Meaning
A sepulchre is a burial place or tomb in which a dead person is laid.
Biblical Usage
Scripture uses sepulchre for burial places, including caves and tombs hewn out of rock. These places are associated with family burial, the burial of rulers, and the burial of Jesus Christ.
In John 19:41-42, Jesus is laid in a new sepulchre in a garden near the place of His crucifixion. Other passages describe family burial places and tombs used for the dead.
Key References
- Genesis 23:4-6 — Abraham seeks a burial place for Sarah.
- Genesis 49:29-31 — Jacob gives instructions concerning his burial in the family sepulchre.
- 2 Samuel 2:32 — Records the burial of Abner in the sepulchre of his father in Bethlehem.
- Matthew 27:57-60 — Describes Joseph of Arimathaea laying Jesus in a new tomb.
- Mark 15:46 — Records Jesus being laid in a sepulchre hewn out of rock.
- John 19:41-42 — Describes the new sepulchre in the garden where Jesus was laid.
- John 20:1-8 — Records the discovery of the empty sepulchre.
Related Terms
- Tomb — A place in which a dead person is buried.
- Grave — A place where a dead person is laid.
- Burial — The act or process of placing the dead in a grave or tomb.
- Death — The end of physical life.