What the Bible Says About Grief

When Jesus was told to come and see where his friend Lazarus was laid, "Jesus wept" (John 11:34 and 35). Abraham came "to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her" (Genesis 23:2). Jacob "refused to be comforted" when he thought Joseph was dead (Genesis 37:35). Job's friends sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and none of them spoke a word to him (Job 2:13).

Below are passages on grief and mourning, each quoted word for word with its reference. Short notes give the Hebrew and Greek words behind the English. A table near the end lists who mourned in the Bible and, where the text says, for how long.

Jesus wept (John 11)

Jesus called him "Our friend Lazarus" (John 11:11). When Jesus came, Lazarus had lain in the grave four days already (John 11:17). His sister Martha went and met Jesus, and he said this to her.

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? (John 11:25-26)

Then Martha's sister Mary came and fell down at his feet (John 11:32).

33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, 34 And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! (John 11:33-36)

The Greek has two different verbs for weeping here. Mary and the Jews who came with her are weeping with klaiō, which Strong's Concordance defines as "to sob, i.e. wail aloud (whereas 1145 is rather to cry silently)." Number 1145 is dakruō, the verb in "Jesus wept," and this is the only place it appears in the New Testament. Strong's traces dakruō to dakru, "a tear," the word behind "tears" in Revelation 21:4 below.

John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the King James Bible, two words and nine letters. The only other verse of two words is 1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Rejoice evermore."

"Was troubled" in verse 33 is tarassō. It's the same verb as "troubled" in John 14:1, which is on the worry page.

Luke 19:41 tells of Jesus weeping as he came near Jerusalem. There the verb is klaiō.

And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, (Luke 19:41)

Blessed are they that mourn (Matthew 5:4 and Luke 6:21)

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. (Matthew 5:4)

"Mourn" is pentheō. STEPBible's lexicon, which draws on Abbott-Smith, gives it as "to mourn (for), lament." It also notes that the Greek translation of the Old Testament uses it chiefly for the Hebrew aval, to mourn. "Comforted" is parakaleō, which comes back in 2 Corinthians 1:4 below.

Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. (Luke 6:21)

"Weep" here is klaiō, the same verb as in John 11:33.

To comfort all that mourn (Isaiah 61:1 to 3)

1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3)

In Luke 4:16 to 21 Jesus stands up in the synagogue at Nazareth and reads the start of this passage. Luke 4:18 reads "to heal the brokenhearted" where Isaiah 61:1 reads "to bind up the brokenhearted."

In Hebrew, "beauty" and "ashes" in verse 3 are spelled with the same three letters in a different order, pe'er and epher. Strong's defines pe'er as "an embellishment, i.e. fancy head-dress."

Nigh unto them that are of a broken heart (Psalm 34:18 and 147:3)

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. (Psalm 34:18)

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)

"Broken" in both verses is shavar, which STEPBible's lexicon gives as "to break, break in pieces." "Contrite" in Psalm 34:18 is dakka, which Strong's defines as "crushed (literally powder, or figuratively, contrite)." "Bindeth up" in Psalm 147:3 is chavash. Strong's defines it as "to wrap firmly (especially a turban, compress, or saddle)."

In the Psalms

All the night make I my bed to swim (Psalm 6:6)

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. (Psalm 6:6)

The next verse goes on, "Mine eye is consumed because of grief."

Mine eye is consumed with grief (Psalm 31:9)

Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. (Psalm 31:9)

The next verse begins, "For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing." Two different Hebrew words stand behind "grief" in these two verses. In verse 9 it's ka'as, which Strong's defines as "vexation." In verse 10 it's yagon, which STEPBible's lexicon gives as "grief, sorrow, anguish." Ka'as is also the grief of Psalm 6:7.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? (Psalm 42:3 and 5)

My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? (Psalm 42:3)

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. (Psalm 42:5)

Psalm 42:11 and 43:5 ask the same question in nearly the same words.

Put thou my tears into thy bottle (Psalm 56:8)

Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? (Psalm 56:8)

"Bottle" is nod, which Strong's defines as "a (skin or leather) bag (for fluids)." Verses 3 and 4 of this psalm are on the fear page.

Joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5)

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)

My soul is exceeding sorrowful (Matthew 26:38)

Jesus says this in Gethsemane to Peter and the two sons of Zebedee (Matthew 26:36 and 37).

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. (Matthew 26:38)

"Exceeding sorrowful" is perilupos, which Strong's defines as "grieved all around, i.e. intensely sad." STEPBible's lexicon notes that the Greek translation of the Old Testament uses the same word in Psalm 42:5 and 11.

A time to mourn (Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 4)

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

"Mourn" here is saphad. Strong's defines it as "properly, to tear the hair and beat the breasts," and generally "to lament." It's the same verb as Abraham's mourning for Sarah in Genesis 23:2.

In Job

The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away (Job 1:20 and 21)

Job said this after word came that a great wind had brought down the house where his sons and daughters were eating, "and they are dead" (Job 1:18 and 19).

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:20-21)

None spake a word unto him (Job 2:11 to 13)

11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him. 12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven. 13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great. (Job 2:11-13)

"Grief" in verse 13 is ke'ev, which STEPBible's lexicon gives as "pain (mental and physical), sorrow." Strong's traces it to ka'av, "to feel pain," the same root as makov, the "sorrows" of Isaiah 53:3 below.

David

I shall go to him (2 Samuel 12:22 and 23)

The child born to David was very sick, and David fasted and lay all night upon the earth. The child died on the seventh day. When David got up and ate, his servants asked him why (2 Samuel 12:15 to 21).

22 And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live? 23 But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me. (2 Samuel 12:22-23)

O my son Absalom (2 Samuel 18:33)

Absalom had made himself king in Hebron against his father, and he was killed in the battle between their men (2 Samuel 15:10, 18:14 and 15).

And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! (2 Samuel 18:33)

David's lament over Saul and Jonathan is 2 Samuel 1:17 to 27.

Acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3 and 4)

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:3-4)

"Grief" in verse 3 and "griefs" in verse 4 are choli, which Strong's defines as "malady, anxiety, calamity." "Sorrows" in both verses is makov, which STEPBible's lexicon gives as "pain, sorrow," of body or of mind.

Great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:19 to 23)

19 Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me. 21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:19-23)

Your sorrow shall be turned into joy (John 16:20 and 22)

Jesus said this to his disciples (John 16:17 to 19).

Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (John 16:20)

And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. (John 16:22)

In verse 20 "weep" is klaiō and "lament" is thrēneō, which STEPBible's lexicon gives as "to lament, wail." "Sorrowful" and "sorrow" are lupeō and lupē, the verb and the noun for grief.

Weep with them that weep (Romans 12:15 and 2 Corinthians 1:3 and 4)

Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. (Romans 12:15)

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

"Comfort" comes five times in these two verses. Each is parakaleō, the "comforted" of Matthew 5:4, or paraklēsis, the noun formed from it.

Comfort one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13, 14 and 18)

This letter is from "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus" to "the church of the Thessalonians" (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

"Sorrow not" is lupeō, the "sorrowful" of John 16:20. "Comfort" in verse 18 is parakaleō again.

Neither sorrow, nor crying (Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 21:4, 1 Corinthians 15:54 and 55)

He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. (Isaiah 25:8)

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

"Tears" in Revelation 21:4 is dakru, the noun Strong's gives as the source of dakruō in "Jesus wept." "Sorrow" is penthos, the noun pentheō comes from, the "mourn" of Matthew 5:4.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (1 Corinthians 15:54-55)

Verse 54 calls "Death is swallowed up in victory" "the saying that is written." Isaiah 25:8 opens, "He will swallow up death in victory."

Who mourned in the Bible

Here are people the King James text shows mourning, whose death each scene follows, and where the text says, for how long.

Matthew 2:17 and 18 quote Jeremiah 31:15, where the KJV spells the name Rahel. Matthew quotes it after Herod "slew all the children that were in Bethlehem" (Matthew 2:16). Of the mournings in this table that the text puts a number on, the longest is Egypt's for Jacob, threescore and ten days, which is seventy.

The same passages show how people mourned. They rent their clothes (Genesis 37:34, 2 Samuel 1:11, Job 1:20). Jacob put sackcloth upon his loins (Genesis 37:34). Job shaved his head (Job 1:20), and his friends sprinkled dust upon their heads (Job 2:12). David and his men fasted until even (2 Samuel 1:12).

"Lamentation" in Acts 8:2 is kopetos, which Strong's defines as "mourning (properly, by beating the breast)." It appears nowhere else in the New Testament.

The words behind grief

"Grief" and "griefs" appear 27 times in the King James Bible, 24 in the Old Testament and 3 in the New. In Job 16:5 the translators supplied "your grief" themselves, the kind of words the printed KJV sets in italics. The other 23 Old Testament places translate ten different Hebrew words.

Ka'as stands behind "grief" more often than any other word. Elsewhere the KJV renders it "wrath," "provocation," "sorrow" and "anger." In the New Testament "grief" is lupeō in 2 Corinthians 2:5, lupē in 1 Peter 2:19 and stenazō in Hebrews 13:17. Strong's defines stenazō as "to make (intransitively, be) in straits, i.e. (by implication) to sigh, murmur, pray inaudibly."

Fear and worry

Fear and worry have pages of their own, What the Bible Says About Fear and What the Bible Says About Worry. Psalm 23:4 is quoted on the fear page.

How this page was made

Every verse is quoted from the 1769 standard text of the King James Version and checked word for word against two more digital copies. The printed KJV sets supplied words in italics, which this page doesn't show. Verse numbers follow the KJV. Hebrew Bibles count the headings of Psalms 6, 30, 31, 34, 42 and 56 as their first verses, so the verses quoted from those psalms are numbered one higher there.

Hebrew words were identified with the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible. Greek words were identified with STEPBible's tagged Greek New Testament. Every Greek word cited here reads the same in all the editions it tracks, the Textus Receptus among them. STEPBible is a Tyndale House Cambridge project, and its Greek lexicon draws on Abbott-Smith's. STEPBible's data and the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible are both shared under CC BY 4.0. The other definitions come from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance (1890). If you find a mistake, tell us through the support page.

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