Overview
The Bible addresses burial across 27 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, John and Ezekiel. Closely related themes include Abraham, Land, Ephron and Cave. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Abraham, Ephron, Jesus and Joseph.
Key Bible verses about burial
Old Testament
Genesis
And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.
And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and intreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar,
That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you. as much: Heb. full money
And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, audience: Heb. ears
Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead.
And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land.
And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there.
And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him,
My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead.
And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.
And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:
But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.
And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.
Ezekiel
And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place there of graves in Israel, the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea: and it shall stop the noses of the passengers: and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude: and they shall call it The valley of Hamongog. noses: or, mouths Hamongog: that is, The multitude of Gog
And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying of them, that they may cleanse the land.
Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall be to them a renown the day that I shall be glorified, saith the Lord GOD.
And they shall sever out men of continual employment, passing through the land to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth, to cleanse it: after the end of seven months shall they search. men: Heb. men of continuance
New Testament
Matthew
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
John
And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews' preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.
Acts
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
People in the Bible and burial
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying burial for yourself
- Begin with Genesis 23:7, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how Genesis, John and Ezekiel each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Abraham, Ephron and Jesus and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Abraham, Land, Ephron and Cave.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about burial?
The Bible addresses burial across 27 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in Genesis, John and Ezekiel. Closely related themes include Abraham, Land, Ephron and Cave. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Abraham, Ephron, Jesus and Joseph.
How many Bible verses are about burial?
The Bible references burial in 27 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention burial?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Genesis 23:7: “And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth.”
Which people in the Bible are associated with burial?
Abraham, Ephron, Jesus, Joseph and Pontius Pilate.
Preach & teach
Outline a sermon or build a study series on burial.
Preach a series on Burial →