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What does the Bible say about family unity?

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The Bible teaches that family unity is a gracious gift to be cultivated through faith, love, mutual responsibility, and submission to God’s design. Marriage forms a covenantal union in which husband and wife become one flesh (Genesis 2:24), while children are called to honor and obey their parents and parents to nurture them without harshness (Ephesians 6:1-4). Households should provide for their own, govern with integrity, and train children in wisdom and godliness (1 Timothy 5:8; Proverbs 22:6). Psalm 133:1 celebrates the goodness of dwelling together in unity, and 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 shows that enduring, self-giving love is its essential bond.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • 1 Timothy 5:8

    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.

  • Ephesians 6:1-4

    [1] Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise: [3] "that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth." [4] You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

  • Proverbs 22:6

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

  • Ephesians 6:4

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

  • Psalms 133:1

    > See how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to live together in unity!

  • 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

    [1] If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don't have love, I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal. [2] If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don't have love, I am nothing. [3] If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing. [4] Love is patient and is kind; love doesn't envy. Love doesn't brag, is not proud, [5] doesn't behave itself inappropriately, doesn't seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; [6] doesn't rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; [7] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. [8] 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. [9] For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; [10] but when that which is complete has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. [11] When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish things. [12] For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known. [13] But now faith, hope, and love remain--these three. The greatest of these is love.

  • 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 3:5

    Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, And don't lean on your own understanding.

  • 1 John 4:7

    Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.

  • 1 Timothy 3:4

    one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence;

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