Topical Encyclopedia
A burial-ground, often referred to as a cemetery or graveyard, is a designated area where the dead are interred. In biblical times, burial practices and the locations of burial grounds held significant cultural and religious importance, reflecting beliefs about death, the afterlife, and respect for the deceased.
Old Testament ContextIn the Old Testament, burial grounds were often family-owned plots or caves. The patriarchs of Israel placed great importance on securing burial sites for their families. For instance, Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah as a burial site for his wife Sarah, and it became the family tomb for subsequent generations (
Genesis 23:19-20). This act underscored the importance of having a permanent resting place for one's family, a tradition that continued with Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
The Israelites' burial customs were distinct from those of surrounding nations, who often practiced cremation or other forms of body disposal. The Israelites typically buried their dead, as seen in the account of the burial of Moses, who was buried by God in an undisclosed location in Moab (
Deuteronomy 34:5-6).
New Testament ContextIn the New Testament, burial practices continued to reflect Jewish customs. Jesus Christ's burial is a significant event, as it fulfilled prophecies and demonstrated the customs of the time. After His crucifixion, Jesus was laid in a new tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple (
Matthew 27:59-60). This tomb was hewn out of rock, a common practice for the wealthy, and was located in a garden near the site of the crucifixion.
The burial of Jesus also highlights the use of spices and linen cloths, which were customary for Jewish burials to honor the deceased and mitigate the odor of decay (
John 19:39-40).
Cultural and Religious SignificanceBurial grounds in biblical times were often located outside city walls, as contact with the dead was considered a source of ritual impurity (
Numbers 19:11-16). This separation underscores the biblical view of death as a consequence of sin, yet it also reflects a deep respect for the deceased, as proper burial was seen as a duty of the living.
The concept of a burial-ground also carries eschatological significance. The Old Testament prophets and New Testament writers speak of a future resurrection, where the dead will rise from their graves (
Daniel 12:2;
John 5:28-29). This belief in resurrection underscores the temporary nature of burial grounds, as they are seen as resting places until the final judgment.
ConclusionThroughout the Bible, burial grounds serve as more than mere resting places for the dead; they are sites of familial heritage, religious observance, and eschatological hope. The practices surrounding burial reflect a deep-seated belief in the sanctity of life, the dignity of the human body, and the hope of resurrection.
Library
TheBurial Ground
... IV. SPECIAL OCCASIONS TheBurial Ground. [1766]462 O Thou in whom thy saints repose
Also the following: [1767]166 The grave itself a garden is....
TheBurial Ground 462. O Thou in whom Thy Saints Repose
... IV. SPECIAL OCCASIONS TheBurial Ground 462. O Thou in whom thy saints repose.
Six 8's [1769]Credo: John Stainer, 1875. John Ellerton, 1870....
On the Preparation of aBurial Ground.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCCIII. On the Preparation of aBurial Ground. 8.8.8.8
James Montgomery. On the Preparation of aBurial Ground....
The Master.
... They can form but one surmise: that, in accordance with wont, she has betaken herself
to theburial-ground to feed her morbid grief "She goeth unto the grave...
The Weeping Saviour.
... The silent procession is moving on. We may suppose they have reached the gates of
theburial-ground. But a new scene and incident here arrest our thoughts!...
Lessons.
... Theburial-ground has been untraversed since, probably years before the dust of
one, or perhaps both parents had been committed to the sepulchre.[8] Death had...
The Esquimaux Graves
... communication with the human race. Near the huts was theburial-ground, with
several well-formed graves of heaps of stones. On one lay a...
The Hymns
... Day 420-426 National Days 427-442 Old and New Year 443-449 Ember-Days and Ordination
450-456 Church Building and Consecration 457-462 TheBurial Ground 462 V...
Subject Index
... Birthday, [38]h247. Body and soul, [39]h223. Brotherly love, [40]h199.Burial Ground,
preparation of, [41]h303. Calvary, [42]h050, [43]h057, [44]h060. Centenary...
Travel. A Personal Experience.
... Of the smallburial-ground in this Tower, Macaulay writes: "In truth there
is no sadder spot on earth than this little cemetery....
Thesaurus
Burial-ground (1 Occurrence)Burial-
ground. Burial,
Burial-
ground. Buried . Multi-Version
Concordance
Burial-
ground (1 Occurrence). 2 Chronicles
...Athens (5 Occurrences)
... new road (North of the ancient) along which were altars of unknown gods, entered
the city from the West, and passed by the Ceramicus (burial-ground), which can...
Jehoshaphat (79 Occurrences)
... judgments on the enemies of Israel. This valley has from ancient times been
used by the Jews as aburial-ground. It is all over paved...
Buried (125 Occurrences)
Burial (25 Occurrences)
Resources
Is burial the only option a Christian can consider? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about cremation? Should Christians be cremated? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the purpose of Stonehenge? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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