The Bible has a lot to say about burial practices and the significance of burial. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible passages that relate to burial:
Old Testament Verses on Burial
In the Old Testament, burial of the dead was an important practice. Some key verses include:
Genesis 23:19 – “After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah east of Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.” This verse describes Abraham burying his wife Sarah.
Deuteronomy 34:6 – “And he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day.” This refers to the burial of Moses.
2 Samuel 2:32 – “And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem.” This describes the honorable burial of Asahel after he was killed in battle.
1 Kings 13:31 – “And after he had buried him, he said to his sons, “When I die, bury me in the grave in which the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones.” This shows the importance placed on being buried alongside a man of God.
2 Chronicles 16:14 – “They buried him in the tomb that he had cut for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that had been filled with various kinds of spices prepared by the perfumer’s art, and they made a very great fire in his honor.” This describes the elaborate burial preparations made for King Asa.
New Testament Verses on Burial
In the New Testament, burial of Jesus and believers is mentioned:
Matthew 27:57-60 – “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.” This describes Joseph of Arimathea burying Jesus after the crucifixion.
John 19:38-42 – “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” This also describes Jesus’ burial by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.
Acts 8:2 – “Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him.” This tells of the burial of Stephen after he was stoned to death.
Reasons for Proper Burial in the Bible
The Bible emphasizes proper burial for several reasons:
1. To Honor the Dead – Burying the dead was a way to show honor and respect to the deceased. Not receiving a proper burial was seen as dishonorable (1 Samuel 31:8-13).
2. Closure and Final Resting Place – Burial provides loved ones a sense of closure and a specific place to mourn and remember the dead (Genesis 23:19, John 19:41-42).
3. Hygiene and Purity – Burying the dead prevented decomposition around the living and maintained ritual purity in Israel (Deuteronomy 21:22-23).
4. Resurrection Symbolism – Burial symbolized the hope of resurrection, with the body resting until awakened at the last day (1 Corinthians 15:42-44, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-16).
Old Testament burial practices
The Old Testament records various burial practices:
– Caves – Natural caves or rock-cut tombs were often used for burial (Genesis 23:19, John 11:38).
– Earth graves – Bodies were buried in the ground, sometimes with stones piled on top (2 Samuel 2:32, 1 Kings 13:31).
– Coffins – Wood or stone coffins were sometimes used, especially for nobility (Genesis 50:26).
– Spices – Spices and oils were used to prepare bodies and reduce odors of decay (2 Chronicles 16:14).
– Lamentation – Professional mourners and family members would lament and grieve at burials (Jeremiah 22:18).
– Time of burial – Burial often took place very soon after death, usually same or next day (Acts 5:6, 10).
– Simplicity – Burial clothes were simple shrouds, not elaborate mummy-wrappings (John 11:44).
– Location – Family burial plots were common, but also communal burial caves (Genesis 23:19, 2 Chronicles 28:27).
New Testament burial accounts
The New Testament highlights these burial accounts:
– Jesus – Joseph of Arimathea donated his own unused rock-cut tomb for Jesus’ burial (Matthew 27:57-60). Nicodemus brought a large amount of burial spices (John 19:38-42). The tomb was sealed with a stone (Matthew 27:60).
– Lazarus – Lazarus was buried in a cave tomb with a stone laid over the entrance (John 11:38). His body was wrapped with linen burial cloths (John 11:44).
– Ananias and Sapphira – After suddenly dying, these two were immediately buried, possibly showing the Jewish practice of prompt burial (Acts 5:6, 10).
– Stephen – After his martyrdom by stoning, devout men buried Stephen (Acts 8:2).
– Tabitha/Dorcas – When she died, her body was washed and laid in an upper room until Peter arrived to raise her (Acts 9:37-41).
Jesus’ Burial and Resurrection
The burial of Jesus holds deep theological significance:
– Fulfilled prophecy – Isaiah 53:9 prophesied Jesus would have a rich man’s tomb.
– Validated death – Jesus’ burial proved He had truly died and was not just unconscious (Mark 15:43-45).
– Launched resurrection – The empty tomb on Easter morning testified that Jesus had risen as He foretold (Matthew 27:63-28:6, John 20:1-9).
– Demonstrated divinity – His resurrection displayed Jesus’ power over death and the grave (Romans 1:4).
– Provided hope – Jesus’ resurrection secures the future bodily resurrection for all believers (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
Christian Burial in the New Testament
Burial instructions in the New Testament emphasize:
– Simplicity – Christians are not to be overly concerned with burial rituals and preparations (Luke 9:59-60).
– Low cost – Followers of Jesus should avoid lavish, ostentatious burials and services (Mark 14:3-9, John 12:1-8).
– Earthly focus – Grieving should be tempered with hope of resurrection, not excessive sorrow (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
– Serving others – Energy should be spent ministering to the living more than memorializing the dead (Matthew 26:10-13).
– Stewardship – Resources are wisely invested in ministry, not expensive memorials (2 Corinthians 5:1-10).
– Perspective – Physical burial of the body is far less important than one’s eternal destination (Luke 9:59-60).
Verses on Cremation
The Bible neither commands nor prohibits cremation. Key points:
– No biblical command against it – Cremation is not specifically mentioned in Scripture.
– Practiced in Bible times – Cremation was practiced by some groups in ancient Israel (1 Samuel 31:12).
– Body still treated respectfully – Even when bodies were burned, the bones were respectfully buried (2 Chronicles 16:14).
– Resurrection still possible – God can resurrect a cremated body just as easily as a body that was buried (Revelation 20:13).
– Motives matter most – The motives behind cremation matter more than the method itself.
The important thing is that Christian burial practices bring glory to Christ and point to the hope of resurrection. As Paul said, whether alive or dead, we belong to the Lord (Romans 14:8).
In conclusion, the Bible has much to say about honoring the dead through burial, awaiting future resurrection. Jesus’ own death, burial and resurrection provide the central promise of new life for all who put their faith in Him.