(Gk. κόφινος, a basket; French coffre, a chest); the chest or box for the reception of a corpse. In the East, the body of a deceased person is carried to the grave on a simple bier—a custom preserved from ancient times, and which obtains equally among the Jews, the Mohammedans, and the Christians. In this manner the son of the widow of Nain was carried forth to burial (Luke vii. 14). Neither does it appear that the body of our Lord was placed in a coffin; nor that of Elisha, whose bones were touched by the corpse that was afterwards let down into his sepulchre. (2 Kings xiii. 21.) Coffins were the invention of the Egyptians, who generally formed them of pasteboard glued together and painted with hieroglyphics, sometimes of stone, and more rarely of sycamore wood—which last was reserved for persons of exalted rank. The sacred historian expressly observes of Joseph, that his body was embalmed and placed in a coffin (Gen. i. 26). There is good reason to believe also that the kings and other persons of distinction in ancient Palestine were buried in coffins of wood or stone, on which were placed the insignia of their several dignities. See Burial; Burying-places; Funeral Rites.