What Does the Bible Say About Parents?

1. #1Colossians 3:20-21

   Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

   BSBChildren, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

2. #2Proverbs 1:8

   My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

   BSBListen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

3. #3Psalms 103:13

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

   BSBAs a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

4. #4Proverbs 22:6

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

   BSBTrain up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

5. #5Ephesians 6:4

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

   BSBFathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

6. #6Ephesians 6:1-4

   Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

   BSBChildren, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

7. #7Colossians 3:21

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

   BSBFathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

8. #82 Timothy 1:5

   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.

   BSBI am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.

9. #9Exodus 20:12

   Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

   BSBHonor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

10. #101 Timothy 5:8

    But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

    BSBIf anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

11. #11Proverbs 17:6

    Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

    BSBGrandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.

12. #121 Timothy 5:4

    But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

    BSBBut if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

13. #13Deuteronomy 6:6-7

    And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 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.

    BSBThese words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

14. #14Proverbs 13:24

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

    BSBHe who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

15. #15Proverbs 29:17

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

    BSBDiscipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your soul.

16. #162 Corinthians 12:14

    Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

    BSBSee, I am ready to come to you a third time, and I will not be a burden, because I am not seeking your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

17. #17Proverbs 29:15

    The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

    BSBA rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

18. #18Psalms 127:3

    Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

    BSBChildren are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.

19. #19Proverbs 23:22

    Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

    BSBListen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

20. #20Proverbs 23:13

    Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

    BSBDo not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

21. #21Proverbs 31:25-28

    Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

    BSBStrength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband praises her as well:

22. #22Deuteronomy 5:16

    Honour thy father and thy mother, as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

    BSBHonor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

23. #23Proverbs 23:22-25

    Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.

    BSBListen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding. The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him. May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

24. #24Malachi 4:6

    And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

    BSBAnd he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

25. #25Hebrews 12:7-11

    If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

    BSBEndure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live? Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.

26. #26Matthew 15:4

    For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.

    BSBFor God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’

27. #27Proverbs 1:8-9

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

    BSBListen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

Verse rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY). Scripture: KJV & BSB (public domain).

Parents in Nave's Topical Bible

Parents in Torrey's Topical Textbook

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