Bible verses about death
Scripture is neither grim nor breezy about dying, and the people in it who say the most about it are usually close to it. These passages are set out with a sentence on each — what is claimed, and how much weight the text will actually bear.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. — John 11:25 · WEB
Martha meets him on the road with a reproach and a doctrine, and is given a person instead.
Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” — Luke 23:43 · WEB
Two criminals, the same mockery, and one of them changes his mind and asks to be remembered.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. — 1 Thessalonians 4:14 · WEB
The problem is grief, not curiosity — and the remedy Paul reaches for is one fact about Jesus.
“Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?” — 1 Corinthians 15:55 · WEB
The living and the dead are changed at one moment, and the chapter ends by taunting death with the prophets' own words.
He has swallowed up death forever! The Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears from off all faces. He will take the reproach of his people away from off all the earth, for Yahweh has spoken it. — Isaiah 25:8 · WEB
A feast on a mountain for all peoples, a veil taken off, and the one enemy that had always done the swallowing is swallowed.
But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives. In the end, he will stand upon the earth. — Job 19:25 · WEB
From the lowest point in the book Job states that a living vindicator will stand at the last and that he himself will see God after his body is gone.
We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. — 2 Corinthians 5:8 · WEB
Two words for being at home and away carry the whole passage, and what makes absence preferable is company rather than escape.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. — Philippians 1:21 · WEB
Caught between two goods, Paul cannot choose — and settles it by asking which is better for other people.
Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice — John 5:28 · WEB
Two resurrections are described — one happening as he speaks, and one still in the tombs.
and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. — Ecclesiastes 12:7 · WEB
The one place God is called Creator introduces a portrait of a body failing, and four broken objects say what the failure ends in.
For if we live, we live to the Lord. Or if we die, we die to the Lord. If therefore we live or die, we are the Lord’s. — Romans 14:8 · WEB
The quarrel is lifted into lordship — living and dying both to the Lord — and both parties are walked to the same judgment seat.
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. — 2 Timothy 4:7 · WEB
Paul describes his death in two images, his life in three clauses, and then refuses to keep the reward to himself.
Inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and after this, judgment, — Hebrews 9:27 · WEB
Three appearances organize the paragraph — he appears before God now, appeared once to put away sin, and will appear a second time for those waiting.
Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints. — Psalm 116:15 · WEB
A man who nearly died says why he loves God, and the reason is that he was heard.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. — Psalm 23:4 · WEB
I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their works follow with them.” — Revelation 14:13 · WEB