47 Bible Verses about Mourning
Most Relevant Verses
The Lord said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them: A priest is not to make himself ceremonially unclean for a dead person among his relatives, except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother. He may make himself unclean for his young unmarried sister in his immediate family. read more.
He is not to make himself unclean for those related to him by marriage and so defile himself.
When the whole community saw that Aaron had passed away, the entire house of Israel mourned for him 30 days.
The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab 30 days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.
Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and all the men with him did the same. They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening for those who died by the sword—for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s people, and the house of Israel.
David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that the Judahites be taught The Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar: The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights.
How the mighty have fallen!
read more.
Do not tell it in Gath,
don’t announce it in the marketplaces of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice,
and the daughters of the uncircumcised will gloat.
Mountains of Gilboa,
let no dew or rain be on you,
or fields of offerings,
for there the shield of the mighty was defiled—
the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil.
Jonathan’s bow never retreated,
Saul’s sword never returned unstained,
from the blood of the slain,
from the bodies of the mighty.
Saul and Jonathan,
loved and delightful,
they were not parted in life or in death.
They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions.
Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things,
who decked your garments with gold ornaments.
How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle!
Jonathan lies slain on your heights.
I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother.
You were such a friend to me.
Your love for me was more wonderful
than the love of women.
How the mighty have fallen
and the weapons of war have perished!
The king was deeply moved and went up to the gate chamber and wept. As he walked, he cried, “My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!”
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying:
Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will leave this life.
The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Praise the name of Yahweh.
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.
When the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a solemn mourning on the part of the Egyptians.” Therefore the place is named Abel-mizraim. It is across the Jordan.
In response the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.
So Joab sent someone to Tekoa to bring a clever woman from there. He told her, “Pretend to be in mourning: dress in mourning clothes and don’t put on any oil. Act like a woman who has been mourning for the dead for a long time.
The archers shot King Josiah, and he said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded!” So his servants took him out of the war chariot, carried him in his second chariot, and brought him to Jerusalem. Then he died, and they buried him in the tomb of his fathers. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. Jeremiah chanted a dirge over Josiah, and all the singing men and singing women still speak of Josiah in their dirges to this very day. They established them as a statute for Israel, and indeed they are written in the Dirges.
A voice was heard in Ramah,
weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children;
and she refused to be consoled,
because they were no more.
The Jews who were with her in the house consoling her saw that Mary got up quickly and went out. So they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to cry there.
Dibon went up to its temple
to weep at its high places.
Moab wails on Nebo and at Medeba.
Every head is shaved;
every beard is cut off.
In its streets they wear sackcloth;
on its rooftops and in its public squares everyone wails,
falling down and weeping.
Baldness is coming to Gaza.
Ashkelon will become silent,
a remnant of their valley.
How long will you gash yourself?
Indeed, every head is bald and every beard clipped; on every hand is a gash and sackcloth around the waist.
They raise their voices over you
and cry out bitterly.
They throw dust on their heads;
they roll in ashes.
They shave their heads because of you
and wrap themselves in sackcloth.
They weep over you
with deep anguish and bitter mourning. In their wailing they lament for you,
mourning over you:
Who was like Tyre,
silenced in the middle of the sea?
When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn’t put on their jewelry.
When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated. Everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me, because of the unfaithfulness of the exiles, while I sat devastated until the evening offering. At the evening offering, I got up from my humiliation, with my tunic and robe torn. Then I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to Yahweh my God. read more.
And I said:
My God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift my face toward You, my God, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens.
She brought the pan and set it down in front of him, but he refused to eat. Amnon said, “Everyone leave me!” And everyone left him.
When they looked from a distance, they could barely recognize him. They wept aloud, and each man tore his robe and threw dust into the air and on his head. Then they sat on the ground with him seven days and nights, but no one spoke a word to him because they saw that his suffering was very intense.
This is what the Lord of Hosts says:
Consider, and summon the women who mourn;
send for the skillful women.
Let them come quickly to raise a lament over us
so that our eyes may overflow with tears,
our eyelids soaked with weeping.
Therefore Yahweh, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says:
There will be wailing in all the public squares;
they will cry out in anguish in all the streets.
The farmer will be called on to mourn,
and professional mourners to wail.
When Jesus came to the leader’s house, He saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.
He went in and said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.”
Everyone was crying and mourning for her. But He said, “Stop crying, for she is not dead but asleep.”
Cut off the hair of your sacred vow and throw it away. Raise up a dirge on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned the generation under His wrath.
On that day the Lord will strip their finery: ankle bracelets, headbands, crescents, pendants, bracelets, veils, headdresses, ankle jewelry, sashes, perfume bottles, amulets, read more.
signet rings, nose rings, festive robes, capes, cloaks, purses, garments, linen clothes, turbans, and veils. Instead of perfume there will be a stench;
instead of a belt, a rope;
instead of beautifully styled hair, baldness;
instead of fine clothes, sackcloth;
instead of beauty, branding.
They will put on sackcloth,
and horror will overwhelm them.
Shame will cover all their faces,
and all their heads will be bald.
I will turn your feasts into mourning
and all your songs into lamentation;
I will cause everyone to wear sackcloth
and every head to be shaved.
I will make that grief
like mourning for an only son
and its outcome like a bitter day.
Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair
in sorrow for your precious children;
make yourselves as bald as an eagle,
for they have been taken from you into exile.
Even now—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Tear your hearts,
not just your clothes,
and return to the Lord your God.
For He is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger, rich in faithful love,
and He relents from sending disaster.
On that day the Lord God of Hosts
called for weeping, for wailing, for shaven heads,
and for the wearing of sackcloth.
From Thematic Bible
Fasting » Accompanied by » Mourning
this is the Lord’s declaration—
turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping, and mourning.
Israel » Mourning
When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn't put on their jewelry. For the Lord said to Moses: "Tell the Israelites: You are a stiff-necked people. If I went with you for a single moment, I would destroy you. Now take off your jewelry, and I will decide what to do with you." So the Israelites [remained]stripped of their jewelry from Mount Horeb [onward]. read more.
Now Moses took a tent and set it up outside the camp, far away from the camp; he called it the tent of meeting. Anyone who wanted to consult the Lord would go to the tent of meeting that was outside the camp. Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would stand up, each one at the door of his tent, and they would watch Moses until he entered the tent. When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and remain at the entrance to the tent, and [the Lord] would speak with Moses. As all the people saw the pillar of cloud remaining at the entrance to the tent, they would stand up, then bow in worship, each one at the door of his tent.
Israel » moses » death » Mourning
jacob » Mourning » 40 days
They took 40 days to complete this, for embalming takes that long, and the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days.
Mourning » Examples of grief
“Don’t call me Naomi. Call me Mara,”
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron
So the people went to Bethel and sat there before God
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.
Mourning » Customs » Hired mourners
Therefore Yahweh, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says:
they will cry out in anguish
The farmer will be called on to mourn,
and professional mourners
the almond tree blossoms,
the grasshopper loses its spring,
and the caper berry has no effect;
for man is headed to his eternal home,
and mourners will walk around in the street;
Jeremiah chanted a dirge
This is what the Lord of Hosts says:
send for the skillful women.
When Jesus came to the leader’s house, He saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.
Mourning » Hired mourners
Therefore Yahweh, the God of Hosts, the Lord, says:
they will cry out in anguish
The farmer will be called on to mourn,
and professional mourners
the almond tree blossoms,
the grasshopper loses its spring,
and the caper berry has no effect;
for man is headed to his eternal home,
and mourners will walk around in the street;
Jeremiah chanted a dirge
This is what the Lord of Hosts says:
send for the skillful women.
When Jesus came to the leader’s house, He saw the flute players and a crowd lamenting loudly.
Mourning » General references to
David then ordered Joab and all the people who were with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth,
They took 40 days to complete this, for embalming takes that long, and the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days.
When the whole community saw that Aaron had passed away, the entire house of Israel mourned for him 30 days.
The Israelites wept for Moses in the plains of Moab 30 days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses came to an end.
They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening
Mourning » For the dead » Lamentations
When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wept loudly, and Joseph mourned seven days for his father.
During the night Pharaoh got up, he along with all his officials and all the Egyptians, and there was a loud wailing
David and the troops with him wept loudly until they had no strength left to weep.
Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim
“Woe, my brother!” or “Woe, my sister!”
They will not mourn for him, saying,
“Woe, lord! Woe, his majesty!”
Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.
Mourning » For the dead » Cutting the flesh
“You are sons of the Lord your God;
80 men came from Shechem, Shiloh,
You are not to make gashes on your bodies for the dead
The Lord said to Moses: "Speak to Aaron's sons, the priests, and tell them: A priest is not to make himself ceremonially unclean for a [dead] person among his relatives, except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother. He may make himself unclean for his young unmarried sister in his immediate family. read more.
He is not to make himself unclean for those related to him by marriage and so defile himself. "Priests may not make bald spots on their heads, shave the edge of their beards, or make gashes on their bodies.
Both great and small will die in this land without burial. No lament will be made for them, nor will anyone cut himself or shave his head for them. Food won't be provided for the mourner to comfort him because of the dead. A cup of consolation won't be given him because of [the loss of] his father or mother.
Mourning » Covering » The head and the face
But the king hid his face
David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot.
Then Mordecai returned to the King’s Gate,
Their nobles send their servants for water. They go to the cisterns; they find no water; their containers return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. The ground is cracked since no rain [has fallen] on the land. The farmers are ashamed; they cover their heads.
Mourning » Those that mourn
However, if I were you, I would appeal to God and would present my case to Him. He does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number. He gives rain to the earth and sends water to the fields. read more.
He sets the lowly on high, and mourners are lifted to safety.
Mourning » Covering » The upper lip
Groan quietly; do not observe mourning rites for the dead.
“The person afflicted with an infectious skin disease is to have his clothes torn
Then you will do just as I have done: You will not cover your mustache or eat the bread of mourners.
and the diviners disappointed.
They will all cover their mouths
because there will be no answer from God.
Mourning » Caused ceremonial defilement
“You are to remain outside the camp for seven days. All of you and your prisoners who have killed a person or touched the dead are to purify yourselves on the third day and the seventh day.
The Lord said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron’s sons, the priests, and tell them: A priest is not to make himself ceremonially unclean for a dead person among his relatives,
"The person who touches any human corpse will be unclean for seven days. He is to purify himself with the water on the third day and the seventh day; then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself on the third and seventh days, he will not be clean. Anyone who touches a body of a person who has died, and does not purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord. That person will be cut off from Israel. He remains unclean because the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him, and his uncleanness is still on him. read more.
"This is the law when a person dies in a tent: everyone who enters the tent and everyone who is [already] in the tent will be unclean for seven days, and any open container without a lid tied on it is unclean. Anyone in the open field who touches a person who has been killed by the sword or has died, or a human bone, or a grave, will be unclean for seven days.
Mourning » For the dead » Fasting
Then they came to urge David to eat bread while it was still day, but David took an oath: “May God punish me and do so severely if I taste bread or anything else before sunset!”
Afterward, they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree
They mourned, wept, and fasted until the evening
Mourning » Laying the hand on the head
Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long-sleeved garment she was wearing. She put her hand on her head
with your hands on your head
since the Lord has rejected those you trust;
you will not succeed even with their help.
Mourning » Walking barefoot
David was climbing the slope of the Mount of Olives, weeping as he ascended. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot.
during that time the Lord had spoken through Isaiah
Mourning » Wearing mourning clothes
So Joab sent someone to Tekoa
So she took off her widow’s clothes, veiled her face,
Mourning » Cutting or plucking off the hair and beard
When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.
Cut off the hair of your sacred vow
Mourning » Prevented offerings from being accepted
their wine offerings to the Lord,
and their sacrifices will not please Him.
Their food will be like the bread of mourners;
all who eat it become defiled.
For their bread will be for their appetites alone;
it will not enter the house of the Lord.
I have not eaten any of it while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead.
Mourning » For the dead » Head uncovered
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,
“The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained
Mourning » When people mourn
but when the wicked rule, people groan.
Mourning » Sexes separated in
The land will mourn, every family by itself: the family of David’s house by itself and their women by themselves; the family of Nathan’s
all the remaining families, every family by itself, and their women by themselves.
Mourning » Who to mourn with
Mourning » Who shall mourn
But woe to you who are rich, because you have received your comfort. Woe to you who are full now, because you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, because you will mourn and weep.
Mourning » David's lamentations over » The death of saul and his sons
David sang the following lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that the Judahites be taught [The Song of] the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar: The splendor of Israel lies slain on your heights. How the mighty have fallen! read more.
Do not tell it in Gath, don't announce it in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, and the daughters of the uncircumcised will gloat. Mountains of Gilboa, let no dew or rain be on you, or fields of offerings, for there the shield of the mighty was defiled- the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil. Jonathan's bow never retreated, Saul's sword never returned unstained, from the blood of the slain, from the bodies of the mighty. Saul and Jonathan, loved and delightful, they were not parted in life or in death. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. Daughters of Israel, weep for Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with luxurious things, who decked your garments with gold ornaments. How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! Jonathan [lies] slain on your heights. I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother. You were such a friend to me. Your love for me was more wonderful than the love of a woman [for me]. How the mighty have fallen and the weapons of war have perished!
Mourning » David's lamentations over » The death of abner
and the king sang a lament for Abner: Should Abner die as a fool dies? Your hands were not bound, your feet not placed in bronze [shackles]. You fell like one who falls victim to criminals. And all the people wept over him even more.
Mourning » Priests prohibited, except for the nearest of kin
The Lord said to Moses: "Speak to Aaron's sons, the priests, and tell them: A priest is not to make himself ceremonially unclean for a [dead] person among his relatives, except for his immediate family: his mother, father, son, daughter, or brother. He may make himself unclean for his young unmarried sister in his immediate family. read more.
He is not to make himself unclean for those related to him by marriage and so defile himself. "Priests may not make bald spots on their heads, shave the edge of their beards, or make gashes on their bodies. They are to be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, because they present the fire offerings to the Lord, the food of their God. They must be holy. They are not to marry a woman defiled by prostitution or divorced by her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. You are to consider him holy since he presents the food of your God. He will be holy to you because I, the Lord who sets you apart, am holy. If a priest's daughter defiles herself by promiscuity, she defiles her father; she must be burned up. "The priest who is highest among his brothers, who has had the anointing oil poured on his head and has been ordained to wear the garments, must not dishevel his hair or tear his garments. He must not go near any dead person or make himself unclean [even] for his father or mother.
Mourning » David's lamentations over » The death of absalom
Mourning » For the dead » Lying on the ground
David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted, went home, and spent the night lying on the ground.
Mourning » Jeremiah and the singing men and singing women lament for josiah
Jeremiah chanted a dirge
Mourning » The egyptians mourned for jacob for seventy days
Then Joseph, leaning over his father's face, wept and kissed him. He commanded his servants who were physicians to embalm his father. So they embalmed Israel. They took 40 days to complete this, for embalming takes that long, and the Egyptians mourned for him 70 days.
Mourning » Laying aside ornaments
When the people heard this bad news, they mourned and didn’t put on their jewelry.
So the Israelites remained stripped of their jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.
Mourning » Ashes put on the head
and cry out bitterly.
They throw dust on their heads;
they roll in ashes.
Mourning » For the dead » Personal appearance neglected
So Joab sent someone to Tekoa
Mourning » The israelites mourned for aaron for thirty days
When the whole community saw that Aaron had passed away, the entire house of Israel mourned for him 30 days.
Mourning » Sitting on the ground
deserted, she will sit on the ground.
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Mourning » Dressing in black
her gates languish.
Her people are on the ground in mourning;
Jerusalem’s cry rises up.
Mourning » For nadab and abihu forbidden
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,
Mourning » Abraham mourned for sarah
Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron
Mourning » Dust on the head
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell before the ark of the Lord with his face to the ground until evening, as did the elders of Israel; they all put dust on their heads.
Topics on Mourning
Accompaniments Of Mourning
Leviticus 19:27You are not to cut off the hair at the sides of your head or mar the edge of your beard.
Fasting In Mourning
1 Samuel 1:7-8Whenever she went up to the Lord’s house,
Mourning Death
Ecclesiastes 12:5
the almond tree blossoms,
the grasshopper loses its spring,
and the caper berry has no effect;
for man is headed to his eternal home,
and mourners will walk around in the street;
Mourning Due To Catastrophe
Isaiah 24:4
the world wastes away and withers;
the exalted people of the earth waste away.
Mourning In Regret
Numbers 11:4Contemptible people
Mourning The Death Of Christ
Mark 16:10She went and reported to those who had been with Him, as they were mourning and weeping.
Mourning The Death Of Others
Genesis 23:2Sarah died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron
Mourning Turned To Joy
Psalm 30:11
You removed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
Not Mourning
Deuteronomy 26:14I have not eaten any of it while in mourning, or removed any of it while unclean, or offered any of it for the dead.
Others Mourning
Psalm 38:6
all day long I go around in mourning.
People Mourning Catastrophe
1 Samuel 11:4When the messengers came to Gibeah,