What does the Bible say about family love?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible says that family love is a God-given calling marked by faithful care, honor, patience, forgiveness, and sacrificial service. Love within the home reflects God’s prior love for us, for “we love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Parents are to nurture and train children in the ways of wisdom and faith (Proverbs 22:6), while children are called to honor their parents (Exodus 20:12). Believers must also provide responsibly for their households (1 Timothy 5:8). First Corinthians 13:4-7 describes the character needed in every family: love is patient, kind, enduring, and not self-seeking. Children are a heritage from the Lord, and families depend on his strength and grace (Psalms 127:3-5; Philippians 4:13).
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 10 votes
Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
- 1 Timothy 5:8 9 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.
- 1 John 4:19 7 votes
We love him, because he first loved us.
- Exodus 20:12 5 votes
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
- 1 Corinthians 13:7 5 votes
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.
- 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 Corinthians 13:4-8 4 votes
Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.
- 1 Corinthians 13:13 3 votes
But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.
- Philippians 4:13 3 votes
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
- 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.
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