20 Bible Verses about Bereavement

David replied: I fasted and cried while the child lived. I thought Jehovah might be gracious to me and let the child live. Why should I fast now that he is dead? Can I bring him back? Someday I will go to him. However he will not come back to me.

No sooner had he finished speaking, then another servant came and said: Your children were having a feast at the home of your oldest son, when a storm swept in from the desert. It blew the house down and killed them all. I am the only one who escaped to tell you. Then Job got up and tore his clothes in grief. He shaved his head and threw himself face down on the ground. read more.
He said: I was born with nothing (naked), and I will die with nothing. Jehovah gave, and now he has taken away. Blessed be the name of Jehovah!

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting. That is the end for all men and the living takes it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness the appearance of the heart is made better. The heart (feelings) of the wise is in the house of mourning. The heart of fools is in the house of rejoicing.

I do not want you to be ignorant brothers, concerning those who are asleep (in death). You do not need to sorrow like others who have no hope. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, God will bring with him those who sleep in Jesus. We tell you this by God's Word, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who are asleep. read more.
For the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ will rise first. We that are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so will we ever be with the Lord. Comfort one another with these words.

At midnight Jehovah killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal.

Though they bring up their children, yet I will bereave them until no man is left. Yes, woe to them even when I depart from them!

The king was shaken by the news. He went to the room above the gate and cried. My son Absalom! He said. My son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died in your place! Absalom, my son, my son!

David held his hands over his face and kept on crying loudly. My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!

Naomi's husband Elimelech died. And she was left with her two sons.

Mahlon and Chilion also died. Naomi was left all alone. She had no husband or sons.

She said: Do not call me Naomi (meaning pleasant). Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life bitter. I went away full, and Jehovah sent me back empty. Why do you give me the name Naomi, seeing that Jehovah has given witness against me, and the Almighty has brought sorrow to me?

Nathan went home. Jehovah struck the child that Uriah's wife had given birth to David. The child became sick. David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and lay on the ground all night. The elders in his palace stood beside him to raise him up from the ground. But he was unwilling and he would not eat with them. read more.
On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead. They thought: While the child was alive, we talked to him, and he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may harm himself. David saw that his servants were whispering to one another. He realized (discerned) that the child was dead. Is the child dead? David asked them. Yes, he is dead. They answered. David got up from the floor. He took a bath, combed his hair, and changed his clothes. Then he went and worshiped in the Temple of Jehovah. After that he returned to the palace and ate. We do not understand, his servants said, while the child was alive you would not eat. As soon as he died, you got up and ate! David replied: I fasted and cried while the child lived. I thought Jehovah might be gracious to me and let the child live. Why should I fast now that he is dead? Can I bring him back? Someday I will go to him. However he will not come back to me.

Son of man, behold, I am about to take from you the desire of your eyes with a blow. You will, however, not mourn and you will not weep, and your tears will not come. Groan silently; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban and put your shoes on your feet. Do not cover your mustache and do not eat the bread of men. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And in the morning I did as I was commanded.

At midnight Jehovah killed every firstborn male in Egypt from the firstborn son of Pharaoh who ruled the land to the firstborn son of the prisoner in jail, and also every firstborn animal. Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the other Egyptians got up during the night. There was loud crying throughout Egypt because in every house someone had died. Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron during the night. He said: You and the Israelites must leave my people at once. Go serve Jehovah just as you requested. read more.
Take your flocks and herds, too, as you asked. Just go! And bless me, too! The Egyptians begged the people to leave the country quickly. They said: We will all be dead soon!

Jacob tore his clothes in sorrow and put on sackcloth. He mourned for his son a long time. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him. However, he refused to be comforted. He said: I will go down to the grave still mourning for my son. So he continued to mourn for his son Joseph.

Joseph threw himself on his father. He cried over him, and kissed him.

When the time of mourning was over, Joseph said to the king's officials: Please take this message to the king:

Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. Abraham went to mourn for Sarah and to cry because of her death.

Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar: Do not leave your hair uncombed or tear your clothes to show that you are in mourning. If you do you will die. For Jehovah will be angry with the whole community. But all other Israelites are allowed to mourn this death caused by the fire Jehovah sent.