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Bible Verses About Grief to Memorize
Grief is love with nowhere to go, and the Bible gives it somewhere to go: toward a God who is “nigh unto them that are of a broken heart,” and toward a Savior who stood at His friend’s tomb and wept. Isaiah calls Him “a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” — Jesus does not observe your sorrow from a distance; He has carried it.
These twelve verses do two things grief needs. Some sit with you in the valley: Psalm 23:4, Psalm 34:18, Matthew 5:4. Others lift your eyes to the horizon: the resurrection promise of John 11, the reunion hope of 1 Thessalonians 4, and Revelation 21:4, where God Himself wipes away every tear.
Mourners often find that the verses they memorized beforehand are the ones that carry them — and that verses memorized in grief become lifelong companions. Either way, these are words worth having by heart.
KJV verse list
12 Bible verses about grief
Each verse below is shown in the King James Version. Read it slowly, then use the note beneath it to see why it is worth carrying with you.
Psalm 34:18
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
The shortest, surest comfort in loss: the LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.
Matthew 5:4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Jesus pronounces mourners blessed — not because grief is good, but because comfort is coming.
Psalm 23:4
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.
The valley of the shadow of death is walked through, not around — and not alone: “thou art with me.”
John 11:25-26
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Spoken beside a tomb: Jesus is the resurrection and the life, and believers who die yet live.
Revelation 21:4
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.
The end of the story: God shall wipe away all tears, and there shall be no more death, sorrow, or pain.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14
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 grieve, but not as those who have no hope — because Jesus died and rose again.
Psalm 147:3
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
A one-line promise to hold all year: He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
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.
Names God the “God of all comfort” and shows how comforted grief becomes comfort for someone else.
Isaiah 53:4
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows — your grief is something Christ has personally carried.
Psalm 30:11
Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
A testimony to memorize in hope: God turns mourning into dancing and girds His people with gladness.
John 14:1-3
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’ own comfort for troubled hearts: a prepared place, and His promise to come again and receive you.
Isaiah 25:8
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.
God will swallow up death in victory and wipe away tears from all faces — grief’s final defeat foretold.
Memorization help
How to memorize these verses
Grief makes concentration hard, so be gentle with yourself: choose one short verse — Psalm 34:18 or Psalm 147:3 — and simply read it aloud each morning until it stays. Many mourners pair a “valley” verse with a “hope” verse (Psalm 23:4 with Revelation 21:4) so that both the sorrow and the promise have words. If you are memorizing these to comfort someone else, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 explains why that works. The Bible Memory App keeps your verses in gentle daily review, free to start, with no pressure and no streaks to lose on the hard days.
The Bible Memory App turns that practice into a daily habit: type each verse from memory, get instant feedback on every word, and review on a schedule so the verses stay with you for years, not days. It is free to start, and you can add any of the verses above in seconds.
FAQ
Questions about Bible verses on grief
What is a comforting Bible verse for grief?
Psalm 34:18 is among the most beloved: “The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Matthew 5:4 and Revelation 21:4 are also read at countless bedsides and funerals, because they promise both present comfort and a future without tears.
What does the Bible say about losing a loved one?
Scripture permits real grief — Jesus wept at Lazarus’ tomb — while anchoring it in resurrection hope. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 says believers “sorrow not, even as others which have no hope,” because Jesus rose and will bring with Him those who sleep in Him. Grief and hope are meant to be held together.
Does God care when we grieve?
Deeply. Psalm 56:8 says God keeps count of our wanderings and puts our tears in His bottle; Isaiah 53 says the Messiah is “acquainted with grief” and has borne our sorrows; John 11:35 records that Jesus wept. The consistent witness of Scripture is a God who draws near to the brokenhearted rather than away from them.
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