Funeral customs in the Bible centered on washing, wrapping, and burying the dead, usually on the day of death. Burial was regarded as an important duty, and a meal was often held afterward.
Definition
A funeral is the customary handling and burial of the dead. Biblical funeral practice included washing the body, wrapping it in a large cloth, adding aromatics for persons of distinction, carrying it on a bier or in an open coffin, and burying it, usually on the day of death.
Biblical Usage
Burial was regarded as an important duty, while leaving the dead unburied was viewed with horror. A funeral meal was commonly given after burial. Burning the dead appears rarely and was also assigned as a penalty for certain crimes.
Historical Background
In the earliest recorded periods, relatives carried the dead to the grave; later, others performed this work. Aromatics were placed in the folds of the cloth for distinguished persons. Burial was the ordinary Jewish means of disposing of corpses.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Burying was among the Jews the only mode of disposing of corpses (Gen. 23:19; 25:9; 35:8, 9, etc.). The first traces of burning the dead are found in 1 Sam. 31:12. The burning of the body was affixed by the law of Moses as a penalty to certain crimes (Lev. 20:14; 21:9). To leave the dead unburied was regarded with horror (1 Kings 13:22; 14:11; 16:4; 21:24, etc.). In the earliest times of which we have record kinsmen carried their dead to the grave (Gen. 25:9; 35:29; Judg. 16:31), but in later times this was done by others (Amos 6:16). Immediately after decease the body was washed, and then wrapped in a large cloth (Acts 9:37; Matt. 27:59; Mark 15:46). In the case of persons of distinction, aromatics were laid on the folds of the cloth (John 19:39; comp. John 12:7). As a rule the burial (q.v.) took place on the very day of the death (Acts 5:6, 10), and the body was removed to the grave in an open coffin or on a bier (Luke 7:14). After the burial a funeral meal was usually given (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:5, 7; Hos. 9:4).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>fu'-ner-al.</p><p>See BURIAL.</p>
