50 Bible verses about parenting every parent should know

Parenting is hard and everybody knows that. It does not matter what your religion is to understand it quickly after your child is born. However, different religions give different ideas and tips on how to rear your children.

In this article, we will give you 50 great bible verses about parenting. It can be the first time you read those or maybe it is the 100^th time you read them. In both cases, you can reflect on those quotes from the Bible. We will give some more details on the meaning of some of the quotes. Without further ado, here is what is written in the Scripture about parenting!

At the end of the blog post, you can find a free downloadable resource that you can get today!

1. Proverbs 23:13-14 ESV

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.

It might sound harsh, but God knows what is needed to protect your children. “Sheol” is the word in the Old Testament for hell or place where dead people are. In other words, God says that you have to discipline your children to protect them. Sometimes this means that you have to punish them or even strike.

2. Hebrews 12:11 ESV

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.

Have you been punished as a child? You must know how humble children become after punishment. Neither the child, nor the parent likes punishments and discipline, but it is “life-saving”. Your children`s future depends on the way you rear them and what you teach them. If you are the kind of neglectful parent who allows them everything, this might lead to different consiquences. Being a gentle parent might not be the solution, too.

3. Proverbs 10:1 ESV

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

The way you rear your children https://wallecom.com/blogs/news/child-rearing-definition-practices defines everything for their future, even the way they will make you feel. If you want to be a proud and happy parent, you must work hard. You really must be a mindful parent and take care of your children.

4. Proverbs 22:6 ESV

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

This is another great quote that shows that our children's future is like a map that is empty when they are babies. Gradually, they start adopting different types of behavior, way of thinking and attitude. Think about this – is your behavior similar in some way to that of your parents? Reflect on this question for 2 mins.

5. Ephesians 6:4 ESV

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

God shows that the way to grow children who love you and listen to your words is using discipline, but He also warns people that they must not overdo and provoke the children. Discipline must always go hand in hand with love.

6. Colossians 3:21 ESV

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

7. Proverbs 13:24 ESV

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

If you really love your child, you will never allow him / her to do everything desired. One of the biggest tasks parents have is teaching children that there are consequences to everything we do in life. According to the Bible, some consequences come after we die.

8. Proverbs 29:15 ESV

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

It is rare to see a child whose parents take care of, show love to, discipline, and spend time with, turning into a “bad” person. According to many researchers, enormous percentage of prisoners around the world have had bad parents or did not have parents.

9. Proverbs 29:17 ESV

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

If this was the thought of a human, we could read “your son will make you happy” or “your son will make you proud”, but “he will give delight to your heart” sounds completely different. One of the greatest things in the Bible is that God knows our hearts so well that the language used can touch every string of our souls.

It does not matter that the people who have written inside it have been warriors, shepherds or prisoner. The Holy Spirit has led those people, and every person reading it would feel like they are reading one book, not 66. If you did not know this, the Bible consists of 66 books and the authors are around 40.

10. Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV

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.

God is always talking to us as His children. Being a parent here on Earth allows you to understand Christ a little bit better. Only one mother or a father knows how difficult it is to show love, give freedom and still discipline your beloved child.

11. Exodus 20:12 ESV

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

Have you ever asked for the recipe for a long and happy life? This is it!

12. Proverbs 23:13 ESV

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

13. Psalm 127:3-5 ESV

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

A few months before my wife got pregnant, we read this quote together and it touched our hearts in a way that we will remember forever. God really speaks when the right time comes.

14. Proverbs 23:22 ESV

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

15. Proverbs 3:12 ESV

For the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

16. Psalm 78:4 ESV

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.

If God has done great things in your life, write them down. Make sure that your grandchildren will read those lines. They must know how God changed your life, your heart and that He saved your soul.

17. Colossians 3:20-21 ESV

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

The first sentence might not be your children`s most favorite line to read but, without any doubt, one of the most important they can learn. And in the second, we see another warning towards parents. With great power, there are significant responsibilities. You have 100% influence over your children, be careful what you do with it. There is another quote that says that “to those that have been given much, much will be required”.

18. Deuteronomy 4:9 ESV

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—

19. Deuteronomy 5:16 ESV

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, 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.

20. 2 Timothy 3:15 ESV

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.

21. Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

22. 1 Peter 5:5-6 ESV

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

23. Joel 1:3 ESV

Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.

24. Proverbs 1:8 ESV

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching

25. Leviticus 19:3 ESV

Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father

26. Exodus 21:15 ESV

Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

In the Old Testament, you can read many quotes that will make you ask, “How can God be like this…”. However, do not be quick to judge. Ask yourself, “Why did God said this?” If He is pure and righteousness, He cannot be wrong. On top of this, we see the same God coming on the Earth and dying on the cross.

27. Matthew 19:13-14 ESV

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

When it comes to heaven and children, we can learn a lot. Children are those who accept God and heaven without even one thought of doubt. Have you seen the trust one child has towards its parents? The child is ready to jump from the bed as long as the parent is there. The child knows that mom or dad will catch it. Why can`t we be like this towards Jesus?

28. Exodus 10:2 ESV

And that you may tell in the hearing of your son and of your grandson how I have dealt harshly with the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them, that you may know that I am the Lord.

29. Isaiah 54:13 ESV

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

30. Hebrews 12:7-11 ESV

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? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 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.

*Related: Which parenting style is most encouraged in modern America?

31. Psalm 103:13 ESV / 114 helpful votes

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

32. Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV

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

33. Proverbs 17:6 ESV

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

If you are a grandfather or a grandmother, you must be really thankful when reading this quote. And for sure, you must have reached a level of understanding the Bible that a young parent cannot.

34. Proverbs 22:15 ESV

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

35. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

36. Exodus 20:4-5 ESV

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,

37. 1 Timothy 5:4 ESV

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.

38. Proverbs 30:17 ESV

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

Serious warning…why not use it for a discussion with your children?

39. Proverbs 19:18 ESV

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Never back down when it comes to discipline and your children. Remember, your children souls` future depends on your perseverance.

*Related: Child Rearing Definition, Practices and Montessori for Everyone

40. Matthew 19:14 ESV

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

41. 2 Timothy 1:5 ESV

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

42. Psalm 119:1 ESV

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!

This is great quote that you can print for your children and put it on the wall!

43. James 1:17 ESV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

44. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

This is written inside my wife`s and my wedding rings. There is not a better description of love anywhere else. No matter how smart you are, those lines will be true forever.

45. Mark 9:42 ESV

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

46. 1 Samuel 1:27-28 ESV

For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. Therefore I have lent him to the Lord. As long as he lives, he is lent to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

God gives children to those who pray. Sometimes it happens quickly, sometimes not. If you are praying for children and God is not answering your prayer, why don`t you reflect on those lines?

 Maybe God wants you to adopt a child; maybe He wants to see more prayers. No matter what the reason is, God gives us what we truly need, not whatever we want.  

47. Deuteronomy 6:5-7 ESV

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. 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.

48. Luke 15:11-32 ESV

And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ...

49. Genesis 18:19 ESV

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.”

50. John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Great quote for the finish of our parenting bible verse blog post. If God gave his beloved Son so that we can live, imagine how much He loves us?

If you want to be a great parent, learn those quotes, print them and keep them in your mind and heart. One father with five children once told me that being a great parent depends mostly on your trust in God and prayers.

Do you want to take care of your children? Make a challenge to read those quotes and pray 15 minutes every day in the next 21 days for your children. We are sure that God will hear your prayers and He will take care of your children in a way that you cannot.

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