What does the Bible say about adoption?

Bible Topic · WEB

Top passages, ranked by readers

Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible

  • Ephesians 1:5

    having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,

  • James 1:27

    Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

  • Matthew 18:5

    Whoever receives one such little child in my name receives me,

  • John 1:12

    But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:

  • Acts 7:21

    When he was thrown out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and reared him as her own son.

  • Esther 2:7

    He brought up Hadassah, who is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter.

  • Matthew 25:40

    "The King will answer them, 'Most assuredly I tell you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

  • Psalms 68:5-6

    [5] A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation. [6] God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, But the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.

  • Romans 8:15

    For you didn't receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!"

  • Deuteronomy 10:18

    He does execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, in giving him food and clothing.

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