"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another" (1 Thessalonians 5:11). "Exhort one another daily, while it is called To day" (Hebrews 3:13). "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad" (Proverbs 12:25). "Bear ye one another's burdens" (Galatians 6:2).
Most of us can remember a word that came at the right moment: a text, a card, a hand on the shoulder. Scripture does not treat encouragement as a nice extra; it is a daily command and one of the ways God carries His people. These twelve King James verses are about encouraging others: the call to build one another up, the kind of words that lift, and the encouragers of the Bible whose example we can follow. If you need encouragement yourself today, start with our Bible verses for encouragement.
God calls us to encourage one another
1. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
Paul tells a young church to comfort and edify one another, then adds, even as also ye do. Encouragement is not a special gift for a few; it is ordinary work for every believer, and it is worth continuing even when you are already doing it.
2. Hebrews 3:13
"But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin."
Exhort one another daily. The reason is serious: hearts harden slowly through the deceitfulness of sin. A regular word of encouragement helps keep a friend's heart soft toward God.
3. Romans 1:12
"That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me."
Even the apostle Paul expected to be encouraged by the believers he visited: comforted together by the mutual faith both of you and me. Encouragement flows both ways, so let others encourage you too.
4. Galatians 6:2
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
Bear ye one another's burdens. Sometimes the most encouraging thing is not a sentence but help: a meal, a ride, a shared load. Carrying a weight together fulfils the law of Christ.
Words that lift others up
5. Proverbs 12:25
"Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad."
Anxiety bends a person low, but a good word makes the heart glad. Never underestimate a short, sincere sentence; it can lift a weight you cannot see.
6. Proverbs 16:24
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones. Kind words do more than feel nice; they bring real refreshment to tired people.
7. Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
Paul gives a simple filter for speech: say what is good to the use of edifying, so that it ministers grace to the hearers. Before you send a message, ask whether it will build up.
8. Isaiah 50:4
"The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned."
The Servant of the LORD was given the tongue of the learned to speak a word in season to him that is weary, and His ear was wakened morning by morning. Good encouragers listen to God first, then speak.
Encouragers in the Bible
9. 1 Samuel 23:16
"And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God."
Jonathan went to David in the wood, while David was hunted and hiding, and strengthened his hand in God. He did not just cheer David up; he pointed him back to the LORD.
10. Job 4:4
"Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees."
Even Eliphaz remembered that Job's words had upheld him that was falling and strengthened the feeble knees. Your words of encouragement may be remembered for years.
11. Acts 11:23
"Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord."
Barnabas, whose name means son of consolation (Acts 4:36), saw the grace of God in new believers, was glad, and urged them to cleave unto the Lord. Notice grace in others and tell them.
12. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
"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."
God comforts us in all our tribulation so that we can comfort others with the same comfort. Your hardest seasons can become the place you are most able to encourage someone else.
A short prayer
Lord, thank You for the people who have encouraged me. Open my eyes to the weary around me, and give me a word in season for them. Make my words like honey, help me carry someone's burden this week, and point them to You. In Jesus' name, amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Download our free SOAP study page · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal · Carry a verse with our Scripture Memory Cards
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about encouraging others?
Scripture commands it: "edify one another" (1 Thessalonians 5:11) and "exhort one another daily" (Hebrews 3:13). It also says kind words heal (Proverbs 16:24) and that God comforts us so we can comfort others (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
What is a good Bible verse to send to encourage someone?
Short verses work best in a text or card: "Be strong, fear not" (Isaiah 35:4), Proverbs 12:25, or Philemon 1:7, where Paul thanks a friend because "the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother" (Philemon 1:7). Add one personal sentence of your own.
Who was the great encourager in the Bible?
Barnabas. The apostles nicknamed him "The son of consolation" (Acts 4:36). He vouched for Paul when others were afraid, and he encouraged the new church in Antioch (Acts 11:23).
How is this page different from verses for encouragement?
Our encouragement page gathers verses to lift you up. This page is about how to encourage others, with verses on kind words, bearing burdens, and Bible examples to follow.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Bible verses for encouragement · Bible verses about praying for others · Bible verses about helping other people · Bible verses about friendship · Bible verses about community · Bible verses about strength in hard times
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
