Bible verse for heartbreak
Going through heartbreak? Here are the Bible verses people turn to most for a broken heart — with context, a short prayer for each, and why they fit.
"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite..." Isaiah 61:1 and Psalm 147:3 are the two verses that pair with it most often, below.
Why this one: it names a broken heart specifically, rather than a general hardship.
Why this one: "bind up" suggests active care and healing over time, not a single moment of relief.
Why this one: pairing a wound-binding image with cosmic power suggests your particular heartbreak isn't too small to matter.
More on heartbreak and Scripture
Heartbreak takes time, not just a verse, and these three passages don't pretend otherwise — what they offer is company inside it rather than a way to skip past it. Psalm 34:18 places God specifically with the brokenhearted, not at a distance waiting for the breaking to pass. Nearness is the claim, in the middle of the break, not after it's resolved.
Isaiah 61:1 — later read by Jesus about Himself in Luke 4 — describes good news brought specifically to the brokenhearted, among others in real distress. It's not generic good news; it's aimed at people in exactly this condition. Psalm 147:3 repeats the same physical, tender language found in the grief passages — healing and binding wounds — because heartbreak and grief often overlap, even when the loss isn't a death.
A relationship ending, trust broken, a hope that didn't come through — all of it can carry real grief, and these verses don't require the loss to look a particular way to count. Whatever kind of heartbreak brought you here, there's no timeline attached to these verses. Nearness now, healing over time — that's the shape of the promise, and it doesn't require you to be finished hurting first.
KJV text is public domain. Scripture quotations taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked ESV are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bible verse for heartbreak?
Psalm 34:18 is the one most people reach for first — it names a broken heart specifically, rather than a general hardship.
Where else does the Bible talk about heartbreak?
Isaiah 61:1 and Psalm 147:3 are the two verses most often read alongside Psalm 34:18 on this topic, each adding a different angle.
Is there a short prayer for heartbreak?
Yes — each verse on this page includes a short prayer written to go with it, meant as a starting point rather than something to recite word for word.
Explore the whole Calcs family here.
Try the Bible Verse Finder.