Bible Verses About Comfort: 12

"Comfort, comfort my people, says your God."

— Isaiah 40:1 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about comfort want Scripture for a hurting friend, a heavy season, or a heart that needs consoling more than fixing — not a generic "feel better" list. This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Comfort Bible verses, Sympathy Bible verses, Bible verses about grief, Bible verses about peace, Bible verses about hope, Bible verses about encouragement, and Bible verses about God's presence. Here the focus is God consoling the hurting — distinct from grief's numbered lament list (Bible verses about grief), from holiday/card sympathy lists (Sympathy Bible verses), and from the comfort hub that routes to those neighbors (Comfort Bible verses). For Simeon's wait for the consolation of Israel in Luke 2:25, see Bible verses about the consolation of Israel. The 2 Corinthians 1:3 title is Bible verses about God of all comfort. For comfort at bedtime and on sleepless nights, see Bible verses about sleep. For copy-ready card messages, see What to write in a sympathy card. For Scripture on dying and Christ's victory over death, see Bible verses about death.

Word study (lead theme). In Hebrew, "comfort" is often נָחַם nacham (Strong's H5162; Bible Hub H5162) — to comfort, console, have compassion; also to relent — comfort that turns toward the sufferer. In Greek, related "comfort / encourage" language includes παρακαλέω parakaleō (Strong's G3870; Bible Hub G3870) — to call alongside, exhort, comfort — presence that speaks near the pain.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Isaiah 40 presses the double call to comfort as God's own word to his people after hard seasons (Bible Hub commentaries on Isaiah 40:1; Bible Hub MHC Isaiah 40). On 2 Corinthians 1 he names God as the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us so we can comfort others (Bible Hub commentaries on 2 Corinthians 1:3; Bible Hub MHC 2 Corinthians 1).

12 Bible verses about comfort

Isaiah 40:1. "Comfort, comfort my people, says your God." Comfort is God's command and gift — spoken to a people who need it twice. See Bible verses about God's love.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." Comfort received becomes comfort shared. See Bible verses about grief.
Isaiah 51:12. "I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings who are but grass…" God himself claims the comforter's role. See Bible verses about fear.
Isaiah 66:13. "As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem." Comfort can be as near and tender as a mother's. See Bible verses about hope.
Psalm 119:50. "My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life." Comfort can arrive as a promise that keeps you alive mid-suffering. See Bible verses about perseverance.
Psalm 119:76. "May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant." Comfort is asked for as God's unfailing love matching his promise. See Bible verses about God's love.
John 14:16. "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—" The Advocate is help and presence that stays. See Bible verses about the Holy Spirit.
Isaiah 49:13. "Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones." Comfort and compassion land on the afflicted. See Bible verses about joy.
Psalm 71:21. "You will increase my honor and comfort me once more." Comfort can come again after an earlier rescue. See Bible verses about hope.
Psalm 86:17. "Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and be put to shame, for you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me." Past help and comfort become grounds for fresh asking. See Bible verses about trust.
Genesis 50:21. "So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them. Kind speech and provision are forms of comfort after fear. See Bible verses about family.
Ruth 2:13. "'May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord,' she said. 'You have put me at ease by speaking kindly to your servant—though I do not have the standing of one of your servants.'" Kind speech puts the hurting at ease. See Bible verses about kindness.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a grieving friend, a heavy afternoon, or a prayer when you need consoling more than advice — not twelve. If you need God's own call to comfort, start with Isaiah 40:1. If you need comfort that overflows to others, start with 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. If you need mother-tender comfort, start with Isaiah 66:13. For grief's numbered lament list, see Bible verses about grief. For card and funeral neighbors, see Sympathy Bible verses and the hub Comfort Bible verses. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about comfort?

Isaiah 40:1 (comfort my people), 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (God of all comfort), and Isaiah 66:13 (as a mother comforts) are clear starting places.

What does the Bible say about comfort?

Scripture presents God as the one who comforts his people (Isaiah 40:1; Isaiah 51:12), the Father of compassion and God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4), and the giver of an Advocate who stays (John 14:16).

How is comfort different from grief or sympathy on this site?

Grief lists lament and loss (Bible verses about grief). Sympathy pages help cards and funerals (Sympathy Bible verses). This page focuses on God consoling the hurting and comfort that can be shared.

What Bible verse comforts someone who is hurting?

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 and Isaiah 49:13 name comfort for the afflicted. Pair with Bible verses about grief when the hurt is bereavement.

How can I use Bible verses about comfort in prayer?

Read Isaiah 40:1 and ask God to comfort a named person. Use Psalm 119:76 to ask that his unfailing love be your comfort, and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 when received comfort needs to become shared comfort.

Sources

NIV text quoted above.
Blue Letter Bible / Bible Hub Strong's entries for nacham (H5162) and parakaleō (G3870).
Matthew Henry Concise via Bible Hub on Isaiah 40:1 and 2 Corinthians 1:3.