grave, gravedigger, tomb, burial place

Definition

The terms “tomb” and “grave” refer to a place where people put the body of a person who has died. A “burial place” is a more general term that also refers to this.

• The Jews sometimes used natural caves as tombs, and sometimes they dug caves into rock in the side of a hill.
• In New Testament times, it was common to roll a large, heavy stone in front of the opening of a tomb in order to close it.
• If the target language the word for a tomb can only refer to a hole in which the body is placed below the ground, other ways to translate this could include “cave” or “hole in the side of a hill.”
• The phrase “the grave” is often used generally and figuratively to refer to the condition of being dead or a place where the souls of dead people are.

(See also: bury, death)

Bible References

• Acts 2:29-31
• Genesis 23:6
• Genesis 50:5
• John 19:41
• Luke 23:53
• Mark 5:1-2
• Matthew 27:53
• Romans 3:13

Examples from the Bible stories

• __32:4 The man lived among the tombs__ in the area.
• __37:6 Jesus asked them, “Where have you put Lazarus?” They told him, “In the tomb__. Come and see.”
• __37:7 The tomb__ was a cave with a stone rolled in front of its opening.
• __40:9 Then Joseph and Nicodemus, two Jewish leaders who believed Jesus was the Messiah, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. They wrapped his body in cloth and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then they rolled a large stone in front the tomb__ to block the opening.
• __41:4 He (the angel) rolled away the stone that was covering the entrance to the tomb and sat on it. The soldiers guarding the tomb__ were terrified and fell to the ground like dead men.
• __41:5 When the women arrived at the tomb, the angel told them, “Do not be afraid. Jesus is not here. He has risen from the dead, just like he said he would! Look in the tomb and see.” The women looked into the tomb__ and saw where Jesus’ body had been laid. His body was not there!

Word Data

• Strong’s: H1430, H6900, H6913, H7585, H7845, G34180, G34190, G50280