Skip to main content

Parenting

Introduction​

This is meant to be more of a collection of verses rather than an article. The purpose of this page is for you to be able to go through all the listed verses about parenting to get a really good idea as to what the Bible says about parenting. This list is not "complete" as I am sure there are more verses the one could relate to parenting so if you have suggestions for additions I am open to that.

Outline​

  1. Parenting verses throughout the Bible
  2. Parenting/teaching in Proverbs
  3. Final Thoughts

Parenting verses throughout the Bible​

Genesis 18:19
For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.

Command your children to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice.

Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Do the best you can to help your children know how to honor you and want to do that. You ca do this by not provoking your children being respectable, etc.

Exodus 21:15
Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Do not let your children get away with hitting you.

Deuteronomy 4:9
Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—

Teach your children and grandchildren the things of the Lord, his ways and commandments as well as what he has done.

Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

Teach your children to fear the Lord and keep his commandments.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19
18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Teach your children God's commands all the time and keep them close.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21  18 “If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, 20 and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ 21 Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Take stubbornness and rebellion very seriously and discipline your children well for it.

Psalm 78:1-7
1 Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
3 things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
6 that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
    7 so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;

Pass on what you know about God to your children for the goal that they will set their hope in God, not forget his works, and keep his commandments.

Psalm 103:13
As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

Show compassion to your children.

Joel 1:3
Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.

Pass on what they know about God to their children.

2 Corinthians 12:14
Here for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be a burden, for I seek not what is yours but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.

Paul is saying here that when he visits the Corinthians he doesn't want to burden his spiritual children financially as the spiritual parent just like real parents should save for their children to not burden them in that way.

Ephesians 6:1-4
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Help your children to obey and honor you. Do not provoke them to anger. Discipline and instruct them in the Lord's ways.

Colossians 3:20-21
20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Do not provoke your children. This is pretty generic but there are many ways you can provoke your children. Here are some examples: https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B101004/how-to-provoke-your-children

1 Timothy 3:4-5
4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

Specifically talking about the father here, he is supposed to keep his children submissive and manage his household well.

1 Timothy 5:4
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

This is a family first attitude, where family is taking care of family before the church steps in.

2 Timothy 3:14-15
14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

idk maybe take this one out

Titus 2:2-8
2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.

This passage talks about how older men/women can teach the younger, and could apply to children too.

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Help your children stay unstained from the world.

Hebrews 12:7
It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Discipline is necessary.

Hebrews 12:11
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Disciplining your children yields righteousness.

Parenting/teaching in Proverbs​

It's safe to say that we can teach our children everything in the Bible, proverbs gives us some specific examples. Bold means it directly applies to parenting, all others are valuable lessons to teach children. Proverbs is a gold mine, I'm sure you could glean more from reading it yourself as well. But here are some things that I found.

Chapter 1​

  • Help your children fear the Lord, as this is the beginning of knowledge - 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
  • Teach your children the importance of what you teach them - 8-9 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
  • Teach your children to not walk in the path of the evil - 15 my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths,
  • Do not be greedy, it will take away your life - 19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

Chapter 2​

  • Seeking wisdom leads to understanding the fear of the Lord. Specifically, teach your children that seeking wisdom leads to proper fear of the Lord which leads to knowledge and life (Proverbs 1:7) - 1-5 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Chapter 3​

  • Teach your children steadfast love and faithfulness - 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
  • Trust in the Lord - 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
  • Honor the Lord with your wealth - 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
  • Do not withhold good - 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

Chapter 4​

  • Teach your children to hold fast to what you teach them - 4 he taught me and said to me, Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
  • Teach your children to seek wisdom - 5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
  • Teach your children to keep hold of instruction and not enter the path of the wicked 13-14 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil.
  • No crooked speech or devious talk - 24 Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.
  • Teach your children to think about where you go before you go there - 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure.

Chapter 5​

  • Keep far from the forbidden woman - 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
  • Rejoice in your wife only 18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
  • Have good discipline 23 - He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.

Chapter 6​

  • You think you need just a little rest but laziness will sneak up on you - 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
  • Do not go about with crooked speech - 12 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,
  • Watch out for these things that the Lord hates - 16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
  • Have sense and don't commit adultery 32 - He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.

Chapter 7​

  • Do not turn aside from wisdom and the ways that you have been taught, it will cost you your life - 22-23 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

Chapter 8​

  • Hate evil - 16 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
  • Seek wisdom - 35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.

Chapter 9​

  • Listen to wisdom and instruction - 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Chapter 10​

  • Walk in integrity - 9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
  • Love is forgiving - 12 Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
  • Heed instruction - 17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.
  • Restrain your mouth from speaking too much - 19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Chapter 11​

  • Be steadfast in righteousness and do not pursue evil - 19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die.
  • Offspring of the righteous will be delivered - 21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
  • Be giving - 24 One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Chapter 12​

  • Hard work - 11 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
  • Listening - 15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.
  • Honesty - 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Chapter 13​

  • Hear and listen to instruction - 1 A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
  • Be careful what you say - 3 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
  • Be diligent, not lazy - 4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
  • Get rich quick schemes fail - 11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
  • Father's provision - 22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
  • Discipline - 24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Chapter 14​

  • Choose company wisely - 7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
  • Don't think too hastily - 15-17 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
  • Kind to neighbors, generous to poor - 21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
  • Fear the Lord - 26-27 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
  • Slow to anger - 29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.
  • Tranquil/sound heart - 30 A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot.

Chapter 15​

  • Speak gently - 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
  • Listen to father's instruction - 5 A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.
  • Wise people share knowledge - 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools
  • Seek council for plans - 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

Chapter 16​

  • Commit your work to the Lord - 3 Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
  • Do not be prideful -18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
  • Be Lowly - 19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
  • Think before speaking - 20 Whoever gives thought to the word will discover good, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
  • Speak graciously - Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
  • Be slow to Anger - 32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Chapter 17​

  • Have a quiet home over strife in the home - 1 Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
  • Do not listen to the wicked - 4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
  • Do not mock the poor, do not be glad at calamity - 5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
  • Forgive and forget - 9 Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
  • Quit talking before a quarrel breaks out - 14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
  • Love at all times and be there for family - 17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
  • Help your children be joyful, do not crush their spirit - 22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
  • Restrain your words and be understanding - 27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

Chapter 18​

  • Do not isolate yourself - 1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;     he breaks out against all sound judgment.
  • Listen well - 2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,     but only in expressing his opinion.
  • Do not slack in your work - 9 Whoever is slack in his work     is a brother to him who destroys.
  • Listen first, then speak - 13 If one gives an answer before he hears,     it is his folly and shame.

Chapter 19​

  • Laziness will make you tired and hungry - 15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle person will suffer hunger.
  • Be generous to the poor - 17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
  • Discipline but without wrath and anger - 18-19 Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death. A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
  • Listen to advice and instruction - 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.
  • God's purpose for your life will prevail - 21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
  • Fear the Lord and it will go well for you - 23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.

Chapter 20​

  • Stay away from strife - 3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.
  • Don't idolize sleep - 13 Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
  • Don't curse your parents - 20 If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

Chapter 21​

  • God desires righteousness from us - 3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
  • Let your plans be diligent, not hasty - 5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
  • Don't close your ear to the call of the needy - 13 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.
  • Justice is Joy to the righteous, terror to evildoers - 15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
  • If you love pleasure, you will be poor - 17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
  • Pursue righteousness and kindness and yo will have life - 21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
  • Staying quiet will keep you from trouble - 23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

Chapter 22​

  • Train your children in the right way, God's way - 6 Train up a child in the way he should go;     even when he is old he will not depart from it.
  • The lazy make excuses for not doing things - 13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!     I shall be killed in the streets!”
  • Discipline your children to keep them from folly - 15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,     but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
  • Do not be friends with the wrathful man - 24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man, lest you learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

Chapter 23​

  • Do not work for wealth - 4-5 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle toward heaven.
  • Be careful who you argue or debate with and how much - 9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.
  • Spank your children to discipline them - 13-14 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.
  • Do not envy sinners - 17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue inthe fear of theLordall the day.
  • Do not make drunkards or gluttons, or those who indulge the flesh your company - 20-21 Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags.
  • Do not despise your parents, even when they are old - 22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Chapter 24​

  • Seek council from many - 6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
  • Be strong, stand in the face of adversity - 10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
  • Rescue those going to their death - 11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
  • Wisdom to your soul is like honey to the taste, sweet - 13-14 My son, eat honey, for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
  • Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, the Lord is displeased in that - 17-18 Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles, lest the Lord see it and be displeased, and turn away his anger from him.
  • Fear God and the king - 21-22 My son, fear the Lord and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?
  • Do not be a witness without cause. Do not seek revenge - 28-29 Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.”
  • Do not be a sluggard, continue working hard - 33-34 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

Chapter 25​

  • Do not hastily take your neighbor to court, settles matters with him - 8-9 What your eyes have seen do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal another's secret,
  • Do not go to people more than they want you - 17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house, lest he have his fill of you and hate you.
  • Treat your enemies kindly. It will be good for you and them - 21-22 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
  • Do not seek yourself or your glory - 27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.
  • Have self control - 28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

Chapter 26​

  • Do not be a sluggard, or wise in your own eyes - 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly.
  • Do not always meddle in other's quarrels - 17 Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.
  • Do not be quarrelsome and kindle strife - 21 As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
  • Do not lie or deceitfully flatter - 28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Chapter 27​

  • Do not boast about your future - 1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
  • Let other people praise you, but do not praise yourself - 2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
  • Take your of your things - 23-27 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, ...

Chapter 28​

  • Be bold - 1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
  • Do not turn away from hearing the law - 9 If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.
  • Do not hide your sin, but confess and forsake them - 13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
  • Do not harden your heart (be unrepentant) - 14 Blessed is the one who fears the Lord always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.
  • Do not follow worthless pursuits -19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
  • Do not try to get rich quick - 20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.
  • Do not be greedy, stirring up strife - 25 A greedy man stirs up strife, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.
  • Look out for those in need and be generous - 27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

Chapter 29​

  • Listen to reproof - 1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
  • Turn away other's anger - 8 Scoffers set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.
  • Hold back your spirit, that is your words - 11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
  • Discipline your children and reprove them, do not let them have their way - 15 The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
  • Discipline your children, and they will give you rest and delight your heart - 17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
  • Wrath stirs up strife and anger causes transgression - 22 A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Chapter 30​

Chapter 31​

  • Do not give your strength to women or your ways to destruction - 3 Do not give your strength to women, your ways to those who destroy kings.
  • Mothers, and parents, teach kindness - 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Final Thoughts​

Throughout the Bible the most pervasive themes for parenting seem to be loving discipline of your children, and teaching them God's ways.