The Bible contains several narratives in which people die by suicide or express a wish for death. These accounts appear in different historical and literary settings. Some describe an action directly; others present a person’s despair, grief or appeal to God.
This page identifies the main passages without reproducing extended quotations. The texts generally report events or prayers rather than offering a single, systematic rule about suicide. Interpretation therefore depends on the passage, its context and the reader’s religious tradition.
Topics covered in this section
How the passages are interpreted
Some Christian traditions have historically treated suicide as a serious moral matter, while pastoral and theological approaches have changed over time. Contemporary discussions often distinguish moral evaluation from compassion, mental-health understanding and the needs of grieving families.
The passages should not be treated as simple instructions or as evidence that every account carries the same meaning. They are part of larger narratives about conflict, loss, fear, loyalty, judgment and the possibility of renewal.
Related reading
For a broader treatment of the subject, see Suicide: facts, ethical aspects and religious considerations. The site also discusses euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide as a separate ethical and public-policy topic.