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Question

What does 'death' mean in the Bible? Is death cessation of existence, separation of soul from body, or separation from God? Examine the Hebrew words maveth (H4194) and mut (H4191), and the Greek words thanatos (G2288) and apothnesko (G599). Trace the origin of death (Gen 2-3), the nature and meaning of physical death, spiritual death, and the second death (Rev 2:11; 20:6, 14; 21:8).

DEATH — GENERAL / UNCLASSIFIED

  • GEN 2:17
  • GEN 3:19
  • GEN 27:2
  • DEU 32:39
  • JOS 23:14
  • 1SA 2:6
  • 2SA 14:14
  • JOB 1:21
  • JOB 3:13,17-19
  • JOB 7:1,8-10,21
  • JOB 14:2,5-12,14
  • JOB 34:14,15
  • PSA 6:5
  • PSA 23:4
  • PSA 49:7,9
  • PSA 82:7
  • PSA 88:9-14
  • PSA 89:48
  • PSA 90:3
  • PSA 103:14-16
  • PSA 104:29
  • PSA 115:17
  • PSA 146:4
  • ECC 2:14-18
  • ECC 3:2,19-21
  • ECC 5:15
  • ECC 9:3,5,6,10
  • ECC 12:5,7
  • ISA 25:8
  • ISA 38:1,10-13,18
  • HOS 13:14
  • ROM 5:12,14
  • 1CO 15:21,22,26,55-57
  • 2TI 1:10
  • HEB 2:14,15
  • HEB 9:27
  • REV 1:18
  • REV 20:12-14
  • REV 21:4

Called GIVING UP THE GHOST (GEN 25:8; 35:29; LAM 1:19; ACT 5:10), KING OF TERRORS (JOB 18:14), A CHANGE (JOB 14:14), GOING TO THY FATHERS (GEN 15:15; 25:8; 35:29), PUTTING OFF THIS TABERNACLE (2PE 1:14), REQUIRING THE SOUL (LUK 12:20), GOING THE WAY WHENCE THERE IS NO RETURN (JOB 16:22), BEING GATHERED TO OUR PEOPLE (GEN 49:33), GOING DOWN INTO SILENCE (PSA 115:17), RETURNING TO DUST (GEN 3:19; PSA 104:29), BEING CUT DOWN (JOB 14:2), FLEEING AS A SHADOW (JOB 14:2), DEPARTING (PHP 2:23). Called SLEEP (DEU 31:16; JOB 7:21; 14:12; JER 51:39; DAN 12:2; JHN 11:11; ACT 7:60; 13:36; 1CO 15:6,18,51; 1TH 4:14,15). EXEMPTION FROM: Enoch (GEN 5:24; HEB 11:5), Elijah (2KI 2), Promised to saints at the second coming of Christ (1CO 15:51; 1TH 4:15,17), No death in heaven (LUK 20:36; REV 21:4). APOSTROPHE TO (HOS 13:14; 1CO 15:55). SYMBOLIZED by the pale horse (REV 6:8), King of Terrors (JOB 18:14).

DEATH — SPIRITUAL

  • LUK 1:79
  • JHN 5:24-26
  • JHN 6:50,51,53
  • JHN 11:26
  • ROM 5:12,15
  • ROM 7:11
  • ROM 8:5,6,12,13
  • 2CO 5:14
  • EPH 2:1,5,6
  • EPH 4:18
  • EPH 5:14
  • COL 2:13
  • 1TI 5:6
  • 1PE 2:24
  • 1JN 5:12

SPIRITUAL: LUK 1:79; JHN 5:24-26; 6:50,51,53; 11:26; ROM 5:12,15; 7:11; 8:5,6,12,13; 2CO 5:14; EPH 2:1,5,6; 4:18; 5:14; COL 2:13; 1TI 5:6; 1PE 2:24; 1JN 5:12. See DEPRAVITY; See MAN, STATE OF AFTER THE FALL; See REPROBACY.

DEATH — SECOND

  • PRO 14:12
  • EZK 18:4,10,13,21,23,24
  • EZK 33:8,9,11,14-16
  • MAT 7:13
  • MAT 10:28
  • MAT 25:30,41,46
  • MRK 9:43,44
  • ROM 1:32
  • ROM 6:16,21,23
  • ROM 8:13
  • ROM 9:22
  • 2TH 1:9
  • JAS 1:15
  • JAS 4:12
  • 2PE 2:12
  • REV 2:11
  • REV 19:20
  • REV 20:14
  • REV 21:8

SECOND: PRO 14:12; EZK 18:4,10,13,21,23,24; 33:8,9,11,14-16; MAT 7:13; 10:28; 25:30,41,46; MRK 9:43,44; ROM 1:32; 6:16,21,23; 8:13; 9:22; 2TH 1:9; JAS 1:15; 4:12; 2PE 2:12; REV 2:11; 19:20; 20:14; 21:8. See HELL; See WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF.

DEATH — SLEEP METAPHOR

  • DEU 31:16
  • JOB 7:21
  • JOB 14:12
  • JER 51:39
  • DAN 12:2
  • JHN 11:11
  • ACT 7:60
  • ACT 13:36
  • 1CO 15:6,18,51
  • 1TH 4:14,15

Called SLEEP: DEU 31:16; JOB 7:21; 14:12; JER 51:39; DAN 12:2; JHN 11:11; ACT 7:60; 13:36; 1CO 15:6,18,51; 1TH 4:14,15.

DEATH — FIGURATIVE/REGENERATION

  • ROM 6:2-11
  • ROM 7:1-10
  • ROM 8:10,11
  • COL 2:20

FIGURATIVE OF REGENERATION: ROM 6:2-11; 7:1-10; 8:10,11; COL 2:20. See DEAD; See REGENERATION.

SECOND DEATH — GENERAL

  • REV 20:14

General scriptures concerning: REV 20:14. See WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF.

DEAD (PEOPLE) — UNCLASSIFIED

  • JOB 3:13-19
  • JOB 14:11-15,21
  • JOB 17:13-16
  • PSA 6:5
  • PSA 30:9
  • PSA 49:15
  • PSA 88:10-12
  • PSA 115:17
  • ECC 9:5,6
  • EZK 32:31
  • DAN 12:2

UNCLASSIFIED SCRIPTURES RELATING TO: JOB 3:13-19; 14:11-15,21; 17:13-16; PSA 6:5; 30:9; 49:15; 88:10-12; 115:17; PRO 21:16; ECC 9:5,6; EZK 32:31; DAN 12:2; LUK 9:30,31; 16:19-31; 20:35,36; 23:43; JHN 11:25. See BURIAL; DEATH; MOURNING; RESURRECTION; RIGHTEOUS, PROMISES TO; WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF.

RESURRECTION — GENERAL

  • JOB 14:12-15
  • JOB 19:25-27
  • PSA 16:9,10
  • PSA 49:15
  • ISA 25:8
  • ISA 26:19
  • EZK 37:1-14
  • DAN 12:2,3,13
  • HOS 13:14
  • MAT 22:23-32
  • JHN 5:21,25,28,29
  • JHN 11:23-25
  • ACT 24:14,15
  • ROM 8:10,11
  • 1CO 6:14
  • 1CO 15:12-57
  • PHP 3:10,11,21
  • 1TH 4:14,16
  • 2TI 1:10
  • REV 20:4-6,13

General scriptures concerning: JOB 14:12-15; 19:25-27; PSA 16:9,10; 17:15; 49:15; ISA 25:8; 26:19; EZK 37:1-14; DAN 12:2,3,13; HOS 13:14; MAT 22:23-32; 24:31; 25:1-13; 27:52,53; MRK 12:18-27; LUK 14:14; 20:27-38; JHN 5:21,25,28,29; 6:39,40,44,54; 11:23-25; 14:19; ACT 2:26-31; 4:1,2; 17:18,32; 23:6,8; 24:14,15; 26:6-8; ROM 4:16-21; 8:10,11,19,21-23; 1CO 6:14; 15:12-57; 2CO 4:14; 5:1-5; PHP 3:10,11,21; 1TH 4:14,16; 2TI 1:10; 2:18; HEB 6:2; 11:19,35; REV 1:18; 20:4-6,13. FIGURATIVE: Of regeneration ROM 6:4; EPH 2:1,5,6; COL 2:12; 3:1.

IMMORTALITY — GENERAL

  • GEN 5:24
  • 2KI 2:11
  • PSA 16:10,11
  • PSA 49:7-9,14,15
  • ECC 12:7
  • ISA 25:8
  • DAN 12:2,3
  • MAT 10:28
  • ROM 2:7
  • ROM 6:22,23
  • 1CO 15:12-55
  • 1TH 4:13-18
  • 2TH 1:7-9
  • 1TI 6:12,19
  • 2TI 1:9,10
  • HEB 9:15
  • 1JN 2:17,25
  • REV 22:5

General scriptures concerning: GEN 5:24; 2SA 12:23; 2KI 2:11; NEH 9:5; JOB 4:17-21; 14:13; PSA 16:10,11; 21:4; 22:26; 23:6; 31:5; 36:9; 37:18,27; 49:7-9,14,15; 73:26; 86:12; 102:4,25-28; 121:8; 133:3; 145:1,2; PRO 14:32; ECC 3:21; 12:7; ISA 14:9; 25:8; 26:19; 38:18,19; EZK 32:31; DAN 12:2,3; MAT 10:28; 16:26; 19:16,17; 25:46; MRK 10:30; 12:26,27; LUK 9:25; 10:25-28; 20:36-38; JHN 3:14-16,36; 5:39,40; 6:39,40,44,47,50,51,53,54,58; 10:28; 11:25,26; 14:19; 17:2,3; ACT 20:32; 23:8,9; 26:7,8,18; ROM 2:7; 6:22,23; 1CO 15:12-55; GAL 6:8; COL 1:5,6; 1TH 4:13-18; 5:10; 2TH 1:7-9; 2:16; 1TI 4:8; 6:12,19; 2TI 1:9,10; TIT 1:2; 3:7; HEB 9:15; 10:34; 11:5,10,13-16; 1PE 1:3-5; 1JN 2:17,25; 5:13; Jude 1:21; REV 1:7; 3:4; 22:5. See RESURRECTION; RIGHTEOUS, PROMISES TO; WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF.

GRAVE — GENERAL

  • HOS 13:14
  • 1CO 15:55

General scriptures concerning: HOS 13:14; 1CO 15:55. See BURIAL.

SOUL — CROSS-REFERENCES

See SPIRIT; See IMMORTALITY; See MAN, A SPIRIT; See RIGHTEOUS, FUTURE STATE OF; See WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF.

PUNISHMENT — ETERNAL

  • ISA 34:8-10
  • DAN 12:2
  • MAT 3:12
  • MAT 10:28
  • MAT 18:8
  • MAT 25:41,46
  • MRK 3:29
  • LUK 3:17
  • JHN 5:29
  • HEB 6:2
  • HEB 10:28-31
  • REV 14:10,11
  • REV 19:3
  • REV 20:10

ETERNAL: ISA 34:8-10; DAN 12:2; MAT 3:12; 10:28; 18:8; 25:41,46; MRK 3:29; LUK 3:17; JHN 5:29; HEB 6:2; 10:28-31; REV 14:10,11; 19:3; 20:10. See WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF.

SIN — SEPARATES FROM GOD

  • DEU 31:17,18
  • JOS 7:12
  • 2CH 24:20
  • JOB 13:24
  • PSA 78:59-61
  • ISA 59:1,2
  • ISA 64:7
  • EZK 23:18
  • HOS 9:12
  • AMO 3:2,3
  • MIC 3:4
  • MAT 7:23
  • MAT 25:41
  • LUK 13:27
  • ROM 8:7
  • HEB 12:14

SEPARATES FROM GOD: DEU 31:17,18; JOS 7:12; 2CH 24:20; JOB 13:24; 23:3,8,9; PSA 78:59-61; ISA 59:1,2; 64:7; EZK 23:18; HOS 9:12; AMO 3:2,3; MIC 3:4; MAT 7:23; 25:41; LUK 13:27; ROM 8:7; HEB 12:14. See GOD, HOLINESS OF; WICKED, PUNISHMENT OF.

TREE — OF LIFE

  • GEN 2:9
  • GEN 3:22,24
  • REV 22:14

Of life: GEN 2:9; 3:22,24; REV 22:14.

TREE — OF KNOWLEDGE

  • GEN 2:9,17
  • GEN 3:3-6,11,12,17

Of knowledge: GEN 2:9,17; 3:3-6,11,12,17.