Broken relationships feel like losing a piece of yourself. Whether it’s a marriage hanging by a thread, a friendship that ended in harsh words, family bonds strained by years of misunderstanding, or trust shattered by betrayal, relational wounds cut deeper than almost any other pain. You replay conversations, wonder what you could have done differently, and sometimes feel like the damage is too extensive to ever repair.
But God is in the restoration business. He specializes in taking what seems irreparably broken and breathing new life into it. The same God who reconciled humanity to Himself through Christ understands the complexity of human relationships and offers hope when we can’t see a way forward. He doesn’t just want to heal your heart; He wants to heal the relationships that matter most to you.
These verses aren’t magic formulas that instantly fix years of hurt, but they are promises from the God who makes all things new. Your broken relationship isn’t beyond His reach, and sometimes what feels like an ending is actually the beginning of something stronger and more beautiful than before.
Bible Verses for Healing Broken Relationships
1. Ephesians 4:32 – Be Kind and Compassionate
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
New International Version (NIV)
2. Colossians 3:13 – Bear with Each Other and Forgive
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
English Standard Version (ESV)
3. Matthew 18:21-22 – Seventy-Seven Times
Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”
New King James Version (NKJV)
4. 1 Peter 4:8 – Love Covers a Multitude of Sins
Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
New Living Translation (NLT)
5. Matthew 5:23-24 – First Go and Be Reconciled
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6. Romans 12:18 – Live in Harmony with One Another
If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 – Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
King James Version (KJV)
8. Galatians 6:1 – Restore Gently
My friends, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
9. Matthew 6:14-15 – If You Forgive Others
In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
The Message (MSG)
10. Proverbs 17:9 – Whoever Would Foster Love Covers Over an Offense
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
Amplified Bible (AMP)
11. James 5:16 – Confess Your Sins to Each Other
So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.
New English Translation (NET)
12. Luke 17:3-4 – If Your Brother Repents, Forgive Him
Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13. Proverbs 19:11 – A Person’s Wisdom Yields Patience
Good sense makes you patient. You will be honored if you forgive wrongs done to you.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
14. 2 Corinthians 5:18 – The Ministry of Reconciliation
All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends and gave us the task of making others his friends also.
Good News Translation (GNT)
15. Romans 14:19 – Make Every Effort to Do What Leads to Peace
So let us try to do what makes peace and helps one another.
New Century Version (NCV)
16. Proverbs 15:1 – A Gentle Answer Turns Away Wrath
A gentle response diverts anger, but a harsh statement incites fury.
International Standard Version (ISV)
17. Matthew 7:12 – The Golden Rule
Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Torah and the Prophets.
Tree of Life Version (TLV)
18. Ecclesiastes 3:3 – A Time to Heal
a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up.
Lexham English Bible (LEB)
19. 1 John 4:20-21 – Whoever Loves God Must Also Love Their Brother
If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.
World English Bible (WEB)
20. Ephesians 4:2-3 – Be Completely Humble and Gentle
with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; giving diligence to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
American Standard Version (ASV)
21. Philippians 2:3-4 – Do Nothing Out of Selfish Ambition
Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
22. Mark 11:25 – When You Stand Praying, Forgive
And when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.
New American Bible (NAB)
23. Proverbs 27:5-6 – Open Rebuke Is Better Than Secret Love
Better is open rebuke, than love that is hidden. Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
Douay-Rheims Bible (DRB)
24. Hebrews 12:14 – Make Every Effort to Live in Peace
Follow after peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no man shall see the Lord.
English Revised Version (ERV)
25. 1 Corinthians 13:5 – Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs
doth not act unseemly, doth not seek its own things, is not provoked, doth not impute evil.
Young’s Literal Translation (YLT)
26. Genesis 50:20 – What You Meant for Evil, God Meant for Good
Ye indeed plotted evil against me: God plotted it for good, in order that he should do as it is this day, to save alive a great people.
Darby Translation (DARBY)
27. Romans 12:17 – Do Not Repay Anyone Evil for Evil
Return to no one evil for evil. Take thought for things noble in the sight of all men.
Weymouth New Testament (WNT)
28. Proverbs 25:21-22 – If Your Enemy Is Hungry, Give Him Food
If thin enemy hungureth, feede thou hym; if he thirstith, yyue thou drynke to hym; for thou schalt gadere togidere coolis on his heed; and the Lord schal yelde to thee.
Wycliffe Bible (WYC)
29. John 13:34-35 – A New Command I Give You
A newe commandement giue I vnto you, that ye loue one another: as I haue loued you, that ye also loue one another. By this shall all men knowe that ye are my disciples, if ye haue loue one to another.
Geneva Bible (GNV)
30. 1 Thessalonians 5:15 – Always Strive to Do What Is Good
Se that none of you rewarde euyll for euyll vnto any man: but euer folowe that which is good, both among your selues, and to all men.
Bishop’s Bible
31. Romans 15:5-7 – Accept One Another
The God of pacience and consolacion geve vnto you that ye be lyke mynded one towardes another after Christ Iesu: that ye maye with one mouth prayse God the father of oure lorde Iesu Christ. Wherfore receave ye one another as Christ receaved vs to the prayse of God.
Tyndale Bible
32. Proverbs 18:19 – A Brother Wronged Is More Unyielding Than a Fortified City
It’s harder to make a friend out of an offended brother than to capture a fortified city. Arguments separate friends like a gate locked with bars.
The Living Bible (TLB)
33. Isaiah 54:17 – No Weapon Forged Against You Will Prevail
Every weapon that is formed against you will be ineffective, and every accusation raised against you in court you will condemn. This is the inheritance that belongs to the servants of the Eternal; I will vindicate them,” says the Eternal One.
The Passion Translation (TPT)
34. Micah 7:18-19 – Who Is a God Like You, Who Pardons Sin?
Where is the God like You, who forgives wrongdoing and overlooks the sins of His treasured people? You will not stay angry forever because You delight in showing Your faithful love. You will again have compassion on us; You will overcome our wrongdoing. You will throw all our sins into the depths of the sea.
The Voice Bible (VOICE)
35. Psalm 133:1 – How Good and Pleasant It Is
It is good and pleasant when God’s people live together peacefully!
New International Reader’s Version (NIrV)
Our Thoughts On What the Bible Says About Healing Broken Relationships
The Bible treats broken relationships as opportunities for God’s grace to shine brightest, not as failures beyond redemption. Scripture consistently shows that reconciliation requires courage from both parties, but starts with one person choosing to move first. This movement toward healing often means swallowing pride, releasing the right to be right, and choosing love even when it feels undeserved.
What’s striking about biblical relationship restoration is that it doesn’t minimize the hurt or pretend the offense never happened. Instead, it acknowledges pain while choosing something higher than revenge or withdrawal. The Bible shows us that some relationships require boundaries and wisdom, while others need the radical grace of second, third, and seventh chances.
Scripture reveals that God uses restored relationships as powerful testimonies of His character. When marriages rebuild after betrayal, when siblings reconcile after years of silence, when friends forgive deep wounds, the watching world sees glimpses of divine love. Your willingness to fight for relationship restoration, even when it’s difficult, reflects God’s heart for humanity and becomes a source of hope for others walking similar paths.
Say This Prayer
Heavenly Father, my heart is heavy with the weight of this broken relationship. The hurt runs deep, and honestly, some days I wonder if it’s worth trying to repair what feels so damaged. Pride whispers that I should protect myself, while anger tells me the other person should make the first move.
But I know You call me to something higher than my instincts. Give me the courage to take the first step toward healing, even when it feels risky. Help me to see this person through Your eyes of love rather than through the lens of past hurts. Show me how to balance grace with wisdom, forgiveness with healthy boundaries.
Soften both our hearts, Lord. Remove the walls we’ve built and replace defensiveness with understanding. Help us to communicate with honesty and kindness, to listen with compassion rather than just waiting for our turn to speak. Do a supernatural work in this relationship that only You can do.
I trust that You can bring beauty from these ashes and create something stronger than what existed before. Use this process of reconciliation to draw us both closer to You and to become better people through this journey.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Evang. Anabelle Thompson is the founder of Believers Refuge, a Scripture-based resource that helps Christians to find biblical guidance for life’s challenges.
With over 15 years of ministry experience and a decade of dedicated Bible study, she creates content that connects believers with relevant Scripture for their daily struggles.
Her work has reached over 76,000 monthly readers (which is projected to reach 100,000 readers by the end of 2025) seeking practical faith applications, biblical encouragement, and spiritual guidance rooted in God’s Word.
She writes from personal experience, having walked through seasons of waiting, breakthrough, and spiritual growth that inform her teaching.
Evang. Thompson brings 12 years of active ministry and evangelism experience, along with over 10 years of systematic Bible study and theological research.
As a former small group leader and Sunday school teacher, she has published over 200 biblical resources and devotional studies.
She specializes in applying Scripture to everyday life challenges and regularly studies the original Hebrew and Greek texts for a deeper biblical understanding.