θάπτω (thaptō)
thaptō
to bury
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 11 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb thaptō means to place a dead body in the ground or a tomb, covering it with earth or stone. In the New Testament, this word appears eleven times, primarily in the Gospels and Acts, describing the physical act of interment. It is used both actively, when people bury the dead, and passively, when a body is buried by others.
This term carries significant weight in key narrative moments. For instance, Joseph of Arimathea uses thaptō to describe laying Jesus’ body in his own new tomb (Matthew 27:59), while Ananias and Sapphira are said to be buried after their deaths (Acts 5:6, 10). The word also appears in Jesus’ teaching about the cost of discipleship, where a potential follower asks to first bury his father (Matthew 8:21; Luke 9:59), highlighting the cultural importance of proper funeral rites.
Thaptō is the standard Greek equivalent for the Hebrew qāḇar, which dominates burial references in the Septuagint. Its usage underscores the finality and dignity accorded to death in biblical culture, contrasting sharply with modern practices of cremation or leaving bodies unattended. The term’s presence in accounts like Peter’s sermon on Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 2:29) emphasizes that burial was a real, historical event, not merely a symbolic gesture.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word thaptō describes the careful, physical act of laying a body to rest. In biblical times, this was not just a disposal of remains but a final act of love and respect for the deceased. It involved wrapping the body and placing it in a tomb or grave, ensuring dignity in death. This practice highlights how seriously Scripture takes the human body as part of God’s creation.
For believers, thaptō reminds us that death is real, yet it is not the end. The apostle Paul uses this same word when declaring that Christ was buried and then raised on the third day. This sequence confirms that Jesus truly died, making His resurrection a historical victory over sin and death. We can trust that God honors the reality of our suffering and loss.
When we face grief, this word offers comfort. It shows that caring for the dead is a sacred duty, but it also points to a greater hope. Just as Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb before rising, our time of rest is followed by eternal life. This truth invites us to find peace in God’s promise of resurrection.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 11 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to bury4×
- was buried.1×
- was buried1×
- they buried [him].1×
- they buried [her]1×
- having buried1×
- buried1×
- He was buried1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θάψαι4×
- ἔθαψαν2×
- ἐτάφη2×
- ἔθαψαν.1×
- ἐτάφη.1×
- θαψάντων1×
Key Verses
-
I Corinthians 15:4
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
This verse links Christ's burial directly to His resurrection, confirming the historical reality of His death as essential to the gospel message.
-
Acts 2:29
“Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Peter uses this word to anchor his sermon in the physical fact that David died and was buried, distinguishing him from the risen Christ.
-
Luke 16:22
The beggar died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried.
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, burial marks the irreversible transition to the afterlife, emphasizing the finality of earthly choices.
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Matthew 8:21
Another of his disciples said to him, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
A disciple’s request to bury his father reveals the cultural weight of this duty, which Jesus contrasts with the urgent call to follow Him.