Bible Verses About Death

29 verses in the King James Version (KJV) and the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

Death is the one experience every life shares, and it raises our deepest questions. The Bible is honest about its sting, yet it insists that death does not have the final word. These verses include words Jesus spoke at a friend's tomb, Paul's reflections on resurrection, and ancient poems about the shortness of life. They are fitting for funerals and memorials, and for any quiet moment when you're thinking about what lies beyond this life.

John 11:25

KJV

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
BSB

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
John 11:26

KJV

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
BSB

And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
1 Corinthians 15:54

KJV

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
BSB

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
1 Corinthians 15:55

KJV

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
BSB

“Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”
1 Corinthians 15:56

KJV

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
BSB

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
1 Corinthians 15:57

KJV

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
BSB

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Revelation 21:4

KJV

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
BSB

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
Psalm 23:4

KJV

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
BSB

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 116:15

KJV

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
BSB

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.
Philippians 1:21

KJV

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
BSB

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:23

KJV

For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
BSB

I am torn between the two. I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better indeed.
2 Corinthians 5:8

KJV

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
BSB

We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
Romans 6:23

KJV

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
BSB

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38

KJV

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
BSB

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
Romans 14:8

KJV

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
BSB

If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 4:13

KJV

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
BSB

Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.
1 Thessalonians 4:14

KJV

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
BSB

For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.
1 Thessalonians 4:16

KJV

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
BSB

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise.
John 5:24

KJV

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
BSB

Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
John 14:2

KJV

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
BSB

In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
Ecclesiastes 3:2

KJV

A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
BSB

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
Ecclesiastes 12:7

KJV

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.
BSB

before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Hebrews 2:14

KJV

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
BSB

Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,
Hebrews 2:15

KJV

And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
BSB

and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
Hebrews 9:27

KJV

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
BSB

Just as man is appointed to die once, and after that to face judgment,
Isaiah 25:8

KJV

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
BSB

He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken.
Psalm 90:12

KJV

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
BSB

So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.
2 Timothy 4:7

KJV

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
BSB

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Job 1:21

KJV

And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
BSB

saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

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