Bible Verses About Death: What Scripture Says About Dying and Eternal Life
Scripture does not tiptoe around death. It names it, grieves it, and then answers it with a promise. These verses are grouped so you can find what you need — a line for a funeral program, a passage for the hospital room, or a word to steady you in the days after.
Death Is Not the End
"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." — John 11:25–26 (KJV)
"When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come to pass: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?’" — 1 Corinthians 15:54–55 (BSB)
"For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands." — 2 Corinthians 5:1 (BSB)
"For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." — Philippians 1:21 (BSB)
In the Valley
"Even 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." — Psalm 23:4 (BSB)
"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints." — Psalm 116:15 (BSB)
"To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot" — Ecclesiastes 3:1–2 (BSB)
"If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord." — Romans 14:8 (BSB)
What God Promises
"‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." — Revelation 21:4 (BSB)
"He will swallow up death forever. The Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from every face and remove the disgrace of His people from the whole earth. For the LORD has spoken." — Isaiah 25:8 (BSB)
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither 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." — Romans 8:38–39 (BSB)
"Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him." — 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 (BSB)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am." — John 14:1–3 (BSB)
Numbering Our Days
"So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom." — Psalm 90:12 (BSB)
"Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest, lying down in death." — Isaiah 57:2 (BSB)
How to Use These Verses
For a funeral, John 11:25–26 and Revelation 21:4 are the two most-read passages on this page; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 is the one that gives grief its permission and its limit in a single breath. At a bedside, read Psalm 23:4 slowly — it is written for exactly that room. For a full set of readings arranged for a service, see our funeral Bible verses and the whole-psalm readings in psalms for funerals; for the weeks that follow, the Bible verses about grief and comforting Bible verses pick up where this page leaves off. Pray them alongside a prayer for those who mourn or the prayer for the loss of a loved one. Every translation quoted here is public domain, so you can reprint any verse in a program or card without permission.