Sepulcher

Concise Bible Dictionary:

See GRAVE.

Bible Handbook:

There is really no distinction in the New Testament between a ‘sepulchre’ and a ‘tomb’: the same Greek words are translated by either, when the same place is referred to. The Greek words, μνηεῖον, μνῆμα, refer to the memory — and thence to ‘a memorial.’ These words are also translated ‘grave’ in every place where ‘grave’ occurs, except in 1 Corinthians 15:55,55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:55) where it is really Hades. Another Greek word (τάφος) is translated both ‘sepulchre’ and ‘tomb,’ signifying ‘burial,’ and hence ‘the place of burial.’
There is therefore nothing in the Greek words used that will help us as to the various forms of tombs to be found in Israel, though the context in some passages point out what kind of burying place is referred to.
1. There are simple graves — holes dug in the ground, and covered over, sometimes with one or more large stones. Our Lord compared the scribes and Pharisees to “graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them” (Luke 11:4444Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them. (Luke 11:44)).
2. There are some tombs hewn out of the rock, and a single stone placed over the mouth, as was the case in the tomb of Lazarus. “It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, Take ye away the stone” (John 11:38-3938Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it. 39Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days. (John 11:38‑39)). The Lord’s tomb was also hewn in the rock, and a stone was rolled to the mouth to close it. A similar one is still in existence.
3. There are others which are said to be built, and over the place where the body was laid a more or less ornamental tomb was erected, similar to those which are seen in most modern cemeteries. Our Lord said that the scribes and Pharisees built the tombs of the prophets, and garnished the sepulchres of the righteous (Matt. 23:2929Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, (Matthew 23:29)).
4. In places, especially near Jerusalem, large tombs are found, in which there are long passages with holes cut in the sides of the rock. These tombs would contain many bodies, and the passages, which ran in various directions, could be extended when all the receptacles were filled. Thus we read in the Old Testament of the ‘tombs of the kings,’ where many were buried, and from which some of the bad kings were excluded. Those now called the Tombs of the Kings will be seen in a map to the north of the city; and the Tombs of the Prophets on the Mount of Olives.
The Lord also compared the scribes and Pharisees to whited sepulchres, which stood in strong contrast to the dead men’s bones and the uncleanness that were found within. According to tradition, the sepulchres were all white-washed once a year, that the people might readily see them, and avoid pollution by touching them.
We learn by the tomb in which the Lord was buried, that, though there may have been a public burial ground, which their writings say must be a certain distance from a city to prevent pollution — the rich were allowed to have their private tombs elsewhere. Joseph of Arimathaea had had this tomb hewn out of the rock in a garden near the place of execution. By its size it was apparently intended for a family tomb.
There were also natural caves that were used as tombs, in which many could be interred. Thus we find Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah in which to bury Sarah (Gen. 23:3-203And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 4I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. 5And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, 6Hear us, my lord: thou art a mighty prince among us: in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. 7And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. 8And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight; hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, 9That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in the end of his field; for as much money as it is worth he shall give it me for a possession of a buryingplace amongst you. 10And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth: and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city, saying, 11Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee: bury thy dead. 12And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. 13And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field; take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. 14And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, 15My lord, hearken unto me: the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver; what is that betwixt me and thee? bury therefore thy dead. 16And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. 17And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure 18Unto Abraham for a possession in the presence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. 19And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. 20And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made sure unto Abraham for a possession of a buryingplace by the sons of Heth. (Genesis 23:3‑20)), and in the gospels we read of a demoniac, who lived in the tombs (Luke 8:2727And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. (Luke 8:27)) which were most probably caves, the mouths of which were left open.
It is recorded that the Jews were particular that none of any other nation should be buried among their dead. This seems confirmed by the council buying with the money Judas returned, a field to bury strangers in (Matt. 27:77And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. (Matthew 27:7)).
There does not appear to have been any delay in burying the dead. In hot climates it is not customary to delay the burial. Ananias and Sapphira were buried immediately.
Nor were coffins used. It is said that the young men ‘wound up’ Ananias, that is, bound him up in his own clothes. Lazarus also is said to have come forth bound hand and foot with graveclothes; and his face bound about with a napkin. Cloths were bound round the ordinary clothing. Of the Lord we read that the linen clothes (cloths) were found lying by themselves, not with the napkin that had been about his head. All were folded up, and left in order, as became such a victory over death.
The body was carried on a bier (Luke 7:1414And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. (Luke 7:14)), which was a light frame used as a couch (not ‘coffin’ as in the margin of the above passage), on which the body was laid.
From this passage we also learn that the young man’s mother and much people attended the burial.
After a burial the relatives and friends went home to mourn for the dead. In the case of Lazarus, four days after the death, many Jews were with Martha and Mary to comfort them, and no doubt to mourn with them, for when Mary rose to go and meet the Lord they thought she was going to the grave to weep there. It is said that ordinarily mourning was continued for eight days.
The Jews had other modes of showing their grief, as smiting their breasts (Luke 23:4848And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned. (Luke 23:48)), neglecting their personal appearance, putting ashes and dust on their heads, rending their garments, sitting in silence, refusing food, etc.
Doubtless amid all the outward demonstrations of grief, there was real natural sorrow, where loved ones were taken away, as in the case of Martha and Mary losing Lazarus. How touching to read, when Mary came to Jesus, that when He “saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.  ... Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him!” (John 11:33-3633When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35Jesus wept. 36Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! (John 11:33‑36)). As our Lord wept with Martha and Mary, and is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, so are we exhorted to weep with those that weep.