What does the Bible say about grief and sorrow?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that grief is real and painful, yet God draws near to His sorrowing people, sustains them by grace, and promises that suffering will not have the final word. Psalm 34:18 and Psalm 147:3 portray the Lord as close to the brokenhearted and as the healer of wounded hearts. Jesus blesses those who mourn, promising comfort (Matthew 5:4), while believers are invited to cast every burden upon their caring Father (1 Peter 5:7). Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 recognizes seasons of weeping within God's wise providence. In Christ, the God of all comfort strengthens His people, and Revelation 21:4 assures them that He will finally wipe away every tear.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Psalms 34:18 6 votes
Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
- Revelation 21:4 6 votes
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more. The first things have passed away.”
- 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 5 votes
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
- Psalms 147:3 5 votes
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
- Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 4 votes
For everything there is a season, and 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 up that which 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; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. What profit has he who works in that in which he labors? I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live. Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God. I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.
- 1 Peter 5:7 4 votes
casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.
- Matthew 5:4 3 votes
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Psalms 73:26 3 votes
My flesh and my heart fails, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
- Psalms 23:1-6 2 votes
Yahweh is my shepherd; I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even 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 loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
- Psalms 31:9-10 2 votes
Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am in distress. My eye, my soul, and my body waste away with grief. For my life is spent with sorrow, my years with sighing. My strength fails because of my iniquity. My bones are wasted away.
Related topics
Go deeper
Ask Explain Bible AI about grief and sorrow and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.
Ask what the Bible says about grief and sorrow