What Bible verse helps with the loss of a loved one?

Many turn to 1 Thessalonians 4:13, which assures believers they do not grieve as those without hope. Revelation 21:4 promises a day when God wipes away every tear and death is no more, offering deep comfort to those who have lost someone dear.

Does God understand my grief?

Yes. Jesus is described in Isaiah 53:3 as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, and in John 11:35 He wept at the death of His friend Lazarus. Scripture shows that God draws near to mourners and treasures their tears.

26 Bible Verses About Grief (NIV & KJV)

Q: What does the Bible say about grief?

The Bible acknowledges grief as a real and human experience, never shaming those who mourn. Jesus Himself wept at a grave. Scripture promises that God is near to the brokenhearted, that mourners will be comforted, and that believers grieve with hope of resurrection and reunion.

Grief is one of the deepest experiences of the human heart, and the Bible never asks us to hide it. From the laments of the Psalms to the tears of Jesus at the tomb of His friend, Scripture meets sorrow honestly and tenderly.

These Bible verses about grief offer both permission to mourn and the promise of comfort. They remind us that God is near to the brokenhearted, that He collects our tears, and that for those who trust in Him, death does not have the final word.

Whether your loss is recent or carried over many years, may these verses steady your heart with God's presence and the hope of eternal life.

🕊️ God Is Near in Mourning

When grief overwhelms, God does not stand far away but draws close to the hurting.

“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)

“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)

“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)

“Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record?”— Psalm 56:8 (NIV)“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”— Psalm 56:8 (KJV)

“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)“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”— Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

💧 Jesus Understands Sorrow

Christ Himself entered fully into human grief and wept with those who mourned.

“Jesus wept.”— John 11:35 (NIV)“Jesus wept.”— John 11:35 (KJV)

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”— Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”— Isaiah 53:3 (KJV)

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”— Isaiah 53:4 (NIV)“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”— Isaiah 53:4 (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)

🌅 Comfort and Healing

God promises to comfort those who mourn and to turn sorrow into joy.

“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)

“to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”— Isaiah 61:2-3 (NIV)“To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”— Isaiah 61:2-3 (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)

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,”— Psalm 30:11 (NIV)“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;”— Psalm 30:11 (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)

⚓ Grieving With Hope

For believers, grief is real but never without the hope of resurrection.

“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.”— 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NIV)“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.”— 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (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)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”— John 11:25 (NIV)“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”— John 11:25 (KJV)

““Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?””— 1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV)“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”— 1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV)

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”— Romans 8:18 (NIV)“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”— Romans 8:18 (KJV)

🛡️ Strength for the Hardest Days

When grief drains all strength, God becomes our refuge and sustains us.

“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)

“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)

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”— 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”— 1 Peter 5:7 (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)

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’”— Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”— Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)

““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”— John 14:1 (NIV)“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”— John 14:1 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Grief?

The Bible treats grief as a genuine and honest part of life. It records the weeping of David, the laments of Job, and the tears of Jesus at the grave of Lazarus, showing that mourning is not a lack of faith but a natural response to loss. God draws near to the brokenhearted and promises to comfort all who mourn.

At the same time, Scripture sets grief within the larger story of hope. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Paul tells believers they do not sorrow as those without hope, because of the resurrection. Revelation 21:4 looks ahead to a day when God will wipe away every tear and death itself will be no more. Christian grief, then, holds sorrow and hope together.

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

Whether your loss is recent or carried over many years, may these verses steady your heart with God's presence and the hope of eternal life.

🕊️ God Is Near in Mourning

When grief overwhelms, God does not stand far away but draws close to the hurting.

“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)

“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)

“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)

“Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record?”— Psalm 56:8 (NIV)“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”— Psalm 56:8 (KJV)

“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)“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”— Psalm 23:4 (KJV)

💧 Jesus Understands Sorrow

Christ Himself entered fully into human grief and wept with those who mourned.

“Jesus wept.”— John 11:35 (NIV)“Jesus wept.”— John 11:35 (KJV)

“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.”— Isaiah 53:3 (NIV)“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”— Isaiah 53:3 (KJV)

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”— Isaiah 53:4 (NIV)“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”— Isaiah 53:4 (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)

🌅 Comfort and Healing

God promises to comfort those who mourn and to turn sorrow into joy.

“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)

“to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”— Isaiah 61:2-3 (NIV)“To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”— Isaiah 61:2-3 (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)

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,”— Psalm 30:11 (NIV)“Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;”— Psalm 30:11 (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)

⚓ Grieving With Hope

For believers, grief is real but never without the hope of resurrection.

“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.”— 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (NIV)“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.”— 1 Thessalonians 4:13 (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)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”— John 11:25 (NIV)“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”— John 11:25 (KJV)

““Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?””— 1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV)“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”— 1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV)

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”— Romans 8:18 (NIV)“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”— Romans 8:18 (KJV)

🛡️ Strength for the Hardest Days

When grief drains all strength, God becomes our refuge and sustains us.

“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)

“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)

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”— 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”— 1 Peter 5:7 (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)

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. He will drive out your enemies before you, saying, ‘Destroy them!’”— Deuteronomy 33:27 (NIV)“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”— Deuteronomy 33:27 (KJV)

““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.”— John 14:1 (NIV)“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”— John 14:1 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Grief?

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

26 Bible Verses About Grief (NIV & KJV)

🕊️ God Is Near in Mourning

💧 Jesus Understands Sorrow

🌅 Comfort and Healing

⚓ Grieving With Hope

🛡️ Strength for the Hardest Days

What Does the Bible Say About Grief?

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

28 Bible Verses About Comfort (NIV & KJV)

29 Bible Verses About Death (NIV & KJV)

28 Bible Verses About Hope (NIV & KJV)

28 Bible Verses About Worry (NIV & KJV)

27 Bible Verses About Work (NIV & KJV)

27 Bible Verses About Women (NIV & KJV)

26 Bible Verses About Grief (NIV & KJV)

🕊️ God Is Near in Mourning

💧 Jesus Understands Sorrow

🌅 Comfort and Healing

⚓ Grieving With Hope

🛡️ Strength for the Hardest Days

What Does the Bible Say About Grief?

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

28 Bible Verses About Comfort (NIV & KJV)

29 Bible Verses About Death (NIV & KJV)

28 Bible Verses About Hope (NIV & KJV)

28 Bible Verses About Worry (NIV & KJV)

27 Bible Verses About Work (NIV & KJV)

27 Bible Verses About Women (NIV & KJV)