Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Praying To The Dead?
15 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Praying To The Dead in the Bible
Discover 17 powerful Bible verses about praying to the dead. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential prayer & worship topic.
Top 10 Verses About Praying To The Dead
- 1Exodus 20:4
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:”
KJV - 2Leviticus 19:31
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”
KJV - 3Deuteronomy 18:10
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,”
KJV - 4Deuteronomy 18:11
“Or a charmer , or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer .”
KJV - 5Ecclesiastes 9:5
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”
KJV - 6Isaiah 8:19
“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?”
KJV - 7Matthew 6:9
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
KJV - 8Matthew 22:32
“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.”
KJV - 9John 3:13
“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”
KJV - 10John 14:6
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Praying To The Dead? (6 Verses)
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:”
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”
“There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,”
“Or a charmer , or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer .”
“For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.”
“And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Praying To The Dead? (9 Verses)
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
“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 no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.”
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
“Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. captivity: or, a multitude of captives”
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”
“And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. odours: or, incense”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Praying To The Dead
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about praying to the dead. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about praying to the dead and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about praying to the dead is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on praying to the dead needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about praying to the dead with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about praying to the dead, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Praying To The Dead?
You have studied 15 verses about praying to the dead. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.