Overview
The Bible addresses resurrection, the across 91 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 1 Corinthians, Acts and Ezekiel. Closely related themes include Resurrection, Immortality, Body and Regeneration. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Adam, Abraham and Isaac.
Key Bible verses about resurrection, the
Old Testament
Psalms
Ezekiel
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. valley: or, champaign
And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. wind: or, breath
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Daniel
New Testament
Matthew
But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him,
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.
But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Luke
And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. bier: or, coffin
And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
Then came to him certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him,
John
Verily, verily, I say unto you The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Acts
Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say?1161 other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. babbler: or, base fellow
And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.
For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.
Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city:
Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me.
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
1 Corinthians
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die:
And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:
But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men another flesh of beasts another of fishes, and another of birds.
There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
Philippians
1 Thessalonians
For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Hebrews
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, principles: or, word of the beginning of
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
Revelation
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. hell: or, the grave
People in the Bible and resurrection, the
Biblical figures whose stories intersect with this theme.
In the Bible dictionary
Studying resurrection, the for yourself
- Begin with Job 19:26, then read the passages below in canonical order.
- Compare how 1 Corinthians, Acts and Ezekiel each treat the theme.
- Consider the lives of Jesus, Adam and Abraham and how their stories intersect with it.
- Widen the study to related themes: Resurrection, Immortality, Body and Regeneration.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about resurrection, the?
The Bible addresses resurrection, the across 91 verses, drawn from both the Old and New Testaments. These passages cluster most in 1 Corinthians, Acts and Ezekiel. Closely related themes include Resurrection, Immortality, Body and Regeneration. Figures whose stories touch this theme include Jesus, Adam, Abraham and Isaac.
How many Bible verses are about resurrection, the?
The Bible references resurrection, the in 91 verses (King James Version).
Where does the Bible first mention resurrection, the?
In canonical order, the first of these passages is Job 19:26: “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: And: or, After I shall awake, though this body be destroyed, yet out of my flesh”
Which people in the Bible are associated with resurrection, the?
Jesus, Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Martha.
Preach & teach
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