During a recent ministry course in which our curriculum required of my classmates and I to arrange and host live, but scenario-based funerals, I was reminded of how powerful Scripture can be in times of death and loss. After losing my own mother to cancer when I was 15, these Bible verses for funerals still resonate with me, some of which were shared at her own memorial. Thus, these 20 Bible verses for funerals are aimed at providing a biblical source of encouragement and comfort, all of which can be used appropriately throughout a funeral service.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (#1 of 20 Bible Verses for Funerals) 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our
lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
1 Peter 5:7 (#2 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals)
7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
John 14:1-3(#3 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
1 Peter 1:3-9 (#3 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, 5who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Psalm 91:1-2 (#4 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Romans 8:35-39 (#5 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Philippians 4:7 (#6 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Psalm9:10(#7 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 10Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.
1 Corinthians 15:50-55 (#8 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed- 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
Psalm 23 (#9 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, 3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake. 4Even 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. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Psalm 46:1-3; 10 (#10 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 1God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging…10“Be still, and know that I am God…”
2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (#11 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 1Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
1 John 1:1-3(#12 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched-this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Revelation 21:1-5(#13 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” 5He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
John14:27(#14 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 27Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
Isaiah 41:10 (#15 of 15 Bible Verses for Funerals) 10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Bible Verses for Funerals Note: If you have any suggestions of Bible verses for funerals that others would find helpful, please share them in the comments section below.
