The theme of a deceased son appears in several poignant narratives throughout the Bible, each carrying profound theological and moral implications. These accounts often highlight themes of faith, divine intervention, and the human experience of loss and restoration.

1. The Widow of Zarephath's Son (1 Kings 17:17-24):
In the time of Elijah, during a severe drought, the prophet was sent to a widow in Zarephath. After some time, the widow's son fell ill and died. The widow, in her grief, questioned Elijah, suggesting that his presence had brought her sin to remembrance and resulted in her son's death. Elijah took the boy to his upper room, laid him on his own bed, and cried out to the LORD. He stretched himself upon the child three times and prayed, "O LORD my God, let this boy’s life return to him!" (1 Kings 17:21). The LORD heard Elijah's plea, and the boy's life returned to him. This miracle affirmed Elijah's status as a man of God and demonstrated God's power over life and death.

2. The Shunammite Woman's Son (2 Kings 4:18-37):
Elisha, the successor of Elijah, also encountered a situation involving a deceased son. A Shunammite woman, who had shown great hospitality to Elisha, was blessed with a son as foretold by the prophet. However, the child later died unexpectedly. The woman sought Elisha, who returned with her to her home. Elisha prayed to the LORD and lay upon the child, and the child sneezed seven times and opened his eyes (2 Kings 4:35). This event further illustrated God's compassion and the power of faith, as well as the prophetic authority granted to Elisha.

3. The Widow of Nain's Son (Luke 7:11-17):
In the New Testament, Jesus encountered a funeral procession in the town of Nain. A widow's only son had died, and she was accompanied by a large crowd. Moved with compassion, Jesus approached the bier and said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" (Luke 7:14). The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. This miracle not only demonstrated Jesus' divine authority over death but also His deep compassion for human suffering.

4. Jairus' Daughter (Mark 5:21-43):
While not a son, the account of Jairus' daughter parallels the theme of a deceased child. Jairus, a synagogue leader, pleaded with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. Before they could reach her, news came that she had died. Jesus, undeterred, went to the house and said, "The child is not dead, but asleep" (Mark 5:39). He took her by the hand and said, "Talitha koum!" which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" (Mark 5:41). She immediately arose and walked. This miracle reinforced Jesus' power over death and His role as the giver of life.

5. The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32):
While not physically deceased, the parable of the Prodigal Son uses the metaphor of death to describe the younger son's spiritual and moral state. After squandering his inheritance, the son returns home, repentant. The father, filled with compassion, welcomes him back, saying, "For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found" (Luke 15:24). This parable underscores themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the joy of spiritual rebirth.

These narratives collectively emphasize the sovereignty of God over life and death, the power of faith and prayer, and the hope of restoration and new life through divine intervention. They serve as reminders of God's compassion and the promise of resurrection, central tenets of the Christian faith.