When someone you love dies, or someone you love is grieving, the Bible offers comfort that does not rush the sorrow. Paul calls God “the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort” (2 Corinthians 1:3). Here are verses to hold onto yourself, and to share with someone who is mourning.
A verse for you
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
God comforts us in every trouble, and that comfort can one day help someone else.
KJVBlessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
God comforts us in every trouble, and that comfort can one day help someone else.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Jesus comforts His friends before leaving: there is a place prepared for you, and He will come again to take you to Himself.
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
God is not far from a broken heart. He comes close to it.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Written by someone whose body and heart were giving out: God remains the strength of the heart when everything else fails.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
A promise of a day with no more tears, death, sorrow or pain.
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.
A blessing to send someone who mourns: may God, who loves us, comfort your heart with lasting hope.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Jesus calls those who mourn blessed, because comfort is promised to them.
As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
God promises to comfort you the way a mother comforts her child.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing in life or death can separate you from the love of God in Christ.
He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.
A promise Paul quotes when he writes about the resurrection: God will swallow up death and wipe away tears from every face.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
Paul, writing to friends far away: every memory of them turns into thanks to God.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Friendship in two movements: share the joy, and share the tears.
And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
Jesus to friends about to grieve: your sorrow is real, I will see you again, and no one will take your joy from you.
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Christians still grieve, but with hope: those who die in Jesus will be with Him.
For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
This God is ours for ever and ever, and He will be our guide even unto death.
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
The priestly blessing: the Lord bless you, keep you and give you peace.
The Bible does not ask the bereaved to be fine. It describes God comforting the way a mother comforts her child: “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you.” Psalm 73 admits, “My flesh and my heart faileth,” and only then says that God is “the strength of my heart.” In Scripture comfort comes alongside grief; it does not replace it.
For Christians the hope is real and specific. Jesus “died and rose again,” and Paul writes so that believers would not grieve “even as others which have no hope.” Isaiah looks ahead to the day when God “will swallow up death in victory” and wipe the tears from every face, and Paul is persuaded that not even death can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). That hope does not make the loss smaller; it means the loss is not the last word. If you do not know where your loved one stood with God, you can still entrust them to Him. He is good, and He is near to the brokenhearted.
Every loss is different: a parent after a long life, a husband or wife, a child, a friend taken suddenly, a death by suicide, a pregnancy. There is no right timetable for grief, and no verse is meant to hurry it. Some days a single line, “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart,” is all you can hold.
If you are writing to someone who is grieving, Scripture’s own advice is to “weep with them that weep.” A short verse, the name of the person who died and a memory of them say more than any explanation. If your own grief has become crushing, with weeks of not sleeping, eating or getting through the day, talk to a doctor, a counselor or a grief support group. If you begin to wish you were not here, reach out now: in the US, call or text 988; elsewhere, call your local emergency number. For readings at the service itself, see our funeral verses; for verses for your own grief, see our grief page.
Father of mercies and God of all comfort, my heart is broken and my strength is failing. Comfort me as a mother comforts her child. Thank You for the life of the one I love, and for every memory of them. Hold me when the grief comes in waves, and send people who will weep with me. Keep before me the day when You will swallow up death and wipe away every tear. Amen.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 names God “the God of all comfort.” Psalm 34:18 is short and gentle, Isaiah 66:13 promises a mother’s comfort, and Revelation 21:4 looks ahead to the day God wipes away every tear.
Keep it short and personal: a sentence of sorrow, the person’s name, a memory, and one verse. For example: ‘I am so sorry. I thank God for every memory of Maria, and I am praying that the God of all comfort holds you close.’ Philippians 1:3, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Psalm 34:18 and the blessing of Numbers 6:24-26 all fit well.
Avoid explanations: ‘everything happens for a reason,’ ‘God needed another angel,’ ‘at least they are no longer suffering.’ Even true things can wound if said too soon. Job’s friends did best in the seven days they sat with him in silence (Job 2:13). ‘I am so sorry; I am here’ is enough.
For those who belong to Christ, the New Testament speaks of reunion: “them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14), and Jesus promised a place prepared in His Father’s house (John 14:2-3). Where you are unsure, you can leave your loved one with a God who is just and merciful, and who knows them better than you do.
If you are in danger or thinking about ending your life, please reach out now. In the US, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, free and open day and night. Outside the US, call your local emergency number. A grief support group, a counselor or a pastor can also walk with you in the weeks ahead.