Funeral Bible verses
The scriptures most often read at a funeral are Psalm 23, John 14:1-3 ("In my Father's house are many mansions"), John 11:25-26, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, Romans 8:38-39 and Revelation 21:4. For an obituary or program, families often choose 2 Timothy 4:7 or Revelation 14:13.
A funeral usually has one to three Scripture readings, read by a minister, family member or friend. The first group below lists the passages most often chosen for a reading at the service. The others are shorter verses for the printed program, the obituary or a headstone, and verses of comfort to write in a sympathy card.
If you are planning a service, ask the minister or family which readings they would like; many churches have their own customary passages. Every verse below is the King James Version text.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2 · KJV
Readings for the funeral service
Each of these is suitable for a reading at the service.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 23Perhaps the most familiar funeral reading: the LORD is my shepherd, through the valley of the shadow of death. Suitable for a reading.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:1-3Jesus to his disciples: let not your heart be troubled; I go to prepare a place for you. Suitable for a reading.
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 11:25-26Jesus to Martha after her brother Lazarus had lain in the grave four days: I am the resurrection, and the life. Often read as the service begins.
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh. Suitable for a reading.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39Neither death, nor life, nor anything else shall be able to separate us from the love of God. Suitable for a reading.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Corinthians 15:51-55We shall all be changed, in the twinkling of an eye: O death, where is thy sting? Suitable for a reading.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 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 21:3-4God shall wipe away all tears, and there shall be no more death. Suitable for a reading.
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
Psalm 121My help cometh from the LORD, who shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in. Suitable for a reading.
Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Psalm 90:1-2Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations, a reading often paired with Psalm 23.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
2 Timothy 4:7-8Paul near the end of his life: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course. Suitable for a short reading.
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. 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 4:13-14Paul writes so that believers sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. Suitable for a short reading.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27Peace I leave with you, a short reading or closing word.
Verses for an obituary, program or headstone
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Revelation 14:13Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, that they may rest from their labours.
Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
Psalm 116:15Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Matthew 25:21Well done, thou good and faithful servant, from the parable of the talents, often used for a faithful life.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8Absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
Proverbs 31:28-29Her children arise up, and call her blessed, a common choice for a mother or grandmother.
The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
Proverbs 10:7The memory of the just is blessed.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
Psalm 90:12Teach us to number our days, a quiet line for the back of a program.
Comfort for those who grieve
Verses to write in a sympathy card or read with the family.
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
Psalm 34:18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart.
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Psalm 147:3He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 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 1:3-4The God of all comfort comforts us so we can comfort others.
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 30:5Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10Fear thou not; for I am with thee, I will strengthen thee.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.
Lamentations 3:32Though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion, from a book written in grief.
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
Psalm 73:26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart.
The hope of the resurrection
Verses Christians turn to for hope beyond death.
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Job 19:25-26Job, having lost his children, says: I know that my redeemer liveth.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
John 5:24He that believeth hath everlasting life and is passed from death unto life.
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 25:8He will swallow up death in victory and wipe away tears from off all faces.
For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 Corinthians 5:1If this earthly house is dissolved, we have a building of God, eternal in the heavens.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
John 10:27-28My sheep shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Philippians 1:23To depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.
For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
Romans 14:8Whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
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Common questions
What is the most common Bible verse read at funerals?
Psalm 23 is probably the most familiar funeral reading. John 14:1-3 and John 11:25-26 are close behind.
What scripture is good for a funeral program?
Short verses work best: Revelation 14:13, 2 Timothy 4:7, Psalm 116:15, or Matthew 25:21, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." For a mother, many families choose Proverbs 31:28.
How many scripture readings are there at a funeral?
Most services have one to three readings, often one from the Old Testament (such as Psalm 23) and one from the New Testament (such as John 14). Customs differ between churches, so ask the minister.
What Bible verse comforts someone who is grieving?
Matthew 5:4, "Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted," and Psalm 34:18, "The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart," are both short enough for a sympathy card.
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