When someone you love dies, even the words you used to know by heart can feel out of reach. These Bible verses about grief are here for exactly that moment. They don’t rush you or tell you to stop hurting. They tell you that God is close, that tears are allowed, and that death does not get the last word.
Every verse below is quoted word for word from the New International Version and grouped by what you might need right now: comfort today, strength when it hurts too much, hope for a loved one who has died, and the reminder that you are not alone.
Grieving right now? 5 short verses to hold onto today
- Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (NIV)
- Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (NIV)
- Psalm 147:3, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (NIV)
- John 11:35, “Jesus wept.” (NIV)
- Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (NIV)
Lord, I don’t have the words today. Stay close to me in this. Amen.
Bible verses for comfort in grief
Start here if the loss is new. These verses are short enough to read when you can’t focus on anything longer.
1. Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
Jesus doesn’t call mourning weakness. He calls the people who mourn blessed, because comfort is coming to them.
2. Psalm 34:18
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
3. Psalm 147:3
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalm 147:3 (NIV)
4. John 11:35
“Jesus wept.”
John 11:35 (NIV)
The shortest verse in the Bible is one of the most comforting. Standing at the tomb of His friend Lazarus, Jesus wept. Your tears are not a lack of faith. He has cried them too.
5. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
6. Isaiah 40:1
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.”
Isaiah 40:1 (NIV)
Bible verses for when grief is too heavy
Some days grief feels like a weight on your chest. These verses are for the days you can barely get out of bed.
7. Psalm 23:4
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
8. Psalm 73:26
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26 (NIV)
9. Isaiah 43:2
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.”
Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
10. Psalm 42:11
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
Psalm 42:11 (NIV)
11. Psalm 55:22
“Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Psalm 55:22 (NIV)
12. Psalm 30:5
“Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”
Psalm 30:5 (NIV)
Grief doesn’t follow a schedule, and “morning” may be a long way off. This verse is a promise that the night does end, not a deadline for when you should feel better.
Bible verses about the death of a loved one
These are the verses people often read at funerals, write in sympathy cards or search for as “rest in peace” Bible verses. They speak of a hope that reaches past the grave.
13. Revelation 21:4
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
14. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV)
Paul doesn’t say Christians shouldn’t grieve. He says we grieve differently, with hope.
15. Romans 8:38-39
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)
16. Psalm 116:15
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.”
Psalm 116:15 (NIV)
17. Lamentations 3:22-23
“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23 (NIV)
18. Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
If you’re writing a card for a grieving family, our words of comfort list has short messages you can pair with one of these verses.
Bible verses for when you feel alone in your grief
After the funeral, the calls slow down and everyone else goes back to normal. These verses are for the quiet weeks after.
19. Deuteronomy 31:8
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 (NIV)
20. Isaiah 41:13
“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”
Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)
21. Psalm 139:7-10
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:7-10 (NIV)
22. Hebrews 13:5
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5b (NIV)
23. Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
If the loneliness is the hardest part, our prayer for loneliness was written for nights like these.
A short prayer to pray with these verses
Father, I miss them. Some moments I can’t believe they’re gone, and some moments it’s all I can think about. You said You are close to the brokenhearted, so stay close to me now. Hold the parts of me that are too tired to hold on. Thank You for every day I had with them. Help me grieve with hope, and carry me until I can walk again. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
For more prayers you can pray in your own words, see our prayer for grief.
Grief during the holidays
The first Thanksgiving or Christmas after a loss can reopen everything. An empty chair at the table, a stocking no one will fill, a song in the store that stops you cold. If the season is coming up fast, these may help:
- Your first Christmas without a loved one: prayers and small ways to remember them
- Prayers for grieving during the holidays
- Bible verses about hope for the darkest days
Ways to use these verses while you grieve
- Pick one verse a day. Read it in the morning and again before bed. You don’t need to read the whole list.
- Write it where you’ll see it. A sticky note on the mirror, the car dashboard or your phone lock screen.
- Pray it back to God. Turn the verse into a sentence: “Lord, You are close to the brokenhearted. Be close to me today.”
- Send one to someone else who is grieving. A single verse and “thinking of you” means more than a long message.
Nights are often the hardest part of grief. If you’d like a short prayer waiting for you at bedtime, get 7 Nights of Peace, a free bedtime prayer each night for a week. You can also leave a request on our prayer wall and let others pray for you.
If grief has turned into something heavier, like not being able to eat, sleep or function for weeks, or thoughts of not wanting to live, please talk to someone. In the US you can call or text 988 any time to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Grief counselors and grief support groups at local churches can help too. Reaching out is not a lack of faith.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bible verse for grief?
Many grieving people hold onto Psalm 34:18, “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted,” and Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Both are short and easy to remember on hard days.
What does the Bible say about grieving the death of a loved one?
The Bible treats grief as normal. Jesus wept at His friend’s tomb (John 11:35). Paul tells believers not to grieve “like the rest of mankind, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13), which means grieving with the hope of the resurrection, not without tears.
What Bible verse can I put in a sympathy card?
Short verses work best in a card: Matthew 5:4, Psalm 147:3, Psalm 34:18 or Revelation 21:4. Add one personal line, like a memory of the person or “We’re praying for you every day.”
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Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.