Before surgery, many Christians pray Psalm 57:1, "in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast", and Deuteronomy 33:27, "underneath are the everlasting arms". While someone is in the operating room, family can pray "The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble" (Psalm 20:1). For recovery, God promises "I will bring it health and cure" (Jeremiah 33:6).
Surgery has a way of making everything feel out of your control. You sign the forms, take off your rings, and hand your body over to people you may have met only once. Whether it is a routine procedure or a major operation, the night before can be long, and the hours in the waiting room can feel longer. People look up Bible verses for surgery to read before they go in, to text to a friend or family member, to write in a get-well card, or to pray over a child being wheeled away. These twelve King James verses are arranged for each stage: before, during and after. For general healing Scripture, see healing; for the long road back, see strength and healing.
Before surgery: resting in God's care
1. Psalms 57:1
"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast."
David wrote this psalm hiding in a cave from King Saul (see the psalm's title). The picture is a mother bird gathering her chicks under her wings. Until these calamities be overpast admits the danger is real and will take time to pass. It is an honest prayer for the night before an operation: I am afraid, and I am sheltering in You until this is over.
2. Deuteronomy 33:27
"The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them."
These are among Moses' last words to Israel, part of the blessing he spoke before he died. When you are lying on a gurney, underneath are the everlasting arms is more than poetry. Whatever happens under anaesthesia, while you are unaware of anything, God is holding you. Many people whisper this verse as they count backwards in the operating room.
3. Psalms 139:5
"Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me."
Psalm 139 celebrates a God who knows us completely. Behind and before means God is with you in what led up to this surgery and in whatever comes after it. Laid thine hand upon me: the surgeons will lay hands on you too, but there is another hand over all of theirs. The same psalm says God formed every part of you in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16).
4. Psalms 91:4
"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
Psalm 91 is a classic psalm of protection, often read in hospitals and on the night before an operation. The wings are tender; the shield and buckler are strong. God's care is both. Read honestly, the psalm does not promise that believers never face illness or death, but that nothing can separate them from His keeping. See protection.
During the operation: for the surgeon and the family waiting
5. Psalms 20:1
"The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;"
Psalm 20 is a prayer spoken over someone else, originally the king going into battle. That makes it ideal for family and friends: you can pray it aloud over the person you love before they go in, or text it to them. The day of trouble is today, and the God of Jacob, who met a frightened man on his worst night, can be trusted with it.
6. Psalms 62:1
"Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation."
The waiting room is its own kind of trial: hours of nothing, with only the update screen and the vending machine. Truly my soul waiteth upon God turns waiting into prayer. The Hebrew carries the sense of silence, a soul quietly resting. You may not be able to do anything for the patient right now, but you can wait on God for them. See waiting on God.
7. Isaiah 38:21
"For Isaiah had said, Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaister upon the boil, and he shall recover."
King Hezekiah was dying, and God promised to add fifteen years to his life (Isaiah 38:5). Then the prophet Isaiah prescribed a poultice of figs on the boil (also in 2 Kings 20:7). God's healing and medical treatment were not rivals. Praying for the surgical team and trusting their skill go together. Luke, who wrote a Gospel and Acts, was "the beloved physician" (Colossians 4:14).
8. Mark 1:41
"And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean."
A man with leprosy, someone nobody touched, begged Jesus for healing. Jesus, moved with compassion, reached out and touched him first. Pray this verse for the hands of the surgeon, the anaesthetist and the nurses: that they would be steady, skilled and moved with compassion. And take comfort that Jesus is not reluctant to help. His answer was I will.
After surgery: recovery and thanks
9. Jeremiah 33:6
"Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth."
God spoke these words to Jerusalem while it was under siege and Jeremiah was in prison. The promise was first for a ruined city, but it reveals God's heart: He brings health and cure. As you recover, remember that healing often comes slowly, through rest, physiotherapy, medication and time, and that God is at work in all of them.
10. Psalms 116:6
"The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me."
I was brought low, and he helped me. That is the testimony of many people after surgery: weak, sore and humbled, yet helped. Psalm 116 was written by someone who had been close to death (Psalm 116:3) and lived to tell about it. If you feel frustrated by how slowly you are regaining strength, this psalm gives you permission to be weak and to receive help.
11. Psalms 145:14
"The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down."
Recovery can feel like falling down over and over: the first walk down the hallway, the first shower, the days when the pain comes back. God upholdeth all that fall. He does not wait for you to be strong before He helps. He lifts those who are bowed down, physically and emotionally. A good verse to put on a card or a bedside table.
12. Psalms 116:12
"What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?"
When the surgery is over and the news is good, gratitude is the natural response. The psalmist asks what he can give back, and answers in the next verses: he will call on the LORD's name, keep his promises and worship among God's people (Psalm 116:13-14). Thank God, and thank the people He worked through. See gratitude.
A short prayer
Lord, I place this surgery in Your hands. Calm my fears tonight and give me rest. Guide the hands and minds of the surgeon, the anaesthetist, the nurses and everyone in the operating room; make them skilled, careful and compassionate. Comfort my family while they wait. Hold me under Your wings while I cannot hold on to anything, and bring health and healing in the days ahead. Whatever happens, I am Yours. 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.
Keep track of prayers and answers during recovery with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Print our free Psalm 23 printable for the hospital bedside · Print our free Bible verse bookmarks
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Bible verse to read before surgery?
Psalm 57:1 and Deuteronomy 33:27 are two of the best, because they picture God sheltering and holding you while you are helpless. Many people also read Psalm 23, Isaiah 41:10 or Philippians 4:6-7 the night before. Choose one short verse you can repeat as you are taken into the operating room, and write it on a card if that helps.
What verse can I send to someone having surgery?
Psalm 20:1 is ideal because it is written as a blessing over someone else: "The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee". Add a short personal message, such as Praying for you and your surgeon today, and follow up afterwards. For a get-well card, Psalm 145:14 or Jeremiah 33:6 work well.
How do I pray for a surgeon?
Pray for wisdom, steady hands, clear judgment, good rest the night before and a team that works well together. Pray that the surgeon would be moved with compassion like Jesus (Mark 1:41), and thank God for their years of training. The Bible never sets prayer against medicine: Isaiah prescribed treatment for Hezekiah even as God promised healing (Isaiah 38:21).
What if the surgery does not go as I hoped?
Complications and hard news happen even to people who prayed faithfully, and they are not a sign that God has abandoned you or that your faith was too small. Psalm 116 was written by someone who knew "The sorrows of death compassed me" (Psalm 116:3). Bring your disappointment to God honestly, ask your medical team every question you have, and let your church carry you. See suffering and strength in hard times.
Follow your surgeon's and care team's instructions before and after your operation, and ask them about anything that worries you. Prayer and medical care go together. If you have severe pain, fever, bleeding or trouble breathing after surgery, call your doctor or 911.
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: Healing · Strength and healing · Health · Protection · Fear · Anxiety · Peace · Praying for others
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