When discussing eternal life from a biblical perspective, we usually draw from New Testament verses. However, I got a great question from a friend recently:
“Can you point me to any writing specifically about [the] Old Testament and eternal life?“
Have you ever thought about that? Does the concept of “Eternal Life” appear in the Old Testament? Let’s take a look.
The Lord God said, “Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, take from the tree of life, eat, and live forever.” -Genesis 3:22
Comment: Clearly, the idea of living forever in a sinless state in relationship with God was part of the original plan. When Adam and Eve Abandoned their sinless state, the plan had to be changed. It seems that the creation would now have to “pass through” death.
Then He continued, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. -Exodus 3:6
Comment: This was Jesus' OT verse to support the resurrection because God didn't say "I was" the God of... but "I Am" the God of... meaning, those patriarchs were/are still alive). Here, he’s showing that if the patriarchs are alive, the resurrection must be a reality. This is God’s plan, that we “pass through” death in order to come into everlasting life.
So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep. “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. -Job 14:12, 14
Comment: Note that “wrath” here isn’t talking about eternal condemnation. He sees his turmoil as God’s “wrath.” He’s saying it would be better to be dead than have to endure it. Some commentators have seen this line express Job’s doubt about the resurrection. I don’t think that’s right. I think it’s a poetic way of expressing his belief in the afterlife. He sees that resurrection will take place and that until the resurrection, some part of him will wait in the place of the dead (Sheol).
For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, -Job 19:25-26
Comment: Here, Job makes a much clearer statement. He believes in the redeemer; he’s talking about bodily resurrection. He believes he will live again and that life will be in the flesh.
But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol, for He will take me. Selah -Psalm 49:15
Comment: Sheol is the place of the dead. He doesn’t say he won’t go to Sheol but that he will be redeemed from there.
For You will not abandon me to Sheol; You will not allow Your Faithful One to see decay. -Psalm 16:10
Comment: Again, it seems that the focus is that Sheol will not have the final word and that the “faithful” person who goes there will not remain there forever due to God’s redemption plan. Since it’s the place of the dead, the only way to be redeemed from it would be resurrection.
It is like the dew of Hermon falling on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord has appointed the blessing—life forevermore. -Psalm 133:3
Comment: Some translations translate the last two words as everlasting life.
For You meet him [The King] with the blessings of goodness; You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.He asked life from You, and You gave it to him—Length of days forever and ever.His glory is great in Your salvation… -Psalm 21:4-5
Comment: In these verses, David talks about “The King.” There seems to be a dual meaning: He could be referencing himself or the coming Messiah, but likely both. In terms of his own reference, he mentions the length of days forever and ever and salvation.
You will guide me with Your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish… I have put my trust in the Lord God… -Psalm 73:24-28
Comment: He mentions being received into glory, flesh failing (physical death), heaven, the forever nature of his connection to God, and that he’s put his trust in God. This has a lot of the elements that are discussed in the New Testament concerning faith and eternal life.
He will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away the tears from every face and remove His people’s disgrace from the whole earth, for the Lord has spoken. -Isaiah 25:8
Comment: This is very similar to the end of Revelation, which talks about heaven and eternal life explicitly. Here, we see the same elements present in the pre-incarnation era.
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake, some to eternal life, and some to shame and eternal contempt. -Daniel 12:2
Comment: The resurrection is clearly expressed, much as it is in Revelation and other places.
Your dead will live; their bodies will rise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust! For you will be covered with the morning dew, and the earth will bring out the departed spirits. -Isaiah 26:19
Comment: Some commentators see this as referring to national restoration, but I don’t think that’s right. It literally says the dead will rise. It’s talking about bodily resurrection. Those rising are departed spirits. It also makes it sound like the departed spirits are housed in the earth. How much of this to take poetically, I don’t know.
I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death. Death, where are your barbs? Sheol, where is your sting? Compassion is hidden from My eyes. -Hosea 13:14
Comment: This verse is one that points to the fact that redeeming the departed from Sheol would be a “ransom.” It would cost him something. To be redeemed from death is a clear reference to the resurrection.
Therefore, prophesy and say to them: This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, My people, and lead you into the land of Israel. You will know that I am Yahweh, My people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am Yahweh. I have spoken, and I will do it.” This is the declaration of the Lord. -Ezekiel 37:12-14
Comment: This verse has strong tones of national restoration and returns from exile, but it also discusses the resurrection. It’s hard to tell if this is a poetic, metaphorical language only or if it has something to say about the nature of the resurrection. I think since so many passages discuss resurrection, this is probably a dual meaning. The nation will certainly be restored in the resurrection, so if it means something before that as well, then great! At the minimum, it discusses how the nation will rise again when the individuals experience bodily resurrection.
It would be wrong to think that the Old Testament captures everything OT people thought and believed about the resurrection and eternal life. The OT gives a snapshot of the concept, enough to be confident that OT believers were looking forward to 1. bodily resurrection, 2. life that lasts forever, 3. with God, 4. where your spirit and new-body will be united.
My view of life and death are pretty simple. Life is when you have a body and a spirit that are united. Death is when your spirit is separate from your body. Therefore, the resurrection is the moment your eternal life will be fully realized, since it is when your spirit will be reunited with your body.
Even though the Old Testament doesn’t use the same terminology for the most part (i.e., eternal life), the concept is present in all the references to resurrection and life with God that lasts forever.
Genesis 3:22
Exodus 3:6
Job 14:12, 14
Job 19:25-26
Psalm 16:10
Psalm 133:3
Psalm 21:4-5
Psalm 73:24-28
Isaiah 25:8
Daniel 12:2
Isaiah 26:19
Hosea 13:14
Ezekiel 37:12-14
