100 Bible Verses about Soul Sleep

John 3:13 ESV / 30 helpful votes

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

Psalm 115:17 ESV / 30 helpful votes

The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any who go down into silence.

John 5:28-29 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Daniel 12:2 ESV / 29 helpful votes

And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

Ecclesiastes 12:7 ESV / 25 helpful votes

And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV / 24 helpful votes

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ...

Ecclesiastes 9:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes

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.

Psalm 146:4 ESV / 19 helpful votes

When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.

Psalm 6:5 ESV / 18 helpful votes

For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 15:20-23 ESV / 14 helpful votes

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Luke 23:43 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Matthew 10:28 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 9:24 ESV / 14 helpful votes

He said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.

2 Corinthians 5:6-8 ESV / 13 helpful votes

So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Genesis 2:7 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

James 2:26 ESV / 12 helpful votes

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Hebrews 9:27 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Ecclesiastes 3:20 ESV / 11 helpful votes

All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return.

Revelation 20:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

1 Corinthians 15:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.

2 Chronicles 32:33 ESV / 10 helpful votes

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

Acts 2:29 ESV / 9 helpful votes

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

John 6:44 ESV / 9 helpful votes

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” ...

1 Corinthians 15:12-19 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. ...

John 11:11-14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover.” Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep. Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died,

Luke 16:19-31 ESV / 8 helpful votes

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. ...

2 Corinthians 5:1-21 ESV / 7 helpful votes

For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. ...

John 14:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Matthew 27:52 ESV / 7 helpful votes

The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,

Matthew 25:46 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

2 Chronicles 27:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 16:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And Asa slept with his fathers, dying in the forty-first year of his reign.

2 Chronicles 12:16 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David, and Abijah his son reigned in his place.

2 Chronicles 9:31 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 24:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 16:20 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And Ahaz slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.

2 Samuel 7:12 ESV / 7 helpful votes

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.

1 Samuel 28:14-15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”

Revelation 1:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Philippians 1:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

1 Corinthians 15:51 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

Romans 6:23 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:3-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

Acts 2:27 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.

Luke 9:28-36 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. ...

Matthew 27:50-54 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

Ezekiel 18:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

2 Chronicles 33:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes

So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 20:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 15:7 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 14:29 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 14:16 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Jehoash slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel, and Jeroboam his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 13:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

So Joash slept with his fathers, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

2 Kings 13:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

So Jehoahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria, and Joash his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 8:24 ESV / 6 helpful votes

So Joram slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 22:50 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 16:28 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Omri slept with his fathers and was buried in Samaria, and Ahab his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 15:24 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Asa slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 15:8 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Abijam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 14:31 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Rehoboam slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite. And Abijam his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 14:20 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And the time that Jeroboam reigned was twenty-two years. And he slept with his fathers, and Nadab his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 11:43 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 11:21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

But when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.”

1 Kings 2:10 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.

Revelation 20:14 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

1 Timothy 6:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

1 Corinthians 11:30 ESV / 5 helpful votes

That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

Acts 7:60 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Acts 2:34 ESV / 5 helpful votes

For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,

John 11:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

After saying these things, he said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.”

2 Kings 21:18 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And Manasseh slept with his fathers and was buried in the garden of his house, in the garden of Uzza, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 15:22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And Menahem slept with his fathers, and Pekahiah his son reigned in his place.

2 Kings 14:22 ESV / 5 helpful votes

He built Elath and restored it to Judah, after the king slept with his fathers.

2 Kings 10:35 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So Jehu slept with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 22:40 ESV / 5 helpful votes

So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

1 Kings 16:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And Baasha slept with his fathers and was buried at Tirzah, and Elah his son reigned in his place.

Genesis 2:17 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Revelation 21:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

2 Timothy 4:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

1 Timothy 6:15-16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

1 Corinthians 11:27 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.

John 3:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Mark 5:39 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.”

Matthew 27:53 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

Matthew 25:41 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Matthew 22:31 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:

Zechariah 12:1 ESV / 4 helpful votes

The oracle of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:

Job 32:8 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.

Revelation 22:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.

Revelation 20:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

1 John 3:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

2 Peter 2:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Acts 2:31 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.

Matthew 12:41-42 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Matthew 11:24 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Matthew 11:23 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Matthew 11:21-22 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.

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