After the loss of a loved one, being asked to speak at their funeral can be challenging while also in the midst of your grief. You may find it difficult to know what to say, and worried you may become too emotional or say the wrong thing. Bible verses are one resource that you can lean on when you want to deliver a message that is meaningful and special.
There are numerous Bible verses that deal with the topic of death and dying that can be used at a funeral and included in eulogies to bring comfort. Bible verses on death and dying also give a sense of relief to those experiencing grief and loss, as they can give hope that this is not the end for their loved one.
There are two main types of Bible verses that may be used during a funeral speech. The first type focuses on the loss and death of a loved one, and the second focuses on comforting those who mourn.
Trust & Will, a leading online service for legal forms and estate planning, knows how difficult it can be to figure out what to say at a funeral, and we want to help relieve this stress by giving you a list of Bible verses that are appropriate for a funeral.
Bible Verses on Loss and Death
Bible verses specifically on the topic of the death of a loved one can help put words to the loss you are feeling and help give you closure. Below, Trust & Will has provided a list of Bible verses surrounding death and what it means for those who died, along with brief explanations on the message and significance of the passages.
“We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 5:8 (NIV)
In this verse, the apostle Paul expresses that it is not life on earth that those who follow Christ are most concerned with. Instead, it is being with God that brings Christ’s followers comfort. It is stating that it would be less preferable to stay on earth than to be with the Lord, which will bring true peace. These words can console those grieving with the knowledge that their loved ones are with the Lord.
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (NIV)
Spoken by Jesus, this verse explains that those who believe in Him will never truly die. Jesus is saying that because He was resurrected, we can now enter into eternal heaven with the Lord. This knowledge can be helpful when spoken at a funeral because even though our loved ones may have left us, they are not truly gone. We can find hope and closure in the knowledge that we will be reunited with our loved ones who have passed.
“For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”
1 Thessalonians 4:14 (NIV)
Here, it is acknowledged that God will not forsake those who have passed, and instead He will take them into heaven with Jesus. Through this statement, peace is given to those attending the funeral, as they are given the belief their loved ones are not alone in death.
The afterlife often seems confusing and vague to those on earth. Each of these verses give those who are feeling the pain of loss more knowledge as to what may happen after death, and gives them something concrete to hold onto.
From the Old Testament: “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NKJV)
Bible Verses on Comforting for Those in Mourning
It can be beneficial to include verses at a funeral that are specifically focusing on those who are left behind and mourning. These types of Bible verses can give a unique form of comfort to loved ones because instead of focusing on the ones who have passed, they are addressing those left behind to grieve. Trust & Will has listed below verses that focus on those who mourn.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
People who are suffering after the loss of a loved one can find encouragement in Jesus’s words here, as He explains that those who mourn are blessed. Jesus states that comfort will be given to those experiencing loss, making this verse an uplifting message to give in your speech.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 (NIV)
This sentiment from Psalm 34 reminds us that the Lord will console us and bring us out of our pain. It gives us the assurance that those who are mourning will not be forgotten by the Lord, and that He will stand by them through their grief. This reminder that those suffering are not alone is a reassuring message to share at a funeral.
“‘He will wipe away 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.”
Revelation 21:4 (NIV)
The comfort of this verse is poignant, as it explains that there will come a time where mourning and grief will no longer exist because God said it will be so. Those suffering loss will find strength in these words as they can trust that there will be a day where the pain will pass. This knowledge has the potential to help alleviate pain and therefore would be a verse worth considering to include at your loved one’s funeral.
Saying goodbye to a loved one is a painful experience, and we at Trust & Will hope that these Bible verses can help to bring you and your loved ones comfort as you lay to rest one of your own. Preparing to say goodbye to a loved one is a complex and painful process, and Trust & Will is here to help you through it. With online Estate Planning and online Will documents, Trust & Will makes your estate planning preparation affordable and easy.
Share this article