Meaning
Burial is the act or process of placing a dead person in a grave, tomb, or other resting place.
Biblical Usage
Scripture records burial in caves, graves, family tombs, and other designated places. Accounts may mention the preparation of the body, the people who carried out the burial, and the mourning that accompanied it.
Genesis 50:13 records the burial of Jacob in the cave of Machpelah. In 2 Samuel 3:31-32, David commands mourning for Abner, who is buried in Hebron. The New Testament records the burial of Jesus Christ and other individuals.
Key References
- Genesis 23:19 — Records Abraham burying Sarah in the cave of Machpelah.
- Genesis 25:9-10 — Records the burial of Abraham by Isaac and Ishmael.
- Genesis 50:13 — Records the burial of Jacob in the cave of Machpelah.
- Deuteronomy 34:5-6 — Records the death and burial of Moses.
- 2 Samuel 3:31-32 — Records Abner’s burial and the mourning that followed.
- Matthew 14:12 — Records the burial of John the Baptist by his disciples.
- John 19:38-42 — Describes the preparation and burial of Jesus.
- Acts 8:2 — Records the burial of Stephen by devout men.
Related Terms
- Sepulchre — A burial place or tomb.
- Grave — A place where a dead person is laid.
- Mourning — The expression of grief, especially following a death.
- Death — The end of physical life.