Scripture Library · Grief and loss · KJV

Bible Verses About Grief and Loss (KJV) + A Prayer for Comfort

“The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.” When someone or something you love is gone, these 14 passages from the King James Bible sit with you in it. Jesus wept at His friend’s tomb, and He promises a day when God shall wipe away all tears.

14 Bible verses about grief and loss

Where is God when someone or something I love is gone?

Psalm 34:18KJV

18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.Read in context →

John 11:17-44KJV

17Then when Jesus came, he found that he had lain in the grave four days already. 18Now Bethany was nigh unto Jerusalem, about fifteen furlongs off: 19And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20Then Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met him: but Mary sat still in the house. 21Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 22But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world. 28And when she had so said, she went her way, and called Mary her sister secretly, saying, The Master is come, and calleth for thee. Keep reading →

Jesus weeps at Lazarus's tomb and declares Himself the resurrection and the life.Read in context →

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18KJV

13But 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. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

We do not grieve as those without hope; the dead in Christ will rise.Read in context →

Revelation 21:1-5KJV

1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4And 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. 5And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

God will wipe away every tear; death and mourning will be no more.Read in context →

Psalm 23:4KJV

4Yea, 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.

Even in the valley of the shadow of death, You are with me.Read in context →

Matthew 5:4KJV

4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.Read in context →

2 Corinthians 1:3-5KJV

3Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4Who 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. 5For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

The God of all comfort comforts us so that we can comfort others.Read in context →

Psalm 147:3KJV

3He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.

He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.Read in context →

Lamentations 3:19-33KJV

19Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD. 27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. 28He sitteth alone and keepeth silence, because he hath borne it upon him. 29He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope. 30He giveth his cheek to him that smiteth him: he is filled full with reproach. Keep reading →

Out of deep affliction: His mercies are new every morning.Read in context →

Job 1:20-22KJV

20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

Job worships in his loss: the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.Read in context →

Psalm 30:5KJV

5For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Weeping may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.Read in context →

Isaiah 53:3-5KJV

3He 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. 4Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

The Messiah is a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, who carried ours.Read in context →

Romans 8:18-28KJV

18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Present sufferings and future glory; the Spirit helps us in our weakness.Read in context →

Psalm 73:23-26KJV

23Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

My flesh and heart may fail, but God is my strength and portion for ever.Read in context →

A prayer for comfort in grief

Pray it slowly, in your own words if you like.

Lord, my heart is broken, and I do not have the words. You promised to be near the brokenhearted, so I am asking You to be near me now.

Jesus, You wept at Lazarus’ tomb even knowing what You were about to do. Thank You that my tears do not offend You. Hold me in this sorrow, and comfort me as only You can.

Give me hope that does not deny the pain. Remind me that weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning, and that one day there will be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What the Bible says about grief

What does the Bible say about grief?

The Bible gives grief room. Job tore his robe and fell to the ground, David poured out laments, and “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” Grief is not a lack of faith. It is love that has lost something.

What is a comforting Bible verse for someone who lost a loved one?

Psalm 34:18, Psalm 23:4 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 are often a comfort in the first days. For those grieving a believer, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and Revelation 21:1-5 speak of the hope of resurrection and a world with no more death.

Is it wrong for a Christian to grieve?

No. Paul writes that believers should not sorrow “even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). He does not say we should not sorrow. Christians grieve honestly, but with hope in Christ’s resurrection.

How long does grief last?

Scripture does not set a timeline. Lamentations 3 shows a grieving heart moving between sorrow and remembered hope, sometimes in the same breath. Be patient with yourself, lean on others, and if grief feels crushing, reach out to a pastor, a grief group or a counselor.

More Bible verses by topic

Looking for Scripture on something else? The Scripture Library gathers 255 passages around the struggles and questions people actually bring to God.

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain).