Bible verses about raising children
parenting and the bible
Do you need encouragement as a parent? Do you wonder if you are on the right track in terms of raising your children? You might be on the verge of welcoming your first child into the world, and the thought of parenting for the first time makes you nervous.
You know, you think of those years, as I did when Jacob was born, of him or her growing up. And thoughts go through your mind, such as: "Do I have what it takes to raise him in the proper way through all the ups and downs and challenges?"
You might even find the idea of child-raising overwhelming.
The Scriptures offer encouragement--giving general guidelines on how to raise your children in the Lord.
what does god say in the bible about parenting?
The following are 10 Bible verses about raising children that you'll find from the New King James Version (NKJV) on this very topic...
1. Psalm 34:11: "Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord."
The psalmist is saying, "Hey kids, gather around! Let me tell you about respecting and honoring the Lord." It's like an invitation for parents and mentors to share the importance of God in a way that's interesting and relatable. The tone is firm and one implies the priority of the instruction.
Note: I usually intend to list the Bible verses in chronological order (edits to other pages pending), however, I thought putting Psalm 34:11 at the top (number 1) would naturally flow into the second verse on the list from Deuteronomy...
2. Deuteronomy 6:6-7: "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up."
This Bible verse about raising children is like a friendly reminder to keep the conversation about God going with your kids. Continue to talk about His teachings when you're at home, taking a stroll, going to bed, or getting up. Make faith a natural part of your family's daily chatter.
3. Psalm 127:3-5: "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate."
This verse is a thumbs-up for recognizing the value of your children and investing time and love in shaping them. A family rooted in God's ways? That's your secret weapon against life's challenges.
Next, you'll find several Bible verses about raising children from the Book of Proverbs, the theme of which is wisdom...
4. Proverbs 13:24: "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly."
This verse presents the idea of discipline as a sign of love. It's like saying, "Guide your kids in the right direction. It might be tough, but it's a crucial part of helping them grow into responsible individuals."
5. Proverbs 19:18: Chasten your son while there is hope, and do not set your heart on his destruction."
Think of correcting your kids as a hopeful action. The idea is to guide them toward positive change rather than getting frustrated or as opposed to giving up or letting it go. There's potential for growth and transformation, so continue to correct him or her with the goal of improvement in mind. And remember maturity is a process, which requires patience.
6. Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
Ever heard the saying "start as you mean to go on"? The meaning of the statement, according to a post from Hilderstone College on Facebook is "Begin doing things in a different way in order to make a positive change to your life."
Proverbs 22:6 is like the OG version. It's saying, "Teach your kids the good stuff early on, and it'll stick with them for life." It's all about setting the right course from the get-go.
7. Proverbs 29:15: "The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother."
This one's a bit of tough love. It's saying, "Discipline and correction are like the GPS for wisdom. Without it, kids might end up on a detour that brings shame." So, guide them on the right path.
8. Proverbs 29:17: "Correct your son, and he will give you rest; yes, he will give delight to your soul."
Imagine your kid turning out to be a source of joy and rest. That picture is ideal, isn't it? Well, such a wish is not impossible. This verse in Proverbs encourages those of you who are parents to correct your children with love and wisdom. It's like saying, "Help your kids stay on track, and family life will be a whole lot happier."
9. Ephesians 6:4: "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
Dads, this one's for you. Though, moms, you too can find applications from this message, which is basically saying not to be impatient and short-tempered with your kids--or blow up at them and thus provoke them. Instead, teach them about God and help them grow in the right way. Again, patience is key here. You want to be firm of course but not angry in a way that's upsetting to them. Pray for and use wisdom in the way you communicate with your children.
10. Colossians 3:21: "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged."
Ever been told, "Don't be too hard on the kids, or they'll lose heart"? That's the idea here. This verse reminds you parents to be encouraging in how you raise your children, avoiding anything that might crush their spirits. After all, a discouraged kid won't thrive as much as a supported one.
I hope this list of Bible verses about raising children helps as you take heed to the responsibilities and principles of parenting in a way that honors God. A great Christian resource on parenting is from Focus on the Family: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/
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For Scriptures relevant to pregnancy, check out:
https://www.encouragementscriptures.com/The-Bible-and-pregnancy.html
For Scriptures pertaining to the broader topic of family, go to:
https://www.encouragementscriptures.com/The-Bible-and-family.html