Bible Verses About Loneliness

When you feel alone, Scripture insists you are not. These verses about loneliness promise God's nearness in the dark and his commitment never to forsake those who are his.

“And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” — Deuteronomy 31:8 (KJV)

Spoken as Israel prepared to enter Canaan without Moses, who was about to die. Going before and not forsaking are both promised, which addresses two different fears.

“God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.” — Psalm 68:6 (KJV)

God is described as setting the solitary in families — placing rather than merely comforting. It treats isolation as something to be structurally solved.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

The promise never to leave or forsake appears in a passage about contentment and money. The connection drawn is that a person who is never alone needs less.

“Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted.” — Psalm 25:16 (KJV)

Desolate and afflicted is how the psalmist describes himself while asking God to turn toward him. Loneliness is named to God rather than solved before praying.

“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” — Genesis 2:18 (KJV)

The first thing called not good in Scripture is a person being alone, before anything had gone wrong. It establishes loneliness as a design problem, not a character flaw.

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” — Psalm 27:10 (KJV)

When father and mother forsake me — the psalm names the most fundamental abandonment available. What follows is not consolation but a transfer of custody.

“Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” — Matthew 28:20 (KJV)

The final sentence of Matthew's Gospel, given to eleven men about to scatter across the world. Alway is qualified as unto the end, which closes the loophole.

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” — Psalm 139:7-10 (KJV)

The psalmist tests every direction of escape — heaven, hell, the sea — and finds each already occupied. Written as wonder rather than as complaint.

“I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” — John 14:18 (KJV)

I will not leave you comfortless translates a word meaning orphaned. Jesus chose the family term for the disciples' coming situation.

“I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.” — Psalm 142:4 (KJV)

No man cared for my soul was written from a cave while David was hunted. It is the most exact sentence in Scripture about feeling unseen.

“At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” — 2 Timothy 4:16-17 (KJV)

At his first defence no man stood with him, and Paul asks that it not be laid to their charge. He then says the Lord stood with him, using the same verb.

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” — Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly, followed by a friend closer than a brother. The proverb puts effort and gift side by side.

“I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top.” — Psalm 102:7 (KJV)

A sparrow alone upon the housetop — a bird that is normally never solitary. The image works because the loneliness is out of character for the creature.

“When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.” — Isaiah 41:17 (KJV)

The poor and needy seek water and there is none, and God answers that he will hear them. Need is described before provision, without hurrying past it.

“Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.” — Psalm 73:23 (KJV)

Nevertheless I am continually with thee turns a psalm about envy and bitterness at its hinge. The word nevertheless carries the whole argument.

“Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” — 1 Kings 19:18 (KJV)

Elijah believed he was the only faithful person left; God corrected the number to seven thousand. Loneliness is treated here as partly a failure of information.

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Frequently asked questions

What does the Bible say about loneliness?

The 16 passages gathered on this page are the ones readers turn to most on loneliness: Deuteronomy 31:8, Psalm 68:6, Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 25:16, Genesis 2:18, Psalm 27:10, Matthew 28:20, Psalm 139:7-10, John 14:18, Psalm 142:4, 2 Timothy 4:16-17, Proverbs 18:24, Psalm 102:7, Isaiah 41:17…

What is a good Bible verse about loneliness?

Deuteronomy 31:8 is the passage most often quoted on loneliness, with Psalm 68:6 and Hebrews 13:5 close behind. Which one helps depends on whether you need reassurance, instruction or simply company.

Where can I read these loneliness verses?

You can read all of these verses about loneliness — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.