What Does the Bible Say About Age of Accountability?
Here are 16 Bible verses about Age of Accountability, ordered by how relevant readers found them, with the King James Version and the modern Berean Standard Bible side by side.
- #1Deuteronomy 1:39
Moreover your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil, they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it.
BSBAnd the little ones you said would become captives—your children who on that day did not know good from evil—will enter the land that I will give them, and they will possess it.
- #2James 4:17
Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
BSBAnyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.
- #3Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
BSBBut Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
- #4Isaiah 7:16
For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings.
BSBFor before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
- #5Proverbs 20:11
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
BSBEven a young man is known by his actions— whether his conduct is pure and upright.
- #6Ezekiel 18:20
The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.
BSBThe soul who sins is the one who will die. A son will not bear the iniquity of his father, and a father will not bear the iniquity of his son. The righteousness of the righteous man will fall upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked man will fall upon him.
- #7Romans 14:12
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
BSBSo then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
- #8Matthew 18:3
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
BSB“Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- #9Luke 2:42-46
And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
BSBAnd when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast. When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
- #10Psalms 51:5
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
BSBSurely I was brought forth in iniquity; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.
- #11Psalms 58:3
The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.
BSBThe wicked are estranged from the womb; the liars go astray from birth.
- #12Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
BSBfor all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
- #132 Samuel 12:23
But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.
BSBBut now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”
- #141 Corinthians 7:14
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
BSBFor the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
- #15Numbers 14:28-30
Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do to you: Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
BSBSo tell them: As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you exactly as I heard you say. Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me. Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
- #16Exodus 30:14
Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord.
BSBEveryone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD.
Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).