Explain Bible

What does the Bible say about bearing children?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible presents bearing children as a good gift of God, to be received with gratitude, faith, and dependence on his sovereign care, while never making parenthood the measure of a person's worth or salvation. Genesis 1:28 gives humanity the creation mandate to be fruitful, and Psalms 127:3-5 calls children a heritage and reward from the Lord. Yet Genesis 3:16 recognizes that childbirth occurs in a fallen world and may involve pain and sorrow. 1 Timothy 2:15 teaches that women are saved not by childbearing itself, but through persevering faith in Christ expressed in godly living. Parents are therefore called to raise children in wise, loving discipline and instruction, as Proverbs 22:6 teaches.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • Psalms 127:3

    Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

  • Psalms 113:9

    He settles the barren woman in her home, As a joyful mother of children. Praise Yah!

  • Psalms 127:3-5

    [3] Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward. [4] As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, So are the children of youth. [5] Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won't be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

  • Genesis 3:16

    To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

  • 1 Timothy 2:15

    but she will be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.

  • Proverbs 22:6

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

  • 1 Timothy 5:14

    I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling.

  • Genesis 1:28

    God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

  • Revelation 1:1

    This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John,

  • Proverbs 22:15

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

Related topics

Go deeper

Ask Explain Bible AI about bearing children and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.

Ask what the Bible says about bearing children