What does the Bible say about burial?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible treats burial as a dignified act of love and honor toward the dead, while teaching that devotion to Christ and hope in God’s promises are greater still. Abraham carefully secured a burial place for Sarah in Genesis 23:3-4, showing both grief and faithful regard for her body. Joseph likewise asked that his bones be carried from Egypt, and Genesis 50:5-9 records the solemn fulfillment of his father Jacob’s burial request. Yet Jesus teaches in Matthew 8:21 that following him must take priority even over urgent family obligations. Burial therefore expresses proper human sorrow and respect, but believers need not despair, for God’s covenant faithfulness reaches beyond death and will culminate in resurrection.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- Rites of Jeremiah 34:5
- Soon after death Deuteronomy 21:23; Joshua 8:29; John 19:38-42; Acts 5:9; Acts 5:10
- With spices 2 Chronicles 16:14; Mark 16:1; Luke 23:56
- Bier (coffin) used at 2 Samuel 3:31; Luke 7:14
- Attended by relatives and friends
- Of Jacob Genesis 50:5-9
- Abner 2 Samuel 3:31
- Child of Jeroboam 1 Kings 14:13
- The son of the widow of Nain Luke 7:12; Luke 7:13
- Stephen Acts 8:2
- Lack of, a disgrace 2 Kings 9:10; Proverbs 30:17; Jeremiah 16:4; Jeremiah 22:19; Ezekiel 39:15
- Directions given about, before death
- By Jacob Genesis 49:29; Genesis 49:30
- By Joseph Genesis 50:25
- Burial of Gog (multitude) requiring seven months Ezekiel 39:12; Ezekiel 39:13
- BURYING PLACES
- Bought by Abraham Genesis 23; Genesis 25:9
- Prepared by Jacob Genesis 50:5; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Matthew 27:60
- On hills 2 Kings 23:16; Joshua 24:33
- In valleys Jeremiah 7:32
- Family Genesis 47:30; Genesis 49:29; Acts 7:16
- Of kings 1 Kings 2:10; 2 Chronicles 32:33
- A place of honor 2 Chronicles 24:16; 2 Chronicles 24:25; 2 Chronicles 21:20
- For poor and strangers Jeremiah 26:23; Matthew 27:7
- Tombs In houses 1 Samuel 25:1; 1 Kings 2:34; 2 Kings 21:18; 2 Kings 21:26; John 19:41; Genesis 23:9; Genesis 35:8; 1 Samuel 31:13
- Closed with stones Matthew 27:60; Matthew 27:66; John 11:38; John 20:1
- Sealed Matthew 27:66
- Marked with pillars, Rachel’s Genesis 35:20
- And inscriptions 2 Kings 23:17
- Painted and garnished Matthew 23:27; Matthew 23:29
- With shelves Isaiah 14:15
- Demoniacs lived in Matthew 8:28
- Anyone who touched, were unclean Numbers 19:16; Numbers 19:18; Isaiah 65:4
- Refused to the dead Revelation 11:9
- Robbed Jeremiah 8:1
- See CREMATION
- See DEAD, THE
- See DEATH>
- See ELEGY
- See GRAVE
Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Probable origin of Genesis 4:9; Genesis 4:10
- Design of Genesis 23:3; Genesis 23:4
- Attended by
- Family of the dead Genesis 50:5; Genesis 50:6; Genesis 50:8; Matthew 8:21
- Numbers of friends, &c Genesis 50:7; Genesis 50:9; 2 Samuel 3:31; Luke 7:12
- Female friends Mark 15:47; Luke 7:13
- Hired mourners Jeremiah 9:17; Jeremiah 9:18
- Great lamentation at Genesis 50:10; Genesis 50:11; 2 Samuel 3:31; 2 Samuel 3:32
- Orations sometimes made at 2 Samuel 3:33; 2 Samuel 3:34
- The body was
- Washed before Acts 9:37
- Anointed for Matthew 26:12
- Wound in linen for John 11:44; John 19:40
- Preserved with spices John 19:39; John 19:40
- Sometimes burned before 1 Samuel 31:12
- Carried on a bier to 2 Samuel 3:31; Luke 7:14
- Perfumes burned at 2 Chronicles 16:14; Jeremiah 34:5
- Antiquity of coffins for Genesis 50:26
- Often took place immediately after death John 11:17; John 11:39; Acts 5:6; Acts 5:10
- Of persons embalmed, deferred for seventy days Genesis 50:3; Genesis 50:4
- Of persons hanged, always on the days of execution Deuteronomy 21:23; John 19:31
- The right of all nations Judges 16:31; John 19:38
- Of enemies, sometimes performed by the conquerors 1 Kings 11:15; Ezekiel 39:11-14
- Of the friendless, a kind act 2 Samuel 2:5
- Places used for
- Natural caves Genesis 23:19; John 11:38
- Caves hewn out of rocks Isaiah 22:16; Matthew 27:60
- Gardens 2 Kings 21:18; 2 Kings 21:26; John 19:41
- Under trees Genesis 35:8; 1 Samuel 31:13
- Tops of the hills Joshua 24:33; 2 Kings 23:16
- Houses of the deceased 1 Samuel 25:1; 1 Kings 2:34
- The city of David for the kings of Judah 1 Kings 2:10; 2 Chronicles 21:20; 2 Chronicles 24:16
- Antiquity of purchasing places for Genesis 23:7-16
- Places of
- Frequently prepared and pointed out during life Genesis 50:5; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Matthew 27:60
- Members of a family interred in the same Genesis 25:10; Genesis 49:31; 2 Samuel 2:32
- Held in high veneration Nehemiah 2:3; Nehemiah 2:5
- Provided for the common people Jeremiah 26:23
- Provided for aliens and strangers Matthew 27:7
- Visited by sorrowing friends John 11:31
Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.
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