The concept of death is central to the biblical narrative,from the fall of humanity in Genesis to the final victory over death in Revelation. In Scripture, “death” is more than the end of physical life; it represents separation, consequence, and ultimately, a problem only God can solve through Christ.
The Hebrew Word: Māwet (מָוֶת)
In the Old Testament, the most common Hebrew term translated as death is māwet. It occurs over 150 times and denotes both physical and spiritual death.
Meaning: Māwet carries the basic idea of separation from life. It can refer to:
- Physical death, the cessation of biological life (Genesis 25:8, “Abraham breathed his last and died in a ripe old age”).
- Spiritual or covenantal death, separation from God due to sin (Ezekiel 18:4, “The soul who sins will die.”).
In many passages, māwet is personified as a power or enemy that grips humanity such as in Psalm 18:5, where the Bible says, “The cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me”. This imagery portrays death as an active force opposed to life and fellowship with God.
The Greek Word: Thanatos (θάνατος)
In the New Testament, the primary word for death is thanatos. Like māwet, it refers to both physical death and spiritual separation from God.
Literal Meaning: Thanatos signifies the state of being dead, or the process of dying, but in theological contexts, it extends to mean spiritual ruin and eternal separation from God.
Examples:
- Physical death:
“So then, as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.” (Romans 5:18). Here, thanatos is connected with Adam’s sin that brought death to all humanity (Romans 5:12). - Spiritual death:
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23). Paul contrasts the outcome of sin (Thanatos – spiritual death) with the gift of God (zoē aiōnios – eternal life). - Eternal or second death:
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14). The “second death” represents final separation from God in judgment.
Theological Significance of Death
- Death as Separation
Biblically, death is not annihilation but separation:- Physical death separates the body and soul (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
- Spiritual death separates humanity from God (Ephesians 2:1, “You were dead in your trespasses and sins”).
- Eternal death is final separation from God’s presence (Revelation 20:14-15).
- Death as the Result of Sin
Death entered the world because of human rebellion. “Through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12). Death is therefore not natural to God’s creation, it is the consequence of sin and the curse (Genesis 2:17; 3:19). - Death as an Enemy
The New Testament presents death as the last enemy to be destroyed.
“The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26). This shows that death is contrary to God’s purposes and will ultimately be defeated through Christ’s resurrection. - Victory Over Death in Christ
Christ’s death and resurrection transform the meaning of death for believers.
“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20). For those in Christ, death no longer has the final word, it becomes a gateway to eternal life (John 11:25–26).
Word Study Summary
| Language | Word | Transliteration | Meaning | Usage |
| Hebrew | מָוֶת | māwet | Death; separation from life or God | Physical, spiritual, and covenantal contexts |
| Greek | θάνατος | thanatos | Death; the state of being dead; separation | Physical death, spiritual death, eternal judgment |
Conclusion
In the Bible, death (māwet / thanatos) signifies far more than the end of physical life. It represents the separation that sin brings from the body, from others, and ultimately from God. Yet, through Jesus Christ, death’s dominion has been broken.
As Paul declares triumphantly, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55)
Through the cross and the resurrection, Christ transformed death from a curse into a conduit of eternal life. For the believer, death no longer holds terror, for “to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).
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