Bible Strands
Luke 20:38
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to Him all are alive.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks this statement to the Sadducees during a temple dispute over resurrection. He delivers it immediately after citing the burning bush passage to counter their denial of life after death.
The words — The verse contrasts νεκρῶν (nekrōn, “of the dead”) with ζώντων (zōntōn, “of the living”) through the conjunction ἀλλὰ (“but”). Jesus anchors His claim in θεὸς (theos, “God”) to define the nature of His ongoing relationship with the patriarchs.
The thread — The text states that God is not the God of the dead but of the living, and that all are alive to Him. This same assertion runs through John 11:25, Colossians 3:3, and Romans 6:10.
Why it lands — The text states that God’s covenant identity remains active toward those He named, overriding biological cessation. A reader must accept that relational continuity with God is a present reality rather than a future hope.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him.
Cross-references
- John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
- Colossians 3:3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
- Romans 6:10 The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.
- John 14:19 In a little while the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live.
- Romans 14:7 For none of us lives to himself alone, and none of us dies to himself alone.
- Psalms 145:1 A Psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever.
- Romans 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
- 2 Corinthians 13:4 For He was indeed crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. For we are also weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him concerning you.
- Revelation 7:15 For this reason, they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple; and the One seated on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them.