Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About The Dead?
14 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding The Dead in the Bible
What does the Bible say about the dead? Browse 18 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About The Dead
- 1Leviticus 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 - 2Deuteronomy 18:11
“Or a charmer , or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer .”
KJV - 3
- 4Psalms 146:4
“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
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 - 6Ecclesiastes 12:7
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
KJV - 7Isaiah 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 - 8Daniel 12:2
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
KJV - 9Luke 16:19
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:”
KJV - 10Luke 16:26
“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot ; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
KJV
Subtopics of The Dead
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About The Dead? (8 Verses)
“Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.”
“Or a charmer , or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer .”
“The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.”
“His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.”
“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.”
“Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.”
“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?”
“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About The Dead? (6 Verses)
“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:”
“And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot ; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
“Wherefore , as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: for that: or, in whom”
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:”
How to Study What the Bible Says About 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 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 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 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 the dead needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about 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 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 The Dead?
You have studied 14 verses about the dead. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.