29 Bible Verses About Death

The Bible tells us that ultimately the same destiny awaits every person—we all must face death. The good news is Jesus Christ overcame the power of the grave by sacrificing His life on the cross and resurrecting from the dead in victory. With these Bible verses about death, we’ll explore what the Bible says about our final destiny and why believers don’t have to live under death’s shadow.

What Does the Bible Say About Death?

The shadow of death is real. The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us that all humans must live with the knowledge that one day they will die. Death is our unavoidable earthly destiny. In the New Testament, the book of Hebrews reveals that the devil, who is the ruler of this fallen world, holds the power of death. Thankfully, God sent His Son as Savior to defeat the devil and overcome death and hell.

According to the Bible, when Jesus Christ died on the cross and then rose to life again, he broke death’s power. The penalty for sin is death, and Jesus paid that price for us with His own life. When he died on the cross, he descended into the grave, grabbed the keys of death from Satan’s grip, rose victorious, and then ascended into heaven.

Through Christ’s death, believers are given eternal life. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life” (John 5:24, NLT).

Death Is the Destiny of Every Person

Physical death is the gateway to eternal life with God through Jesus Christ. Christians do not need to fear death because death is not a loss but the final victory. Eternal life forever in God’s presence awaits us on the other side.

Ecclesiastes 9:2
The same destiny ultimately awaits everyone, whether righteous or wicked, good or bad, ceremonially clean or unclean, religious or irreligious. (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 9:5
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. (ESV)

Genesis 3:19
By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (ESV)

Romans 5:12
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (NLT)

Ecclesiastes 8:8
None of us can hold back our spirit from departing. None of us has the power to prevent the day of our death. There is no escaping that obligation, that dark battle. And in the face of death, wickedness will certainly not rescue the wicked. (NLT)

Hebrews 9:27
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, (NIV)

The Shadow of Death

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (ESV)

Revelation 6:8
I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals. (NLT)

1 Timothy 6:7
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. (NIV)

Job 1:21
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” (NIV)

Job 14:2
We blossom like a flower and then wither. Like a passing shadow, we quickly disappear. (NLT)

Jesus Christ Conquered Death

Philippians 2:8
And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (ESV)

Hebrews 2:14–15
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he [Jesus] himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 15:26–27
And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his [Christ’s] authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) (NLT)

Revelation 1:17–18
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” (ESV)

2 Corinthians 4:10
Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 15:54–57
Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:“Death is swallowed up in victory.O death, where is your victory?O death, where is your sting?”For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (NLT)

John 11:25–26
Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” (NLT)

Life After Death

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT)

Romans 8:38–39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NLT)

2 Corinthians 5:1–5
For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life.  God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. (NLT)

2 Corinthians 5:15
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. (NLT)

Philippians 1:20–21
I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 15:20
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. (NLT)

1 Thessalonians 4:14
For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. (NLT)

Proverbs 14:32
The wicked are crushed by disaster, but the godly have a refuge when they die. (NLT)

Psalm 116:15
The LORD cares deeply when his loved ones die. (NLT)

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (NLT)

John 14:1-4
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” (NLT)