Joy shines brightly in the vast landscape of human emotions, offering hope and a fresh start through life’s ups and downs. Celebrated across cultures and time, this special feeling is more than just an emotion in the Christian faith—it’s a deep experience built on faith, hope, and love. These 160 Bible verses about joy provide a window into the enduring nature of joy in a believer’s life. Whether in moments of victory or during challenges, the Bible shows joy as a key part of our spiritual journey. Discover the profound meanings of these verses, deepening your understanding and practice of joy in this divine gift.

Joy in God’s Presence

• Psalm 16:11 – “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
• Psalm 21:6 – “Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”
• Nehemiah 8:10 – “Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.'”
• Psalm 4:7 – “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.”
• Psalm 43:4 – “Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.”
• Acts 2:28 – “You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.”
• Psalm 9:2 – “I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”
• Psalm 28:7 – “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”
• Isaiah 12:3 – “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”
• Psalm 126:3 – “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

Joy Through Trials

• James 1:2-3 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
• Romans 5:3-4 – “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
• 1 Peter 1:6-7 – “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
• Hebrews 12:2 – “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
• 2 Corinthians 8:2 – “In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.”
• Matthew 5:11-12 – “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
• Acts 5:41 – “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.”
• Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
• 1 Thessalonians 1:6 – “You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.”
• Philippians 2:17-18 – “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”

Joy in Creation and God’s Works

• Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
• Psalm 98:4 – “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music;”
• Isaiah 55:12 – “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
• Psalm 96:11-12 – “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”
• Job 38:7 – “While the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?”
• Psalm 104:31 – “May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works—”
• Psalm 145:5 – “They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works.”
• Psalm 65:8 – “The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.”
• Psalm 66:1 – “Shout for joy to God, all the earth!”
• Psalm 67:4 – “May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.”

Joy in Community and Fellowship

• Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
• Acts 2:46-47 – “Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”
• Psalm 133:1 – “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!”
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 – “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”
• Philemon 1:7 – “Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”
• Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
• 3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
• Philippians 1:25-26 – “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”
• Acts 15:3 – “So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brethren.”
• 2 Corinthians 7:13 – “By all this we are encouraged. In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you.”

Joy in Serving Others

• Philippians 2:1-2 – “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
• 2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
• Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
• 1 Peter 4:10-11 – “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
• Isaiah 35:10 – “and those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”
• Matthew 25:21 – “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'”
• Romans 15:1-2 – “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.”
• Hebrews 13:16 – “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
• 1 Thessalonians 3:9 – “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?”
• Luke 10:17 – “The seventy-two returned with joy and said, ‘Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'”

Joy in God’s Salvation and Deliverance

• Isaiah 61:10 – “I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
• Psalm 51:12 – “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”
• Luke 2:10 – “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'”
• Acts 8:8 – “So there was great joy in that city.”
• Psalm 13:5 – “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.”
• Psalm 35:9 – “Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.”
• Isaiah 12:6 – “Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
• Habakkuk 3:18 – “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”
• Psalm 70:4 – “But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, ‘The Lord is great!'”
• Luke 15:7 – “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

Joy in God’s Word and Truth

• Psalm 119:111 – “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.”
• Jeremiah 15:16 – “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, Lord God Almighty.”
• Psalm 19:8 – “The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.”
• Psalm 119:162 – “I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.”
• Nehemiah 8:12 – “Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.”
• Psalm 119:14 – “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches.”
• Psalm 119:24 – “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”
• Psalm 119:103 – “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
• John 17:13 – “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”
• Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Joy in the Promise of Eternal Life

• John 16:22 – “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
• 1 Peter 1:8-9 – “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
• Revelation 21:4 – “‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
• Philippians 3:20-21 – “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
• Titus 3:7 – “So that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
• 1 John 5:11 – “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”
• Romans 6:22 – “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.”
• 2 Timothy 4:8 – “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
• Matthew 25:34 – “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'”
• Luke 12:32 – “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Joy in God’s Faithfulness

• Lamentations 3:22-23 – “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
• Deuteronomy 7:9 – “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”
• Psalm 36:5 – “Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.”
• Psalm 89:1-2 – “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.”
• Psalm 100:5 – “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
• Psalm 117:2 – “For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.”
• Luke 1:44 – “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.”
• Hebrews 10:23 – “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:9 – “God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
• 1 Peter 4:19 – “So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Joy in Spiritual Growth and Maturity

• Ephesians 4:15 – “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
• Colossians 1:10-11 – “so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience.”
• 2 Peter 3:18 – “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
• Philippians 1:9 – “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.”
• James 1:4 – “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
• 2 Corinthians 9:10 – “Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”
• Romans 5:4 – “And perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
• Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
• Ephesians 3:16-17 – “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Joy in Prayer and Worship

• Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
• 1 Chronicles 16:10 – “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.”
• Psalm 95:2 – “Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”
• Psalm 145:7 – “They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.”
• John 4:24 – “God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
• Colossians 3:16 – “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
• James 5:13 – “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.”
• Acts 16:25 – “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”
• Psalm 42:4 – “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.”
• Psalm 122:1 – “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

Joy in God’s Sovereignty and Kingship

• Psalm 47:1-2 – “Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.”
• Psalm 93:1 – “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength; indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.”
• 1 Timothy 1:17 – “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”
• Psalm 97:1 – “The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice.”
• Revelation 19:6 – “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.’”
• Psalm 99:1-2 – “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations.”
• Daniel 4:3 – “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.”
• Psalm 29:10 – “The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as King forever.”
• Psalm 145:11-12 – “They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.”
• Revelation 11:15 – “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’”

Joy in the Unity of the Church

• Ephesians 4:2-3 – “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
• Colossians 3:14 – “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
• Acts 4:32 – “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
• 1 Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”
• Psalm 133:3 – “It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”
• Romans 15:5-6 – “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
• Philippians 2:2 – “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:11 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
• Ephesians 2:21-22 – “In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”
• 1 Peter 3:8 – “Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”

Joy in Giving and Generosity

• Proverbs 11:25 – “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
• 2 Corinthians 9:12 – “For the service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”
• Acts 20:35 – “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
• Proverbs 22:9 – “The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.”
• Luke 6:38 – “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
• Matthew 10:8 – “Freely you have received; freely give.”
• Psalm 112:5 – “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”
• Zechariah 10:7 – “The Ephraimites will become like warriors, and their hearts will be glad as with wine. Their children will see it and be joyful; their hearts will rejoice in the Lord.”
• Malachi 3:10 – “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
• 2 Corinthians 8:7 – “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”