The metaphor is used to refer to the deaths of:
- The girl who died and was raised back to life (Matthew 9:24
, Mark 5:39AKJV 24 he said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. CEV 24 he said, “Get out of here! The little girl isn't dead. She is just asleep.” Everyone started laughing at Jesus.
, Luke 8:52AKJV 39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. CEV 39 Then Jesus went inside and said to them, “Why are you crying and carrying on like this? The child isn't dead. She is just asleep.”
)AKJV 52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth. CEV 52 Everyone was crying and weeping for the girl. But Jesus said, “The child isn't dead. She is just asleep.” - Lazarus (John 11:11-14
)AKJV 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. CEV 11 Then he told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, and I am going there to wake him up.” 12 They replied, “Lord, if he is asleep, he will get better.” 13 Jesus really meant that Lazarus was dead, but they thought he was talking only about sleep. 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead! - Some godly people who died in Old Testament times (Matthew 27:52
)AKJV 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, CEV 52 Graves opened, and many of God's people were raised to life. - Stephen (Acts 7:60
)AKJV 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. CEV 60 He knelt down and shouted, “Lord, don't blame them for what they have done.” Then he died. - David (Acts 13:36
)AKJV 36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: CEV 36 When David was alive, he obeyed God. Then after he died, he was buried in the family grave, and his body decayed. - A husband (1 Corinthians 7:39
)AKJV 39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. CEV 39 A wife should stay married to her husband until he dies. Then she is free to marry again, but only to a man who is a follower of the Lord. - Some of those who abuse the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:30
)AKJV 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. CEV 30 This is why many of you are sick and weak and why a lot of others have died. - Christians (1 Corinthians 15:6
, 1 Corinthians 15:18AKJV 6 after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. CEV 6 After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died.
; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15AKJV 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. CEV 18 And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost.
)AKJV 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. CEV 13 My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won't grieve over them and be like people who don't have any hope. 14 We believe Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died. 15 Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won't go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died. - People who died in Old Testament times (1 Corinthians 15:20
)AKJV 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. CEV 20 But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life. - Jewish ancestors (2 Peter 3:4
)AKJV 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. CEV 4 and say, “Didn't your Lord promise to come back? Yet the first leaders have already died, and the world hasn't changed a bit.”