What does the Bible say about family?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that family is God’s good gift, designed for faithful love, nurture, provision, honor, and worship under his gracious rule. Marriage joins a man and woman in a covenantal one-flesh union, forming the ordinary foundation of the household (Genesis 2:24). Children are a heritage from the Lord, to be welcomed and trained in godly wisdom (Psalms 127:3-5; Proverbs 22:6), while children are called to obey and honor their parents (Exodus 20:12; Colossians 3:20). Parents and households should provide loving care, and Christian homes are to serve the Lord together (1 Timothy 5:8; Joshua 24:15). Every human family ultimately reflects God’s fatherhood, and the church becomes a household of faith in Christ (Ephesians 3:14-15).
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Exodus 20:12 4 votes
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
- Proverbs 22:6 4 votes
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
- 1 Timothy 5:8 3 votes
But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
- Colossians 3:20 3 votes
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord.
- 1 Timothy 3:5 3 votes
(for how could someone who doesn’t know how to rule his own house take care of God’s assembly?)
- Genesis 2:24 2 votes
Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.
- Joshua 24:15 2 votes
If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”
- Psalms 128:3 2 votes
Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table.
- Psalms 127:3-5 2 votes
Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. 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.
- Ephesians 3:14-15 2 votes
For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
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