Bible Verses About Parenting

King James Version · 16 passages

Raising children is slow, repeated, ordinary work — talking of God's ways when you sit in the house and when you walk by the way. Scripture charges parents to train, to correct without provoking, and above all to live the faith plainly before young eyes. These passages gather the Bible's counsel for fathers and mothers who want to hand down more than rules.

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train...: or, Catechise in...: Heb. in his way

Deuteronomy 6:4–9

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. teach: Heb. whet, or, sharpen 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

See also: Mark 12:30 · Matthew 22:37 · Luke 10:27 · Deuteronomy 10:12

Ephesians 6:4

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

Proverbs 29:17

17 Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.

Proverbs 13:24

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

Colossians 3:21

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

See also: Proverbs 4:1 · Ephesians 6:4 · Psalms 103:13 · Proverbs 3:12

Psalms 78:4–7

4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

Proverbs 1:8–9

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. an...: Heb. an adding

See also: Proverbs 6:20 · Proverbs 30:17 · Proverbs 4:9 · Daniel 5:29

Proverbs 23:13–14

13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. 14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.

Proverbs 19:18

18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. for...: or, to his destruction: or, to cause him to die

Genesis 18:19

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

2 Timothy 1:5

5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

See also: 1 Timothy 1:5 · Acts 16:1 · 2 Timothy 3:15 · 1 Timothy 4:6

Proverbs 4:1–4

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

See also: Proverbs 3:1 · Hebrews 2:1 · Ephesians 6:4 · 1 Timothy 4:6

Joshua 24:15

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

See also: 1 Kings 18:21 · John 6:67 · Ruth 1:15 · Deuteronomy 29:18

Psalms 103:13

13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

See also: Luke 11:11 · Hebrews 12:5 · Luke 15:21 · Psalms 103:17

Isaiah 38:19

19 The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.