Dictionary

be gathered to one's fathers en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (General-American) audio
• /bi ˈɡæðɚd tə wʌnz ˈfɑðɚz/ (General-American)
• /biː ˈɡæðəd tuː wʌnz ˈfɑːðəz/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From various passages in the Bible, including Judges 2:10, and 1 Maccabees 2:69 in the Apocrypha (see the quotations), from From Biblical Hebrew נֶאֱסַף אֶל־אֲבוֹתָיו (neʾĕsap ʾel-ʾăḇôṯâw) and Koine Greek προσετέθη πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας αὐτοῦ (prosetéthē pròs toùs patéras autoû, Apocrypha).

Meanings

1. (dated, literary) To be buried together with one's forebears; hence, to die.
   • [T]he offender is to be "cut off" (either the offender's line of descendants will cease, or the offender is barred from "being gathered to his fathers" in the afterlife). 2005, Victor P. Hamilton, “A Holiness Manifesto: Leviticus 17–27”, in Handbook on the Pentateuch, 2nd (ebook) edition, Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Academic, Baker Publishing Group, published 29 April 2015, →ISBN, part 3 (Leviticus):
   • So he bleſſed them, and was gathered to his fathers. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Maccabees 2:69, column 1:
   • How many prayers, offered up by ſerious and regenerated believers for their ungodly children, have been anſwered years after the humble petitioners have been gathered to their fathers! 1795 January, “Repentance, Conversion, and Dying Experience of a Poor Prostitute”, in The Evangelical Magazine, London: […] T. Chapman, […], →OCLC, page 8:
   • And alſo all that generacion was gathered vnto their fathers, and an other generacion aroſe after them, which nether knewe the Lord, nor yet the workes, which he had done for Iſraél. [1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, Ivdges II:10, folio 109, recto:
   • Besides the probate, large fees are demanded for burying him in the chancel; his virtues are handed down to posterity on taxed marble; and he is then gathered to his fathers,—to be taxed no more. 1820 January, [Sydney Smith], “Art. III. Statistical Annals of the United States of America. By Adam Seybert. 4to. Philadelphia, 1818. [book review]”, in The Edinburgh Review, or Critical Journal, volume XXXIII, number LXV, Edinburgh: Printed by David Willison, for Archibald Constable and Company; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, →OCLC, page 78:
   • In the course of years this worthy couple were gathered to their fathers and headlines on old tombs in the Means cemetery indicate that they found a resting place there many years ago. 1909, Edward H. Chadwick, “James Robert Means”, in Chadwick’s History of Shelby County, Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind.: B. F. Bowen & Company, →OCLC, page 915:
   • I am well over sixty and must expect to be gathered to my fathers sooner rather than later. Who will then be left to carry on the family traditions in a worthy manner? 2004, chapter 24, in Vladimir Kean, transl., Beyond the Golden Lotus: Chin P’ing Mei, London; New York, N.Y.: Kegan Paul, →ISBN, page 303:
   • We have seen how William the Conqueror has been gathered to his fathers. Usual pageantries ensued: loud praises bestowed upon the departed monarch by those who enjoyed his bounty or profited by his patronage. 1864, Francis Palgrave, “The Events Consequent upon the Accession of Rufus in England, and of Robert in Normandy”, in [Francis Turner Palgrave], editor, The History of Normandy and of England, volumes IV (William Rufus—Accession of Henry Beauclerc), London: Macmillan & Co., […], →OCLC, § 1, page 1:

Forms

Synonyms

go the way of the dinosaurs · pay the debt of nature · bite the biscuit · go the way of the dodo · go to glory · pass · hand in one's checks · sleep with one's fathers · pop one's clogs · darken · depart · expire · push up daisies · close one's eyes for the last time · go for a burton · meet one's maker · decease · cross the Styx · auger in · join the choir invisible · pass in one's marble · shuffle off this mortal coil · cash in one's chips · cross over · sink · pop off · meet one's doom · cash in · conk out · draw one's last breath · go west · be like the the One · go the way of all flesh · be laid unto one's fathers · fall off the twig · be with Jesus · go the way of the dodo bird · cark it · kick the bucket · be put to one's fathers · bite the big one · pass the river · go over to the majority · hand in one's dinner pail · exit · pay nature's debt · pass away · buy it · pass over · kick off · snuff it · liquidate · check out · be called home · disincarnate · be with the Lord · hop the twig · lose the number of one's mess · be gathered to one's fathers · drop off the hooks · cross the Great Divide · be gathered to one's people · succumb · give one's all · flatline · pass in one's checks · code · yield up the ghost · bite the dust · keel over · perish · take a dirt nap · forfare · peg out · turn up one's toes · croak · decompose · be no more · sleep with one's fathers · dematerialize · buy the farm · slip away · go out · assume room temperature · go to one's reward · knock off · pass on · give up the ghost · meet one's end

Translations (4)

he נֶאֱסָף אֶל אֲבוֹתָיו (to be buried together with one's forebears — see also die) · sv gå till sina fäder (to be buried together with one's forebears — see also die) · sv samlas till sina fäder (to be buried together with one's forebears — see also die) · hu megtér őseihez (to be buried together with one's forebears — see also die)

wikipedia: 1 Maccabees