In myth, the association with the dead is explained in that Anubis protected and wrapped the body of Osiris so it could be preserved and resurrected.
The God of the dead was called Anubis, Anubis is the one who put the heart on the scales with the feather of truth.
Anubis has the head of a jackal and the body of a man. He is the patron of mummification and the dead on their path through the underworld. See related link below for illustration.
Anubis was protector and guide of the dead in the Duat (underworld).
Anubis was protector and guide of the dead in the Duat (underworld).
Anubis was the god of mummification and embalming; Osiris judged the dead and lived in the underworld.Osiris and Anubis were both gods of the dead.
Anubis was guide and protector of the dead and the embalmer/mummification god.
One would have to see the depiction of Anubis is answer this fully, but Anubis was also a protective god of the dead, thus perhaps the need for a khopesh as the Duat (underworld) through which the dead traveled with Anubis was viewed as dangerous.
Anubis
The ancient Egyptian god Anubis was the god of embalming the dead; protector, tester, and guide to the dead in the Duat (underworld).
Anubis was the protector, guide and tester of the dead in the Duat (underworld).
Anubis was god of mummification, and the dead on their path through the underworld.
Anubis was the ancient Egyptian god of protecting the dead.