16-17
Jude 1:12
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Promises to the dead in Christ

See also

Death is but a sleep

John 11:11-14
1 Corinthians 15:17-22,51-53
John 8:51

See also

Death has no hold on believers

John 11:25-26
Romans 8:38-39
Revelation 2:11

See also

Believers will be delivered from the second death

Revelation 20:6

See also

5241 burial
5304 embroidery
6510 salvation
9020 death
9030 dead bodies
9040 grave, the
9105 last things
9210 judgment, God's
9310 resurrection
9510 hell
9530 Hades
9540 Sheol
Dictionary of Bible Themes
© Martin H. Manser, 2009.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       


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