The Bible has a lot to say about caring for orphans and other vulnerable children. Here is an overview of some of the key Bible verses about orphans:
Exodus 22:22-24
“You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. If you do mistreat them, and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my wrath will burn, and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives shall become widows and your children fatherless.”
This passage in Exodus warns the Israelites against mistreating widows and orphans. God promises to hear their cries and bring judgment on those who oppress them.
Deuteronomy 10:18
“He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
This verse describes God as a defender and provider for orphans, widows and foreigners. He cares about their needs.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29
“At the end of every three years you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in the same year and lay it up within your towns. And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.”
These verses commanded the Israelites to set aside a tithe every three years specifically for the Levites, foreigners, orphans and widows. This shows God’s concern that vulnerable groups be provided for.
Deuteronomy 24:17
“You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge.”
This verse prohibits taking advantage of orphans and widows by withholding justice from them.
Deuteronomy 26:12-13
“When you have finished paying all the tithe of your produce in the third year, which is the year of tithing, giving it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that they may eat within your towns and be filled, then you shall say before the Lord your God, ‘I have removed the sacred portion out of my house, and moreover, I have given it to the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all your commandment that you have commanded me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, nor have I forgotten them.'”
These instructions when bringing offerings remind the Israelites to share their tithes with the vulnerable groups mentioned earlier.
Psalm 10:14
“But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.”
This affirms that God sees the distress of the helpless, including orphans. He can intervene on their behalf.
Psalm 10:17-18
“O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”
God promises to listen to the desires of the afflicted and fatherless and to incline his ear towards justice for them.
Psalm 68:4-6a
“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.”
This praise psalm identifies God as a father to the fatherless and protector of widows.
Psalm 82:3
“Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.”
God commands his people to pursue justice for the weak and fatherless.
Psalm 94:1-7
“O Lord, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O Lord, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, ‘The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.’ Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see?”
This psalm calling for God’s judgment laments the oppression of widows, foreigners and orphans. It affirms God sees their plight even when the wicked deny it.
Psalm 146:9
“The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.”
God cares for sojourners, widows and the fatherless. He will intervene against the wicked.
Isaiah 1:16-17
“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
This call to repentance includes seeking justice for orphans and widows as part of turning from evil to doing good.
Jeremiah 7:5-7
“For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly execute justice one with another, if you do not oppress the sojourner, the fatherless, or the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own harm, then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave of old to your fathers forever.”
Jeremiah links caring for orphans and widows with obeying God so the people can remain in the Promised Land.
Jeremiah 22:2-3
“Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.”
The Lord commands the kings of Judah to do what is just and right by refraining from oppressing the vulnerable.
Ezekiel 22:6-7
“Behold, the princes of Israel in you, every one according to his power, have been bent on shedding blood. Father and mother are treated with contempt in you; the sojourner suffers extortion in your midst; the fatherless and the widow are wronged in you.”
Ezekiel condemns Jerusalem’s princes for violence against parents, foreigners, orphans, and widows.
Zechariah 7:8-10
“And the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.'”
This repeats the consistent command not to oppress the vulnerable but to show them kindness and justice.
Malachi 3:5-6
“Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
God promises judgment against those who oppress workers, widows, orphans, and foreigners. He does not change in this concern.
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.”
James says caring for orphans and widows in need is an essential part of true, pure religion.
These verses reflect God’s deep concern for protecting and providing for orphans, widows, and other vulnerable persons in society. This concern arises from God’s holy and just character. He sees their plight and hears their cries. God frequently commands his people to share his values by pursuing justice and mercy for the fatherless and oppressed. When his people care for the vulnerable and resist oppression, they reflect his reign. But when they ignore injustice and fail to help the needy, they reject him and his ways.
Throughout Scripture, care for vulnerable children is tied to living rightly before God. It represents loving one’s neighbor. It flows from walking humbly and justly with God. The Bible views indifference toward orphans as unacceptable. The good news is that God promises to intervene on behalf of the fatherless. He acts as a father to them and calls his people to join in this mission.