Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5200 Human civilisation  »  5288 dead, the

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.

Embalming

Matthew 26:12 See also Genesis 50:2,26; 2 Chronicles 16:14

Grave clothes

John 11:44 See also Mark 15:46 pp Matthew 27:59 pp John 19:40; John 20:7; Acts 5:6

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

Cremation

Joshua 7:25 Cremation was not a Hebrew practice, except in cases of difficulty. See also 1 Samuel 31:12; Amos 6:10

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

Personal contact with a dead body conferred uncleanness

Numbers 19:11 See also Leviticus 21:11; Numbers 6:6

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

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 pp Luke 10:15; Matthew 16:18; Revelation 1:18; Revelation 20:13-14

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

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

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 12

Promises to the dead in Christ

Death is but a sleep

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 See also John 11:11-14; 1 Corinthians 15:17-22,51-53

Death has no hold on believers

John 8:51 See also John 11:25-26; Romans 8:38-39

Believers will be delivered from the second death

Revelation 2:11 See also Revelation 20:6

See also

5241  burial
5303  embalming
6510  salvation
9020  death
9030  dead bodies
9040  grave, the
9050  tombs
9210  judgment, God's
9310  resurrection
9510  hell
9530  Hades
9540  Sheol