17 Bible Verses About a Broken Heart (NIV & KJV)

A broken heart can feel like a wound no one else can see. The Bible does not look away from that pain. It speaks directly to it, promising that God is not distant from a shattered heart but especially close to it.

These Bible verses about a broken heart draw together the most comforting passages in the NIV and KJV on God's nearness in sorrow, His healing, and the restoration He promises to those who grieve. They remind us that brokenness is not the end of the story.

Let these verses meet you where you are today.

God Is Near the Brokenhearted

Scripture promises that God draws especially close in the moment your heart breaks.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”— Psalm 34:18 (NIV)“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”— Psalm 34:18 (KJV)

“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.”— Psalm 34:17 (NIV)“The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”— Psalm 34:17 (KJV)

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”— Psalm 73:26 (NIV)“My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.”— Psalm 73:26 (KJV)

“Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”— Psalm 46:1 (NIV)“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”— Psalm 46:1 (KJV)

Healing and Restoration

God does not just witness a broken heart. He heals it and binds up what is wounded.

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”— Psalm 147:3 (NIV)“He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.”— Psalm 147:3 (KJV)

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,”— Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;”— Isaiah 61:1 (KJV)

“For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”— Psalm 30:5 (NIV)“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”— Psalm 30:5 (KJV)

“‘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)“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.”— Revelation 21:4 (KJV)

Comfort in Sorrow

These verses offer comfort for the days when grief feels heaviest.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,”— 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV)“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”— 2 Corinthians 1:3 (KJV)

“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 1:4 (NIV)“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.”— 2 Corinthians 1:4 (KJV)

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”— Matthew 5:4 (NIV)“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”— Matthew 5:4 (KJV)

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”— Psalm 55:22 (NIV)“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”— Psalm 55:22 (KJV)

Waiting on God's Timing

Healing rarely comes all at once. These verses speak to the waiting.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”— Psalm 27:14 (NIV)“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”— Psalm 27:14 (KJV)

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”— Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”— Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)

““Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28 (NIV)“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About a Broken Heart?

The Bible treats a broken heart as something God sees and moves toward, not away from. Psalm 34:18 says the Lord is near to those who are crushed in spirit, and Psalm 147:3 describes Him as the one who heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. This is not distant sympathy. It is a promise of nearness in the exact place it hurts most.

Scripture also holds space for the process of healing. Psalm 30:5 says that weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning, acknowledging both the reality of pain and the certainty of what follows it. Revelation 21:4 looks further still, to a day when God will wipe away every tear.

If your heart is heavy, you may also find comfort in these Bible verses about grief, Bible verses about comfort, and Bible verses about healing.