What does the Bible say about child born out of wedlock?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that a child born outside marriage bears no personal guilt or lesser worth before God, while sexual sin and injustice remain matters for repentance and mercy. Deuteronomy 23:2 gave Israel a serious covenantal restriction under the old civil order, highlighting the consequences of sin, not licensing contempt toward children. Hebrews 12:8 uses family language figuratively to assure believers of the Father’s loving discipline. Scripture consistently commands care for the vulnerable: Exodus 22:22 warns against afflicting the fatherless, Isaiah 10:2 condemns depriving them of justice, and 1 John 3:17 calls God’s people to practical compassion. In Christ, grace welcomes sinners and establishes every believer’s identity in God’s family.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Deuteronomy 23:2 15 votes
A bastard shall not enter into the assembly of Yahweh; even to the tenth generation shall none of his enter into the assembly of Yahweh.
- Hebrews 12:8 7 votes
But if you are without discipline, of which all have been made partakers, then are you illegitimate, and not children.
- Exodus 22:22 5 votes
"You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.
- 1 Kings 3:26-28 4 votes
[26] Then spoke the woman whose the living child was to the king, for her heart yearned over her son, and she said, Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and in no way kill it. But the other said, It shall be neither mine nor yours; divide it. [27] Then the king answered, Give her the living child, and in no way kill it: she is the mother of it. [28] All Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him, to do justice.
- Isaiah 10:2 4 votes
to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
- 1 John 3:17 4 votes
But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him?
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