to rise again / resurrect
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to rise from the dead
To return from the dead to life. This meaning is strongly religious, especially Christian, and refers to the resurrection.
Christen glauben, dass Jesus an Ostern von den Toten auferstanden ist.
Christians believe that Jesus rose from the dead at Easter.
Although the prefix 'auf-' is normally separable, 'auferstehen' (to rise again / resurrect) is an inseparable verb. So the prefix always stays attached to the verb.
Die Legende erzählt, dass der Held nach seinem Tod auferstand.
The legend says that the hero rose again after his death.
'Auferstehen' (to rise again / resurrect) describes a change of state—from dead to alive—and therefore always forms compound tenses such as the Perfekt with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be).
Der Vogel war aus dem Nest gefallen, ist aber wie durch ein Wunder wieder auferstanden.
The bird had fallen out of the nest, but by some miracle it rose again.
In its literal meaning, 'auferstehen' (to rise from the dead) is used almost exclusively in a religious, especially Christian, context. A fixed expression is 'von den Toten auferstehen' (to rise from the dead).
Der Glaube an die Auferstehung ist ein zentraler Punkt vieler Religionen.
Belief in the resurrection is a central point of many religions.
In the figurative sense, the idiom 'wie Phönix aus der Asche auferstehen' (to rise like a phoenix from the ashes) is very common. It describes something emerging again after complete destruction, often newer and more beautiful.
Nach der Insolvenz ist das Unternehmen wie Phönix aus der Asche auferstanden.
After the insolvency, the company rose again like a phoenix from the ashes.
to die
'sterben' and 'auferstehen' are strong opposites. 'sterben' means that life ends. 'auferstehen' means that someone comes back to life from the dead. This word has a particularly religious character and does not sound like a normal everyday word. In everyday language, people usually do not simply say 'auferstehen' about real people, unless they are talking about religion or a very special idea.
In der christlichen Geschichte heißt es, dass Jesus von den Toten aufersteht.
In the Christian story, it is said that Jesus rises from the dead.
Im Krankenhaus ist Frau Krüger nach langer Krankheit gestorben.
Mrs. Krüger died in the hospital after a long illness.