153 Bible verses about Helping Widows

The Bible's stories and teachings about widows really show God's love and compassion. 1 Timothy 5:3 urges us to honor widows. That means truly seeing their situation, having empathy, and offering respect and support.

James 1:27 describes pure and faultless religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress. It's about being there for them in tough times, offering comfort and help.

The Bible also teaches that widows should be cared for by their families and protected by the church. So, let's keep God's word in our hearts and be a reflection of His goodness to those women grieving the loss of a loved one. Let's be a shoulder to cry on, and most importantly, let's pray for them. Pray that God's Holy Spirit strengthens them.

And let's not just offer comforting words. Let's also provide practical support, whether it's food, clothing, or whatever they might need. Widows go through incredibly difficult times and need our help to keep going.

Let's bless their lives, their homes, their children, and leave a positive mark on their hearts. Let's show them they're not alone in this world.

Honor widows who are truly in need.

Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their misfortune and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

“You must not afflict any widow or orphan.If you afflict them in any way and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry,and my anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children will be fatherless.

Learn to do what is right! Promote justice! Give the oppressed reason to celebrate! Take up the cause of the orphan! Defend the rights of the widow!

“You must not afflict any widow or orphan.

who justly treats the orphan and widow, and who loves resident foreigners, giving them food and clothing.

The Lord protects those residing outside their native land; he lifts up the fatherless and the widow, but he opposes the wicked.

Then the Levites (because they have no allotment or inheritance with you), the resident foreigners, the orphans, and the widows of your villages may come and eat their fill so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work you do.

“I will come to you in judgment. I will be quick to testify against those who practice divination, those who commit adultery, those who break promises, and those who exploit workers, widows, and orphans, who refuse to help the immigrant and in this way show they do not fear me,” says the Lord who rules over all.

The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he maintains the boundaries of the widow.

Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds! For the Lord is his name! Rejoice before him!He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace.

You must change the way you have been living and do what is right. You must treat one another fairly.Stop oppressing foreigners who live in your land, children who have lost their fathers, and women who have lost their husbands. Stop killing innocent people in this land. Stop paying allegiance to other gods. That will only bring about your ruin.If you stop doing these things, I will allow you to continue to live in this land which I gave to your ancestors as a lasting possession.

So I want younger women to marry, raise children, and manage a household, in order to give the adversary no opportunity to vilify us.

for I rescued the poor who cried out for help, and the orphan who had no one to assist him;the blessing of the dying man descended on me, and I made the widow’s heart rejoice;

He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace.

He gave her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the saints and widows and presented her alive.

Do not move an ancient boundary stone, or take over the fields of the fatherless,for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you.

to keep the poor from getting fair treatment, and to deprive the oppressed among my people of justice, so they can steal what widows own, and loot what belongs to orphans.

The Lord says, “Do what is just and right. Deliver those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Do not exploit or mistreat foreigners who live in your land, children who have no fathers, or widows. Do not kill innocent people in this land.

To crush underfoot all the earth’s prisoners,to deprive a person of his rights in the presence of the Most High,

You must not oppress the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, or the poor, nor should anyone secretly plot evil against his fellow human being.’

Honor widows who are truly in need.But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn to fulfill their duty toward their own household and so repay their parents what is owed them. For this is what pleases God.

If a believing woman has widows in her family, let her help them. The church should not be burdened, so that it may help the widows who are truly in need.

As he approached the town gate, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother (who was a widow), and a large crowd from the town was with her.When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”Then he came up and touched the bier, and those who carried it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”So the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny.He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others.For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”

He heals the brokenhearted, and bandages their wounds.

Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!

I want you to share your food with the hungry and to provide shelter for homeless, oppressed people. When you see someone naked, clothe him! Don’t turn your back on your own flesh and blood!

For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.

But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?

And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’

If you faint in the day of trouble, your strength is small!Deliver those being taken away to death, and hold back those slipping to the slaughter.If you say, “But we did not know about this,” does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?

for the needy are not permanently ignored, the hopes of the oppressed are not forever dashed.

You must not pervert justice due a resident foreigner or an orphan, or take a widow’s garment as security for a loan.

Your officials are rebels, they associate with thieves. All of them love bribery, and look for payoffs. They do not take up the cause of the orphan, or defend the rights of the widow.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,

Contribute to the needs of the saints, pursue hospitality.

In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

They requested only that we remember the poor, the very thing I also was eager to do.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, he became poor for your sakes, so that you by his poverty could become rich.

I was once young, now I am old. I have never seen a godly man abandoned, or his children forced to search for food.

because he stands at the right hand of the needy, to deliver him from those who threaten his life.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food,and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it?

Command those who are rich in this world’s goods not to be haughty or to set their hope on riches, which are uncertain, but on God who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.In this way they will save up a treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the future and so lay hold of what is truly life.

Brotherly love must continue.We have an altar that those who serve in the tabernacle have no right to eat from.For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp.Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp.We must go out to him, then, outside the camp, bearing the abuse he experienced.For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, acknowledging his name.And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to conduct ourselves rightly in every respect.I especially ask you to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.

“Be careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven.may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today our daily bread,and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.“For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.“When you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,so that it will not be obvious to others when you are fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.“The eye is the lamp of the body. If then your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life?Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin.Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith?So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience,

Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Turn toward me and have mercy on me, for I am alone and oppressed!

How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.As for you, O Lord, have mercy on me and raise me up, so I can pay them back!”By this I know that you are pleased with me, for my enemy does not triumph over me.As for me, you uphold me because of my integrity; you allow me permanent access to your presence.The Lord God of Israel deserves praise in the future and forevermore! We agree! We agree!May the Lord protect him and save his life! May he be blessed in the land! Do not turn him over to his enemies!The Lord supports him on his sickbed; you completely heal him from his illness.

For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

The one who gives to the poor will not lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.

She extends her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy.

Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which in translation means Dorcas). She was continually doing good deeds and acts of charity.At that time she became sick and died. When they had washed her body, they placed it in an upstairs room.Because Lydda was near Joppa, when the disciples heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Come to us without delay.”So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them.

‘Cursed is the one who perverts justice for the resident foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Amen!’

But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him.He went up to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

vindicates the oppressed, and gives food to the hungry. The Lord releases the imprisoned.

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,

But the widow who is truly in need, and completely on her own, has set her hope on God and continues in her pleas and prayers night and day.

Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

The Lord does what is fair, and executes justice for all the oppressed.

But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

if it is exhortation, he must exhort; if it is contributing, he must do so with sincerity; if it is leadership, he must do so with diligence; if it is showing mercy, he must do so with cheerfulness.

We love because he loved us first.

For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh, but through love serve one another.

Give me understanding so that I might observe your law, and keep it with all my heart.

In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

Rescue the poor and needy! Deliver them from the power of the wicked!

And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple, I tell you the truth, he will never lose his reward.”

But when you host an elaborate meal, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.Then you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Just as it is written, “He has scattered widely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness remains forever.”

How blessed is the one who treats the poor properly! When trouble comes, the Lord delivers him.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you?When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’But the wise ones took flasks of olive oil with their lamps.And the king will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me.’“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink.I was a stranger and you did not receive me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not give you whatever you needed?’Then he will answer them, ‘I tell you the truth, just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for me.’And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you.

Even if my father and mother abandoned me, the Lord would take me in.

Each of you should be concerned not only about your own interests, but about the interests of others as well.

Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God.

Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help.

Everything you do should be done in love.

Whenever you reap your harvest in your field and leave some unraked grain there, you must not return to get it; it should go to the resident foreigner, orphan, and widow so that the Lord your God may bless all the work you do.

and they began selling their property and possessions and distributing the proceeds to everyone, as anyone had need.

But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.

Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying.Open your mouth, judge in righteousness, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Even when I must walk in the midst of danger, you revive me. You oppose my angry enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.

So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

As for you, the one who lives in the shelter of the sovereign One, and resides in the protective shadow of the mighty king –

You must actively help the hungry and feed the oppressed. Then your light will dispel the darkness, and your darkness will be transformed into noonday.

John answered them, “The person who has two tunics must share with the person who has none, and the person who has food must do likewise.”

So then, let us pursue what makes for peace and for building up one another.

So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself.

As for those who are bent on traveling a sinful path, may the Lord remove them, along with those who behave wickedly! May Israel experience peace!

bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if someone happens to have a complaint against anyone else. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also forgive others.

Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.

The spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, because the Lord has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners,

He will not break a bruised reed or extinguish a smoldering wick, until he brings justice to victory.

Tell them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous givers, sharing with others.

Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple eat food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar receive a part of the offerings?In the same way the Lord commanded those who proclaim the gospel to receive their living by the gospel.

I will be secure, for I seek your precepts.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

I will be happy and rejoice in your faithfulness, because you notice my pain and you are aware of how distressed I am.

and has a reputation for good works: as one who has raised children, practiced hospitality, washed the feet of the saints, helped those in distress – as one who has exhibited all kinds of good works.

My brothers and sisters, do not show prejudice if you possess faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

Give to the one who asks you, and do not reject the one who wants to borrow from you.

Can a woman forget her baby who nurses at her breast? Can she withhold compassion from the child she has borne? Even if mothers were to forget, I could never forget you!

He is a father to the fatherless and an advocate for widows. God rules from his holy palace.God settles those who have been deserted in their own homes; he frees prisoners and grants them prosperity. But sinful rebels live in the desert.

If I give away everything I own, and if I give over my body in order to boast, but do not have love, I receive no benefit.

The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.

May your loyal love console me, as you promised your servant.

For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control.

For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

It goes well for the one who generously lends money, and conducts his business honestly.

And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.

“Do not accumulate for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.Thus whenever you do charitable giving, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, they have their reward.But accumulate for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred.

The Lord is good to all, and has compassion on all he has made.

I will abundantly supply what she needs; I will give her poor all the food they need.

All day long he shows compassion and lends to others, and his children are blessed.

and maintain good conduct among the non-Christians, so that though they now malign you as wrongdoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God when he appears.

We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down his life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians.But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue but in deed and truth.

And let us take thought of how to spur one another on to love and good works,not abandoning our own meetings, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and even more so because you see the day drawing near.

For I long to see you, so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,

Remove me from the path of deceit! Graciously give me your law!

So then, be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

You have taken notice, for you always see one who inflicts pain and suffering. The unfortunate victim entrusts his cause to you; you deliver the fatherless.

But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

I am dazed and completely humiliated; all day long I walk around mourning.

You hide them with you, where they are safe from the attacks of men; you conceal them in a shelter, where they are safe from slanderous attacks.

who comforts us in all our troubles so that we may be able to comfort those experiencing any trouble with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves purses that do not wear out – a treasure in heaven that never decreases, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

But be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.

because of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

For the one who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough. But the one who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Then you will call out, and the Lord will respond; you will cry out, and he will reply, ‘Here I am.’ You must remove the burdensome yoke from among you and stop pointing fingers and speaking sinfully.

The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

Defend the cause of the poor and the fatherless! Vindicate the oppressed and suffering!Rescue the poor and needy! Deliver them from the power of the wicked!

For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!

For he has satisfied those who thirst, and those who hunger he has filled with food.

because the service of this ministry is not only providing for the needs of the saints but is also overflowing with many thanks to God.

So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his loyal love endures.

nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Prayer