Parenting is one of the most important yet challenging roles in life. The Bible provides a wealth of wisdom and guidance for Christian parents seeking to raise their children in a godly manner. Here is an overview of some key Bible passages about parenting and child-rearing:
Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” This oft-quoted verse stresses the importance of establishing a strong spiritual and moral foundation in one’s children from an early age. Parents are exhorted to make instruction in righteous living a priority.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – Impress God’s words on your children
“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.” Parents are called to constantly impress the truths of God’s Word on their children through intentional and regular spiritual instruction.
Proverbs 13:24 – Discipline your children
“Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.” This verse emphasizes that parental love requires discipline to train in proper behavior and character. Yet discipline should not be overly severe.
Ephesians 6:4 – Bring them up in the Lord’s instruction
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Fathers in particular are told to take care to not exasperate their children, but nurture them gently in Christ-centered teaching.
Proverbs 29:15 – Discipline and give your child moral guidance
“The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.” Parents should both discipline and positively reinforce good conduct to impart moral wisdom.
Proverbs 29:17 – Discipline will bring peace
“Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.” Consistent loving discipline leads to peaceful and nurturing family relationships.
Colossians 3:21 – Don’t exasperate your children
“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” Parents should take care that demands and forms of discipline don’t exasperate or demoralize children.
Proverbs 6:20-23 – Give parental instruction
“My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching… For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.” Children should heed the godly instruction and discipline of both parents.
Proverbs 1:8-9 – Heed a father’s teaching
“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.” Children who follow parental guidance will be blessed and adorned with moral wisdom.
Ephesians 6:1-3 – Obey and honor parents
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you.” God commands children to obey and honor both father and mother.
Proverbs 17:6 – Grandchildren are crowns to the aged
“Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.” The ultimate blessing of parenting is grandchildren who live uprightly to bring joy and pride.
Proverbs 14:26 – The fear of the Lord gives confidence
“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.” A parent’s godly reverence rubs off on children and gives them strength of character.
Proverbs 23:13-14 – Discipline will save them from death
“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.” Wise restraint in discipline can drive foolishness from a child’s heart.
Proverbs 4:1-4 – Teach children to lay hold of wisdom
“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching…Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.” Fathers should teach children to cherish and preserve words of wisdom.
Proverbs 3:11-12 – The Lord disciplines those He loves
“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.” Loving parental discipline mirrors the Lord’s fatherly discipline of those He loves.
Proverbs 19:18 – Discipline your children while there is hope
“Discipline your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on putting him to death.” Loving discipline should be consistently applied while a child’s heart remains moldable.
Deuteronomy 4:9 – Teach God’s Word to your children
“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.” God’s wondrous works and words should be passed to grandchildren.
Proverbs 20:7 – Live with integrity as an example
“The righteous who walks in his integrity- blessed are his children after him!” Upright parents set a godly example for their children to follow after.
Ephesians 6:4 – Bring up children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Fathers should take care to not exasperate children but nurture them in Christ’s training.
Deuteronomy 31:12-13 – Review God’s Word as a family
“Assemble the people, men, women, and little ones, and the sojourner within your towns, that they may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God, and be careful to do all the words of this law.” God’s Word was to be taught to the whole family.
Proverbs 23:22 – Heed your father’s experience
“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” The experience and wisdom of aging parents should be valued and heeded.
Colossians 3:20 – Children obey parents in everything
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.” Total obedience to parents in all matters brings delight to the Lord.
Proverbs 23:24-25 – Let your father rejoice over a wise child
“The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.” Wise children bring joy to their parents.
1 Timothy 3:4-5 – Manage family well as church leaders
“He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” Church leaders are to lead their families well by keeping children obedient and respectful.
1 Timothy 3:12 – Faithful children reflect well on leaders
“Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.” Deacons must manage children and home in good order to serve the church well.
1 Timothy 5:4 – Teach family to show godliness at home
“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household.” Older widows should still instruct their families in godly living.
Titus 1:6 – Children must believe to qualify overseers
“If anyone is…the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.” Elders and overseers must have obedient, believing children.
Proverbs 31:28 – Children rise up to call her blessed
“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.” Godly mothers earn genuine praise from their children and spouses for diligent care.
Proverbs 10:1 – Wise children gladden fathers
“A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.” Children’s conduct – good or bad – affects both parents deeply.
Proverbs 15:20 – The wise child brings joy
“A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.” Wise children are a blessing that gladdens parents’ hearts.
Proverbs 17:25 – Foolish children grief to parents
“A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.” Conversely, foolish offspring only bring sorrow through their rebellion.
Proverbs 28:7 – Keeping God’s law makes wise children
“The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.” Obedience to God’s law is a mark of a wise and discerning child.
Proverbs 29:3 – Companions of prostitutes waste inheritance
“He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.” Foolish companions often lead children to waste parental gifts.
Proverbs 23:15-16 – Wise children make glad parents’ hearts
“My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad. My inmost being will exult when your lips speak what is right.” The righteous words and deeds of children delight parental hearts.
Proverbs 23:19-21 – Keep your heart on the right path
“Hear, my son, and be wise, and direct your heart in the way. Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty.” Parents plead for children to avoid bad company.
Proverbs 23:26 – Give your parents your heart
“My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.” Wholehearted devotion to parental guidance leads to wise living.
Exodus 20:12 – Honor father and mother
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Obedience to parents brings blessings.
Leviticus 19:3 – Revere your mother and father
“Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father.” Holding parents in highest honor is commanded.
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 – The stubborn and rebellious son
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey… his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders… And all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones.” Rebellion against parents was punishable by death.
Exodus 21:15 – Put to death children who strike parents
“Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.” Cursing or attacking parents brought capital punishment.
Exodus 21:17 – Cursed be those who dishonor parents
“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.” Cursing one’s father or mother also resulted in the death penalty.
In summary, the Bible has extensive instruction and admonition for parents on raising children in the training and discipleship of the Lord. Key principles include: providing loving nurture and discipline, instructing children in God’s Word, modeling godliness at home, avoiding exasperation, imparting wisdom, giving needed correction, and commanding honor and obedience. Faithful adherence to these timeless principles will aid Christian parents in one of life’s greatest callings.