Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical narrative, the concept of natural death is often described with the phrase "gathered to his people" or similar expressions. This phrase is rich with theological and cultural significance, reflecting the beliefs and customs of the ancient Israelites regarding death and the afterlife.
Biblical ReferencesThe phrase "gathered to his people" is used in several key passages in the Old Testament. One of the earliest occurrences is found in
Genesis 25:8, where it describes the death of Abraham: "Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a ripe old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people" . This expression is also used in reference to Isaac in
Genesis 35:29 and Jacob in
Genesis 49:33, among others.
Theological ImplicationsThe phrase "gathered to his people" suggests a continuity of existence beyond physical death. It implies a reunion with ancestors and a joining of the community of the deceased. This reflects the belief in an afterlife where the soul continues to exist in a familial or communal setting. The use of this phrase indicates that death is not seen as an end, but rather as a transition to another form of existence.
Cultural ContextIn the ancient Near Eastern context, family and tribal connections were of paramount importance. The idea of being "gathered to one's people" would have resonated deeply with the Israelites, who valued their lineage and heritage. This expression underscores the belief that death reunites individuals with their forebears, maintaining the integrity of the family unit even in the afterlife.
Comparison with Other ExpressionsThe Bible uses various expressions to describe death, such as "sleeping with one's fathers" (
1 Kings 2:10) and "being at rest" (
Job 3:13). While these phrases also convey the idea of death as a peaceful transition, "gathered to his people" uniquely emphasizes the communal and familial aspects of the afterlife.
New Testament PerspectiveWhile the New Testament does not use the exact phrase "gathered to his people," it continues the theme of death as a transition to a communal afterlife. For example, in
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Paul speaks of believers being united with Christ and with one another at the resurrection. This reflects the continuity of the biblical theme of death as a gathering or reunion.
ConclusionThe expression "gathered to his people" provides a profound insight into the biblical understanding of death. It encapsulates the hope of an afterlife where individuals are reunited with their loved ones, reflecting the enduring value placed on family and community in the biblical worldview.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Genesis 49:33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered to his people.
Torrey's Topical Textbook
Library
Ripe for Gathering
... of that fruit-gathering is described with extraordinary ... when the judgment bursts;
death stalking supreme ... about necessary consequences and natural laws rendering ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/ripe for gathering.htm
The Death and the Raising of Lazarus - the Question of Miracles ...
... also, have we an outlook upon the gathering of the ... discussed the question of burial,
and described the committal ... of those who had died a natural death, and the ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxi the death and.htm
What Carey did for Literature and for Humanity
... of a leper, which he thus described:""A pit ... have survived several years, was cruelly
burned to death. ... a healthy new existence, while natural death by disease ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter xi what carey did.htm
The Land and the People.
... and workingmen of Galilee, who are described to us ... This custom suggested to Jesus
the most natural way of ... spoke to them of his, approaching passion and death. ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm
Christ the Breaker
... fulness of detail with which His functions are described. ... By His death He has borne
away the guilt ... is to say, if we rightly understand our natural condition, it ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/christ the breaker.htm
From a Hindu Point of view
... and stop the public clubbing to death of buffaloes ... But the natural instinct of the
converted idolater is ... they struck the convert who described the Confirmation ...
/.../wilson-carmichael/things as they are/chapter xxvi from a hindu.htm
Six Years in North Bengal --Missionary and Indigo Planter
... from the experience of the first missionary, described by Isaiah ... of sin, the sins
of a natural state, the ... there as a missionary till his own death, four years ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter iv six years in.htm
Degeneration
... Theologically it is described as a gravitation, a bias toward evil ... but that it means
the creeping on of death? ... like its fell analogue in the natural world, may ...
/.../drummond/natural law in the spiritual world/degeneration.htm
The Contribution of the Natural and Social Sciences
... lay beyond the reach of the natural-scientific methods ... Moreover, before Spencer's
death, the doctrine of evolution ... the character which Carlyle described as an ...
/.../chapter v the contribution of.htm
The Scope of the Apocalypse Shewn by Its Place in the Canon
... for a time, breaking off the natural branches from the ... charged with the elements
of future tempest and death. ... It is this judgment which is described in the ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the scope of the apocalypse.htm
Resources
How is physical death related to spiritual death? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Jesus Christ conquered death? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the moment of death according to the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgDeath: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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