Bible Verses After Losing Someone
The short answer
After a death, the passages most often returned to are Psalm 23:4, John 14:1-3, 1 Thessalonians 4:13, Romans 8:38-39 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. The most honest of them is 1 Thessalonians 4:13, which does not tell Christians not to grieve — only not to grieve as those without hope.
In the first weeks, most words are wrong. These passages have been read at gravesides for centuries because they say little and stay close.
Where to begin
Three to begin with. They are the ones most often read aloud when nobody knows what to say.
Psalm 23:4
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.
Biblical context
A shepherd's psalm. The rod and staff are a shepherd's tools for driving off danger and guiding sheep over hard ground.
Selah’s reflection
The valley is walked through, not avoided, and the comfort named is company rather than explanation.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.
Biblical context
Paul writes to a young church distressed about believers who had died before Christ returned. Their question was practical and frightened.
Selah’s reflection
Paul does not forbid sorrow. He distinguishes between sorrow with hope and sorrow without it, which is a far smaller demand than being fine.
John 14:1-3
“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
Biblical context
Spoken to the disciples on the night before the crucifixion, as Jesus prepares them for his own departure.
Selah’s reflection
These words were first said to people about to lose someone, by the person they were about to lose.
Further passages
Romans 8:38-39
For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from God’s love, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Biblical context
The close of Paul's long argument in Romans 8 about suffering in the present age.
Selah’s reflection
Death heads the list of things that cannot separate. It is named first because it was the most obvious candidate.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
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.
Biblical context
Paul opens this letter by describing a recent affliction in Asia so severe that he despaired of life.
Selah’s reflection
Comfort here travels outward eventually, but the passage does not require the grieving person to be useful yet.
Psalm 116:15
Precious in Yahweh’s sight is the death of his saints.
Biblical context
A psalm of thanksgiving by someone who has survived a brush with death and is describing God's regard for his people.
Selah’s reflection
The verse says the death of God's people is not unnoticed. It does not say the loss is small.
A short prayer
God, they are gone and the house is the wrong shape without them. Be with the people who loved them, and with me tonight.
A question to sit with
What did they give you that you are still carrying?
Try Selah
Tell Selah what tonight actually feels like, and it will help you find relevant passages for this moment.
Open the Selah verse finder