"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
— Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
People who search bible verses about grief and loss — and sympathy Bible verses for cards and visits — want Scripture that does not pretend the hurt is small. This page groups them by use: God's nearness, comfort that is not empty, hope that looks past the grave, and love that stays with the living. Each entry has a short NIV line. When this site has a page that stays with that verse or theme, the link is there. For the title in 2 Corinthians 1:3, see the God of all comfort.
A longer funeral list is Funeral Bible verses. For hard days that are not only grief, see Bible verses for hard times. For a short map of grief, fear, and heavy weeks, see Comfort Bible verses. If you need words for a card more than a verse list, use Sympathy card messages. A short guide to the shape of the note is What to write in a sympathy card. A wider list of love verses is Bible verses about love. The essay on love in seasons of loss is Love and loss.
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God's nearness in grief
Psalm 34:18. "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Nearness is the comfort, not a demand to feel better yet.
Psalm 23:4. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
Psalm 46:1. "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
Matthew 5:4. "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
Comfort that names the hurt
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."
Isaiah 41:10. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Revelation 21:4. "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Hope and love that stay
Romans 8:38-39. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. The meaning page is Romans 8:38-39.
John 14:1-3. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. Paul does not want believers to grieve "like the rest of mankind, who have no hope," because Jesus died and rose again.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8. Love always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres — and love never fails. See 1 Corinthians 13:7 and Love never fails Bible verse.
Questions people ask
What are good sympathy Bible verses?
Psalm 34:18, Psalm 23:4, Matthew 5:4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Revelation 21:4, and Romans 8:38-39 are among the lines people share most often. The sections above group them by use.
What is the difference between sympathy Bible verses and funeral Bible verses?
Sympathy verses are often shorter lines for cards and visits. Funeral verses may include longer readings for a service. This site's fuller funeral list is Funeral Bible verses.
Can I put a Bible verse in a sympathy card?
Yes. One short verse and one sentence of your own is usually enough. Sympathy card messages helps with the card wording around the verse.
What verse says God is close to the brokenhearted?
Psalm 34:18: "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Where should I read next?
For funeral readings, read Funeral Bible verses. For card wording, read Sympathy card messages. For love that does not separate, read Romans 8:38-39.
