Let the Dead Bury the Dead: What Did Jesus Really Mean?

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Plus, how to live by these words

Co-authored by Devin McSween

Last Updated: August 22, 2024 Fact Checked

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Let the Dead Bury the Dead Meaning

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Living By This Phrase

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“Let the dead bury the dead” is a passage from the Bible (Luke 9:60 and Matthew 8:22) that is attributed to Jesus Christ. We'll teach you more about this phrase and the variations from different translations of the Bible, plus explain ways to live by these words, so keep reading.

What Does “Let the Dead Bury the Dead” Mean?

“Let the dead bury the dead” is a phrase Jesus said in the Bible (Luke 9:60 and Matthew 8:22). He was referring to people who are spiritually “dead,” or who don’t follow him. It’s a way of telling His followers not to worry about non-believers, and instead, let non-believers worry about themselves.

Section 1 of 4:

What did Jesus mean when he said “Let the dead bury the dead?”

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When Jesus spoke these words, He didn’t mean that He wanted dead people to bury other dead people. Instead, He used this as a metaphor to say, “Allow those who don’t believe, or who are spiritually “dead,” to worry about themselves.” This is a way of telling followers of Jesus to keep their priorities focused on Him. ^{[1]
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“Let the dead bury the dead” refers to the need to follow Jesus immediately. When someone died back in Biblical times, burying them was usually a pretty urgent matter. But in the case of “Let the dead bury the dead,” Jesus is urging His followers to forget about the happenings of everyday life here on earth—stepping up to join Him needs to be done now, not later. ^{[2]
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- In other words, whatever God is calling you to do should be done without hesitation or interference.

Section 2 of 4:

Where does “let the dead bury the dead” come from?

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”Let the dead bury the dead” is a passage from the Bible. In Luke 9:59-60 and Matthew 8:21-22, Jesus calls upon one man to become a preacher of the gospel. The man replies, “Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.” Jesus says in response, “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:59-60 and Matthew 8:21-22). ^{[3]
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- In this passage, Jesus is telling the man that living for Him is much more important than anything else in the man’s life—even burying his own father.
- “The dead” refers to those who are “spiritually dead,” meaning they haven’t chosen to follow Jesus. Jesus is telling the man to focus on his faith and relationship with the Lord instead of those who are “spiritually dead.”
- Some interpret the father in this passage to not actually be dead. Instead, his son simply wants to be by his side until he does die so he can eventually bury him. Either way, the son is prioritizing his father over Jesus at that moment. ^{[4]
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Section 3 of 4:

Versions of “Let the Dead Bury the Dead”

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Each version of the Bible translates this passage a bit differently. While each version holds the same metaphor and meaning, “Let the dead bury the dead” is worded in its own way. Here are some of the most common versions of the Bible and how they translate this passage: ^{[5]
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- New International Version: “Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’”
- New Living Translation: “But Jesus told him, ‘Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead! Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.’”
- English Standard Version: “And Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’”
- King James Bible: “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”
- New King James Version: “Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.’”
- New American Standard Bible: “But He said to him, ‘Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.’”
- Christian Standard Bible: “But he told him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’”
- American Standard Version: “But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God.”
- International Standard Version: “But he told him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead. But you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’”
- World English Bible: “But Jesus said to him, ‘Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.’”
- The Complete Jewish Bible: “Yeshua said, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead; you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God!’”