Bible Verses About Grief
This collection includes 36 passages about Grief. Copy a verse or open its chapter for context.
This collection is a starting point, not a count of every relevant passage in the Bible.
Jesus wept.
Reading context: Mary comes to Jesus after Lazarus’s death. Jesus responds to the weeping around him and weeps; keep this moment within the whole account rather than treating tears as a lack of faith.
Scripture Passages
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Reading context: Paul instructs the community to share both joy and tears. Mourning with another person is part of the care described in this chapter.
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Reading context: This psalm speaks of a broken heart and a contrite spirit amid testimony, instruction and affliction. The assurance of nearness is not an immediate timetable for recovery.
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Reading context: Mary comes to Jesus after Lazarus’s death. Jesus responds to the weeping around him and weeps; keep this moment within the whole account rather than treating tears as a lack of faith.
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
Reading context: Mary comes to Jesus after Lazarus’s death. Jesus responds to the weeping around him and weeps; keep this moment within the whole account rather than treating tears as a lack of faith.
And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Reading context: Mary comes to Jesus after Lazarus’s death. Jesus responds to the weeping around him and weeps; keep this moment within the whole account rather than treating tears as a lack of faith.
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
Reading context: Mary comes to Jesus after Lazarus’s death. Jesus responds to the weeping around him and weeps; keep this moment within the whole account rather than treating tears as a lack of faith.
How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?
Reading context: The prayer moves through questions, sorrow, a request to be heard and trust. Its closing words do not cancel the lament voiced at the beginning.
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?
Reading context: The prayer moves through questions, sorrow, a request to be heard and trust. Its closing words do not cancel the lament voiced at the beginning.
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death;
Reading context: The prayer moves through questions, sorrow, a request to be heard and trust. Its closing words do not cancel the lament voiced at the beginning.
Lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; and those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.
Reading context: The prayer moves through questions, sorrow, a request to be heard and trust. Its closing words do not cancel the lament voiced at the beginning.
But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.
Reading context: The prayer moves through questions, sorrow, a request to be heard and trust. Its closing words do not cancel the lament voiced at the beginning.
I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.
Reading context: The prayer moves through questions, sorrow, a request to be heard and trust. Its closing words do not cancel the lament voiced at the beginning.
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
Reading context: The speaker describes tears and the question asked by others. Read the recurring movement between distress and hope throughout the psalm.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Reading context: The speaker addresses a cast-down soul with hope; the psalm returns to sorrow afterward. This refrain should not be used to forbid grieving.
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Reading context: The prayer asks why the speaker seems forgotten and describes mourning under oppression. Keep the question as part of the prayer.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Reading context: The closing refrain again joins a cast-down soul with hope. Its repetition belongs to a prayer that continues to acknowledge distress.
Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.
Reading context: The speaker remembers affliction and then recalls mercy and hope in the lament over devastation. Retain that movement; the hopeful lines do not deny the suffering around them.
My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.
Reading context: The speaker remembers affliction and then recalls mercy and hope in the lament over devastation. Retain that movement; the hopeful lines do not deny the suffering around them.
This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
Reading context: The speaker remembers affliction and then recalls mercy and hope in the lament over devastation. Retain that movement; the hopeful lines do not deny the suffering around them.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Reading context: The speaker remembers affliction and then recalls mercy and hope in the lament over devastation. Retain that movement; the hopeful lines do not deny the suffering around them.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Reading context: The speaker remembers affliction and then recalls mercy and hope in the lament over devastation. Retain that movement; the hopeful lines do not deny the suffering around them.
The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Reading context: The speaker remembers affliction and then recalls mercy and hope in the lament over devastation. Retain that movement; the hopeful lines do not deny the suffering around them.
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.
Reading context: Paul addresses the community’s concern about those who have died and speaks of resurrection hope. The contrast concerns hope, not a command never to feel sorrow.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Reading context: Paul addresses the community’s concern about those who have died and speaks of resurrection hope. The contrast concerns hope, not a command never to feel sorrow.
For 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.
Reading context: Paul addresses the community’s concern about those who have died and speaks of resurrection hope. The contrast concerns hope, not a command never to feel sorrow.
For 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:
Reading context: Paul addresses the community’s concern about those who have died and speaks of resurrection hope. The contrast concerns hope, not a command never to feel sorrow.
Then 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.
Reading context: Paul addresses the community’s concern about those who have died and speaks of resurrection hope. The contrast concerns hope, not a command never to feel sorrow.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Reading context: Paul addresses the community’s concern about those who have died and speaks of resurrection hope. The contrast concerns hope, not a command never to feel sorrow.
And 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.
Reading context: John describes a vision of a new heaven and earth and God dwelling with people. The wiping away of tears belongs to that vision, not a promise that every present loss disappears immediately.
And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Reading context: John describes a vision of a new heaven and earth and God dwelling with people. The wiping away of tears belongs to that vision, not a promise that every present loss disappears immediately.
And 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.
Reading context: John describes a vision of a new heaven and earth and God dwelling with people. The wiping away of tears belongs to that vision, not a promise that every present loss disappears immediately.
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.
Reading context: John describes a vision of a new heaven and earth and God dwelling with people. The wiping away of tears belongs to that vision, not a promise that every present loss disappears immediately.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
Reading context: Paul speaks of comfort amid tribulation and of comforting others. Comfort is shared through hardship rather than a claim that hardship is absent.
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.
Reading context: Paul speaks of comfort amid tribulation and of comforting others. Comfort is shared through hardship rather than a claim that hardship is absent.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Reading context: Jesus names those who mourn in the beatitudes. Read the promise of comfort with the surrounding teaching; it does not shame a person for mourning.
Reference selection. Read each chapter for context. About
Grief can be voiced rather than hurried away. This collection includes lament, Jesus’ tears at Lazarus’s tomb, the instruction to weep with others, and passages of Christian hope. Keep the difference between a present experience of sorrow and a future promise in view. The selected passages do not prescribe a recovery timetable or treat mourning as a failure of faith.
Read the different settings
A starting collection about loss, lament, shared mourning and Christian hope. Expressions of divine displeasure and calls to repent address different tasks. This is not every occurrence of grief, a recovery timetable or a claim that sorrow must stop.
Keep the passage together
The reading note on each verse identifies its setting. Open its chapter before applying a command, a prayer or a narrative to a different situation.
Return to a useful verse
Save a verse to Library or carry that same quotation into practice. Read, meditate, pray and contemplate; save a reflection if you wish.
Study Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this collection help me read?
Read lament, mourning with others and Christian hope without forbidding sorrow or setting a recovery timetable. It contains 36 passages in KJV, selected as a starting point rather than an exhaustive topical count.
How were the passages selected?
A starting collection about loss, lament, shared mourning and Christian hope. Expressions of divine displeasure and calls to repent address different tasks. This is not every occurrence of grief, a recovery timetable or a claim that sorrow must stop. Selection and reading notes are machine-assisted; independent human editorial review is pending.
How can I read a verse in context?
Open the chapter from a verse card. Its reading note distinguishes the speaker, audience or setting; the note is commentary and does not become part of the saved Bible quotation.
How do saved verses work?
Save verses for free without signing in, then open Library to organize them, add notes or begin practice. Guest data stays in this browser. A free account can sync saved changes with the Versemora website and extension. Export your library for a separate copy; changes you have not saved are not synced.
Conclusion
Choose a passage whose setting you want to understand. Open its chapter, then save the verse or spend time with it in practice. Return to Library when you want to read it again.