A curated set of Bible verses on hope, organized for quick reference. Each verse is in the King James Version and linked to BibleGateway for the surrounding context. For the longer treatment, see our full article on what the Bible says about hope.
The hope of Israel (Old Testament)
“This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” — Lamentations 3:21–23 KJV
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” — Jeremiah 29:11 KJV
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” — Psalm 42:11 KJV
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:31 KJV
“My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.” — Psalm 130:6 KJV
“Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.” — Jeremiah 17:7 KJV
“For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth.” — Psalm 71:5 KJV
“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” — Psalm 27:14 KJV
Resurrection hope
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” — 1 Peter 1:3–4 KJV
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” — 1 Corinthians 15:20 KJV
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” — 1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” — 1 Thessalonians 4:13 KJV
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” — Titus 2:13 KJV
Hope in suffering
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” — Romans 5:3–5 KJV
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” — Romans 8:18 KJV
“For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” — Romans 8:24–25 KJV
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” — Hebrews 10:35–36 KJV
The hope of glory
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” — Colossians 1:27 KJV
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” — Hebrews 6:19 KJV
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.” — Romans 8:19 KJV
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” — Revelation 21:4 KJV
The God of hope
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” — Romans 15:13 KJV
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” — Romans 15:4 KJV
“And now, Lord, what wait I for? my hope is in thee.” — Psalm 39:7 KJV
“And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” — 1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” — 1 Peter 3:15 KJV
A short word
Biblical hope is not optimism and not wishful thinking. The verses above describe something sturdier: a confident expectation grounded in God’s character and in the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ. The anchor is within the veil — in the presence of God Himself. That is the geography of Christian hope.
For the longer pastoral walk — what the Hebrew tiqvah and the Greek elpis actually mean, how the Old Testament hope of Israel becomes the New Testament hope of resurrection, and how hope grows through tribulation — see our full article on what the Bible says about hope. And for hearing these verses in their historical and theological context, The Context Bible opens up five lenses on every verse. Open it in your browser or download free.
“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” — Romans 15:13 KJV
