Do you ever wonder what to say to someone who has lost a loved one? When your friend is hurting, all of the usuals feel empty and meaningless. Try this list of verses for the loss of a loved one and let God’s word speak for you.

If you are seeking comfort from God’s word through the pain of loss, you will find it here. Allow these beautiful verses to soothe your broken heart.

Verses for Loss of a Loved One

I’ve included 30 verses here that can be written in cards, text messages etc. I have a few verses specifically about Jesus loving children.

When I was young, I had a Bible with a picture of Jesus surrounded by children on the cover. During the dark days of grief following my daughter’s death, the memory of that cover came to mind. Knowing that Jesus loves her even more than I do brings me comfort.

Before going into these Bible verses for the death of a loved one, let’s briefly talk about what to say to someone who has lost a loved one. It is so hard to know.

What to Say to Someone Who Has Lost a Loved One

I was always that person who wanted so badly to reach out to someone who had lost a loved one, but I never knew what to say. Everything sounds empty when the hurt is that intense.

When we lost our beautiful eight year old Rebekah in an accident we heard everything from “sorry for your loss” to thoughtless and awkward comments.

I have to tell you that actions speak louder than words. I remember one lady whose daughter was on Rebekah’s soccer team wrote a lovely card. In the card she told me to call her if I needed anything and she left not one, but three different ways for me to contact her. I felt as if she truly meant what she said.

Looking back, it is the people who brought meal after meal, the ones who cleaned my house and did my laundry. It was the long hugs as if they were trying to love the hurt away that meant more than any sentiment could. The text messages and prayers…

If you are looking for something to say, I found one of the most comforting expressions was “I’m here for you” and then make yourself available. These Bible verses for the death of a loved one are perfect when you don’t have your own words.

No, you can’t take the hurt away, but you can walk the path beside them so they are not alone.

Bible Verses about Losing a Loved One

Scripture is full of people who lost those they loved, mourned, grieved and felt all of the same emotions we do. Adam and Eve lost two sons at once when one murdered the other. Jacob grieved first when his lovely Rebekah died and then again when he thought Joseph was killed by a wild animal.

Mary is seen weeping at the feet of Jesus as he dies on the cross.

Hope is seen as well in scripture. Elijah raises the widow’s son from the dead, Jesus raises a widow’s son too right in the middle of his burial procession. One of the most powerful stories is Jesus raising his beloved friend Lazarus from the dead.

These stories are to remind us that God holds the power of life and death.

If you are here looking for scriptures for the loss of a loved one for yourself or a friend, keep reading. God has provided us so much comfort in His word.

Death is difficult no matter what the cause. Are you looking for a Bible verse for an unexpected death? Perhaps, you are looking for a Bible verse for parents who have lost a child. Have you or a friend struggling through grief from a miscarriage?

Comforting Bible Verses for the Death of a Loved One

Thank God He has given us endless comforting Bible verses throughout the entire Bible. He is constantly reminding us that He is here with us and that He loves us.

While this post is written in tears as I am brought back to the most painful time of my life, I continue to find these verses to be comforting and am so thankful that God impressed on my heart to compile a list of verses for the loss of a loved one. I needed this too.

If you are looking for a Bible verse for unexpected death because you are reeling from the sudden loss or are suffering from PTSD because of it, you will find a verse here to comfort you.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. (Isaiah 43:1-2)

Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me. (Isaiah 49:15-16)

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you (Jeremiah 31:3)

I called on Your name, O Lord,
From the lowest pit.
 You have heard my voice:
“Do not hide Your ear
From my sighing, from my cry for help.”
 You drew near on the day I called on You,
And said, “Do not fear!” (Lamentations 3:55-57)

Blessed are you who weep now,
For you shall laugh. (Luke 6:21)

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.

But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes, we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4-5)

 I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will also lead him, And restore comforts to him And to his mourners.

“I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,” Says the Lord, “And I will heal him.” (Jeremiah 57:18-19)

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

Learning that grief is a season and a natural one can give hope during dark days. We are not meant to stay in this season, but to allow God to bring us into the next one. It doesn’t mean that we stop missing our loved one, it just means that we need to continue to grow and accept the new seasons as they come. Women Ministering has an excellent post about this in which she draws from her own loss and what she has learned.

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4)

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Scriptures for Loss of Loved Ones from the Psalms

David was a man of great emotion and I am thankful that his words are available for us to read. They are written in pain and rejoicing, sorrow and faith and are perfect for verses for the loss of a loved one. These Bible verses for losing a loved one continue our goal of providing comfort and peace.

You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in Your word. (Psalm 119:114)

He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. (Psalm 34:15)

Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)

God really did provide these Psalms for comfort and strength, didn’t He? Our temporal bodies are subject to such pain and suffering. While these are not specific to Bible verses about losing a loved one, they are perfect to encourage and bring hope to those in need of it.

You number my wanderings;
Put my tears into Your bottle;
Are they not in Your book? (Psalm 56:8)

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:9-11)

Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation. (Psalm 91:14-16)

The 23rd Psalm is sometimes so common that I nearly overlooked it when compiling this list of verses for the loss of a loved one. I remember reading verse four “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” on a particularly low day on my grief journey and I understood for the first time that this valley is not just a physical place, but an emotional one also.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever. (Psalm 23)

Bible Verses for Death of a Loved One: Loss of a Child

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so, Little ones to him belong They are weak but he is strong.”

Dear Grieving Mama,

You are weary and angry and enduring the worst pain imaginable. Not only are you grieving your child, but also their future. A future snuffed out. This wasn’t supposed to happen. The dreams you had for your child have now died. A part of you has died too.

Your family is no longer complete. You will spend the rest of your life wondering how your child would look and act. Their friends will grow up, graduate, and marry, and you are left with a hole in your heart.

But I want you to know something. Your little one is safe in the arms of Jesus. They feel no pain, no hurt, no fear. They are loved.

I know your heart is broken and you long to hold your child one last time, but rest assured, their hearts are full of peace and they are in a place that is more beautiful than you can imagine.

They have simply run ahead and are patiently waiting for you to join them.

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them.But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. (Mark 10:13-16)

Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 18:10)

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. (Matthew 18:2-5)

I would love to share more about my Rebekah with you. She was a beautiful girl, full of sunshine and joy. Her smile could light up a room! You can read more about her in “Rebekah’s Heart”.

If you have a hole in your heart because of a miscarriage, I invite you to read “15 Bible Verses for Miscarriage (and just as many quotes) to bring comfort”.

Comforting Bible Verses for Death of a Loved One: Heaven

It brings me great comfort to think of Rebekah in heaven, surrounded by God’s love and peace. Verses for loss of a loved one should always bring us back to heaven. Last summer I researched Heaven and was surprised at the number of verses I found. You can read the whole post at She Still Lives: Bible Verses about Heaven after Death. Here are a few of my favorite verses about heaven after death. These are perfect scriptures for the loss of a loved one.

Let not your heart be troubled; you 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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (John 14:1-3)

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. (Revelation 21:5-7)

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5)

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:7-9)

Verses for the Loss of a Loved One Bring Us Healing

These verses are not going to take grief away. They are not going to bring back your loved one or make you smile again, but they will bring healing. Healing comes from the love and peace found in Christ and when we allow ourselves to be surrounded by that love and peace, hope dawns and healing begins.

Be sure to share your thoughts with me in the comments below. Did you recently lose a parent? Are you looking for a Bible verse for an unexpected death? Have you joined me on this painful path of losing a child? I would love to hear from you about your loved one and which of these verses resonated with you.

If you are looking for more verses for loss of a loved one check out this post by Bible Knowing Jesus.

You might also like these posts!

When You Think You’ve Been Buried: Quotes about Hope and Healing

Can Grief Cause Anxiety? 10 Tips to Help You Cope