What does the Bible say about children leaving home?

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

• Genesis 2:24

  Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

• Proverbs 22:6

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

• Luke 15:11-32

  [11] He said, "A certain man had two sons. [12] The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his livelihood between them. [13] Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. [14] When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. [15] He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. [16] He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. [17] But when he came to himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I'm dying with hunger! [18] I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. [19] I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants."' [20] "He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. [21] The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' [22] "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. [23] Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; [24] for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to celebrate. [25] "Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. [26] He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. [27] He said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.' [28] But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. [29] But he answered his father, 'Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. [30] But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.' [31] "He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. [32] But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.'"

• Ephesians 5:31

  "For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh."

• Joshua 1:9

  Haven't I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; don't be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.

• 2 Timothy 3:14-15

  [14] But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them. [15] From infancy, you have known the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.

• Ephesians 6:4

  You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

• Proverbs 22:15

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

• Proverbs 13:24

  One who spares the rod hates his son, But one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

• Colossians 3:20

  Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.

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• children returning home
• leaving home
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