Burial: Figurative
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In the Scriptures, burial is not only a literal act of interring a body in the ground but also carries significant figurative meanings. These symbolic interpretations often relate to spiritual truths and moral teachings, reflecting the transformative aspects of faith and the believer's relationship with God.

1. Death to Sin and New Life in Christ: One of the most profound figurative uses of burial in the New Testament is its association with the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Romans 6:4 , the Apostle Paul writes, "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life." Here, burial symbolizes the believer's death to sin and the old self, and the emergence into a new life of righteousness and holiness through the power of Christ's resurrection.

2. Spiritual Renewal and Transformation: Colossians 2:12 further elaborates on this theme: "And having been buried with Him in baptism, you were raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead." The act of being buried with Christ in baptism signifies the complete transformation and renewal of the believer, emphasizing the transition from spiritual death to life.

3. Separation from the World: Figuratively, burial can also represent the believer's separation from worldly values and systems. In Galatians 6:14 , Paul declares, "But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." The imagery of burial here suggests a decisive break from the past and the world's influence, as the believer is set apart for God's purposes.

4. Hope of Resurrection: The figurative use of burial also points to the hope of resurrection and eternal life. In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 , Paul explains, "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body." The burial of the physical body is likened to the sowing of a seed, which will be raised in a glorified form, symbolizing the believer's future resurrection and transformation.

5. Judgment and Consequence: In a different context, burial can also symbolize judgment and the consequences of sin. In the Old Testament, the burial of the wicked is sometimes depicted as a sign of divine judgment. For instance, in Jeremiah 22:19 , the prophet speaks of King Jehoiakim's ignominious end: "He will be buried like a donkey, dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem." This imagery underscores the disgrace and finality of divine judgment upon those who reject God's ways.

In summary, the figurative use of burial in the Bible encompasses themes of death to sin, spiritual renewal, separation from the world, hope of resurrection, and divine judgment. These symbolic meanings enrich the believer's understanding of their faith journey and the transformative power of God's grace.
Nave's Topical Index
Isaiah 22:16
What have you here? and whom have you here, that you have hewed you out a sepulcher here, as he that hews him out a sepulcher on high, and that engraves an habitation for himself in a rock?
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Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
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Colossians 2:12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.
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Library

The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles ...
... So little had they understood the figurative language about the twelve hours on
which God's sun ... [4794] From the narrative we infer that the burial of Lazarus ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the death and.htm

The Death of John and Philip.
... John's death has also been given in a general way, [854] but his burial place is ...
The words are either to be taken in a purely figurative sense, as meaning that ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxxi the death of john.htm

Whether There was any Reasonable Cause for the Ceremonial ...
... But it seems to be an act of piety to assist at the burial of one's ... The figurative
reason for these things is that all these animals signified certain sins, in ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether there was any reasonable.htm

False Teachings of the Apostasy.
... This does not fitly represent a burial. ... The wolf dwelling with the Lamb is figurative
language, and never will be literally fulfilled, but has been spiritually ...
//christianbookshelf.org/orr/the gospel day /chapter iii false teachings of.htm

John xix. 16-18
... from the top" ( ver.23 ) is not put without a purpose; but some say that a figurative
assertion is ... Nicodemus also assists him, and furnishes a costly burial. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily lxxxv john xix 16-18.htm

Third Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
... word, since it includes the passion, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, and ...
They regarded his language as figurative, and sought to interpret the figure ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lxx third withdrawal from herods 4.htm

Sixth Sunday after Trinity Exhortation to Christian Living.
... Now, in the figurative words above quoted, he wishes to vividly remind us what ... us
in these words what has been effected by Christ's death and burial, and what ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/sixth sunday after trinity exhortation.htm

Jairus' Daughter and the Invalid Woman.
... Give place [Mourning began at the moment of death, and continued without intermission
until the burial, which usually ... [Jesus used this figurative language with ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lviii jairus daughter and the.htm

Aaron, his Office no Palliation of his Sin, 61.
... Burial of the dead, a human instinct, [51]142. ... Incarnation, the, predicted,
[202]205; reality of, how proved, [203]205; figurative descriptions of in Holy ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/aaron his office no palliation.htm

Letter Xlvi. Paula and Eustochium to Marcella.
... punished; if the temple was overthrown, it was that its figurative sacrifices might ...
be glorious," [976] meaning that the place of the Lord's burial should be ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter xlvi paula and eustochium.htm

Resources
Is burial the only option a Christian can consider? | GotQuestions.org

Why was a burial place so important in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Is the Shroud of Turin authentic? | GotQuestions.org

Burial: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Burial

Burial for Criminals, Marked by Heaps

Burial of Enemies, Sometimes Performed by the Conquerors

Burial of Persons Embalmed, Deferred for Seventy Days

Burial of Persons Hanged, Always on the Days of Execution

Burial of the Friendless, a Kind Act

Burial were Ceremonially Unclean

Burial with Spices

Burial: An Ignominious, Compared to the Burial of an Ass

Burial: Antiquity of Coffins For

Burial: Antiquity of Purchasing Places For

Burial: Attended by Family of the Dead

Burial: Attended by Female Friends

Burial: Attended by Great Lamentation At

Burial: Attended by Hired Mourners

Burial: Attended by Numbers of Friends

Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends of Jacob

Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: Abner

Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: Child of Jeroboam

Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: Stephen

Burial: Attended by Relatives and Friends: The Son of the Widow of Nain

Burial: Bier (Coffin) Used At

Burial: Burial of Gog (Multitude) Requiring Seven Months

Burial: Burying Places for Poor and Strangers

Burial: Burying Places in Caves

Burial: Burying Places in Gardens

Burial: Burying Places in Houses

Burial: Burying Places in Valleys

Burial: Burying Places of Kings

Burial: Burying Places with Shelves

Burial: Burying Places: A Place of Honor

Burial: Burying Places: And Inscriptions

Burial: Burying Places: Anyone Who Touched, Were Unclean

Burial: Burying Places: Asa

Burial: Burying Places: Bought by Abraham

Burial: Burying Places: Closed With Stones

Burial: Burying Places: Demoniacs Lived In

Burial: Burying Places: Family

Burial: Burying Places: Jacob

Burial: Burying Places: Joseph

Burial: Burying Places: King Saul's

Burial: Burying Places: Marked With Pillars, Rachel's

Burial: Burying Places: On Hills

Burial: Burying Places: Painted and Garnished

Burial: Burying Places: Refused to the Dead

Burial: Burying Places: Robbed

Burial: Burying Places: Sealed

Burial: Burying Places: Under Trees, Deborah's

Burial: Design of

Burial: Directions Given About, Before Death by Jacob

Burial: Directions Given About, Before Death by Joseph

Burial: Figurative

Burial: Followed by a Feast

Burial: Frequently Prepared and Pointed out During Life

Burial: Held in High Veneration

Burial: Illustrative of Regeneration

Burial: Lack of, a Disgrace

Burial: Members of a Family Interred in the Same

Burial: Often Desecrated by Idolatry

Burial: Often Took Place Immediately After Death

Burial: Orations Sometimes Made At

Burial: Perfumes Burned At

Burial: Pillars Erected On

Burial: Places Used for Caves Hewn out of Rocks

Burial: Places Used for Gardens

Burial: Places Used for Houses of the Deceased

Burial: Places Used for Natural Caves

Burial: Places Used for The City of David for the Kings of Judah

Burial: Places Used for Tops of the Hills

Burial: Places Used for Under Trees

Burial: Privation of, Considered a Calamity

Burial: Privation of, Threatened As a Punishment

Burial: Probable Origin of

Burial: Provided for Aliens and Strangers

Burial: Provided for the Common People

Burial: Rites of

Burial: Sometimes had Inscriptions

Burial: Sometimes not Apparent

Burial: Soon After Death

Burial: The Body Was: Anointed For

Burial: The Body Was: Carried on a Bier To

Burial: The Body Was: Preserved With Spices

Burial: The Body Was: Sometimes Burned Before

Burial: The Body Was: Washed Before

Burial: The Body Was: Wound in Linen For

Burial: The Jews Anxious to be Interred in Their Family Places of

Burial: The Right of all Nations

Burial: Tombs Erected Over

Burial: Visited by Sorrowing Friends

Related Terms

Burial-ground (1 Occurrence)

Funeral (3 Occurrences)

Cremation

Nicodemus (5 Occurrences)

Coffin (2 Occurrences)

Perfume (202 Occurrences)

Immersion

Trine

Triune

Pharaoh (245 Occurrences)

Cuttings (5 Occurrences)

Arimathaea (4 Occurrences)

Arimathea (4 Occurrences)

Site (19 Occurrences)

Hittite (45 Occurrences)

Flesh (468 Occurrences)

Ephron (13 Occurrences)

Grave (128 Occurrences)

Manoah (14 Occurrences)

Prepare (199 Occurrences)

Preparation (28 Occurrences)

Borrowing (1 Occurrence)

Cave (40 Occurrences)

Mamre (10 Occurrences)

Buried (125 Occurrences)

Lamentation (45 Occurrences)

Bought (66 Occurrences)

Anem (1 Occurrence)

Jehu (63 Occurrences)

Baptist (16 Occurrences)

Interpretation (45 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy (1 Occurrence)

Isaac (127 Occurrences)

Machpelah (6 Occurrences)

Oil (281 Occurrences)

Carried (327 Occurrences)

Uzziah (27 Occurrences)

Mary (50 Occurrences)

Zela (2 Occurrences)

Zelah (2 Occurrences)

Zorah (10 Occurrences)

Nehemiah (9 Occurrences)

Nevermore (3 Occurrences)

Untimely (5 Occurrences)

Urn (1 Occurrence)

Uzzi'ah (26 Occurrences)

Object (76 Occurrences)

Ointment (29 Occurrences)

Jehoiakim (37 Occurrences)

Jewish (49 Occurrences)

Genesis

Gibeath (2 Occurrences)

Gaash (4 Occurrences)

Golgotha (4 Occurrences)

Wrapped (40 Occurrences)

Ishmael (44 Occurrences)

Intended (38 Occurrences)

Interposed (5 Occurrences)

Iscariot (11 Occurrences)

Foreigners (76 Occurrences)

Travelers (6 Occurrences)

Timnath-heres (1 Occurrence)

Tomb (70 Occurrences)

Townspeople (4 Occurrences)

Thaddaeus (2 Occurrences)

Timnathheres (1 Occurrence)

Reached (152 Occurrences)

Renowned (15 Occurrences)

Rome (12 Occurrences)

Rending (8 Occurrences)

Elisha (70 Occurrences)

Embalming (3 Occurrences)

Eshtaol (7 Occurrences)

Desire (565 Occurrences)

Dionysus

Donkey's (7 Occurrences)

Dragged (19 Occurrences)

Matthias (2 Occurrences)

Burial: Directions Given About, Before Death by Joseph
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