What does the Bible say about parents?

Bible Topic · WEB

The Bible teaches that parents are called to nurture, instruct, protect, and lovingly discipline their children, while children are called to honor and obey their parents in the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:4 commend faithful training shaped by God’s truth, not harshness or provocation. Colossians 3:21 warns fathers not to discourage their children, and Proverbs 29:15, 17 presents wise correction as a means of giving wisdom and peace. Exodus 20:12 establishes honoring parents as a lasting moral duty. Parents also bear responsibility to provide for their households, as 1 Timothy 5:8 teaches. Children are God’s gracious gift and heritage, entrusted to parents for humble, prayerful stewardship.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

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.
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.
Colossians 3:21
Fathers, don't provoke your children, so that they won't be discouraged.
Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which Yahweh your God gives you.
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.
Proverbs 29:17
Correct your son, and he will give you peace; Yes, he will bring delight to your soul.
2 Corinthians 12:14
Behold, this is the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you; for I seek not your possessions, but you. For the children ought not to save up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
Proverbs 29:15
The rod of correction gives wisdom, But a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
Psalms 127:3
Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward.

Study outline

Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.

Nave's Topical Bible

Covenant, benefits of, entailed on children Genesis 6:18; Exodus 20:6; Psalms 103:17
Curses entailed Exodus 20:5; Leviticus 20:5; Isaiah 14:20; Jeremiah 9:14; Lamentations 5:7; Ezekiel 16:44; Ezekiel 45
Involved in children’s wickedness 1 Samuel 2:27-36; 1 Samuel 4:10-22
Partiality of
Isaac for Esau Genesis 25:28
Rebekah for Jacob Genesis 25:28; Genesis 27:6-17
Jacob for Joseph Genesis 33:2; Genesis 37:3; Genesis 48:22
Jacob for Benjamin Genesis 42:4
See PARTIALITY
Parental affection exemplified by
Hagar Genesis 21:15; Genesis 21:16
Rebekah’s mother Genesis 24:55
Isaac and Rebekah Genesis 25:28
Isaac Genesis 27:26; Genesis 27:27
Laban Genesis 31:26-28
Jacob Genesis 37:3; Genesis 37:4; Genesis 42:4; Genesis 42:38; Genesis 43:13; Genesis 43:14; Genesis 45:26-28; Genesis 48:10; Genesis 48:11
Moses’ mother Exodus 2
Naomi Ruth 1:8; Ruth 1:9
Hannah 1 Samuel 2:19
David 2 Samuel 12:18-23; 2 Samuel 13:38; 2 Samuel 13:39; 2 Samuel 14:1; 2 Samuel 14:33; 2 Samuel 18:5; 2 Samuel 18:12; 2 Samuel 18:13; 2 Samuel 18:33; 2 Samuel 19:1-6
Rizpah 2 Samuel 21:10
The true mother of the infant brought to Solomon 1 Kings 3:22-28
Mary Matthew 12:46; Luke 2:48; John 2:5; John 19:25
Jairus Mark 5:23
Father of the demoniac Mark 9:24
The nobleman John 4:49
Indulgent.Eli 1 Samuel 2:27-36; 1 Samuel 3:13; 1 Samuel 3:14
David 1 Kings 1:6
Paternal blessings of
Noah Genesis 9:24-27
Abraham Genesis 17:18
Isaac Genesis 27:10-40; Genesis 28:3; Genesis 28:4
Jacob Genesis 48:15-20; Genesis 49:1-28
Prayers on behalf of children
Of Hannah 1 Samuel 1:27
Of David 2 Samuel 7:25-29; 1 Chronicles 17:16-27; 2 Samuel 12:16; 1 Chronicles 22:12; 1 Chronicles 29:19
Of Job Job 1:5
Paternal reproaches Genesis 9:24; Genesis 9:25; Genesis 49:3-7
INFLUENCE OF
See INFLUENCE

Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.

Torrey's New Topical Textbook

Receive their children from God Genesis 33:5; 1 Samuel 1:27; Psalms 127:3
Their duty to their children is
To love them Titus 2:4
To bring them to Christ Matthew 19:13; Matthew 19:14
To train them up for God Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4
To instruct them in God’s word Deuteronomy 4:9; Deuteronomy 11:19; Isaiah 38:19
To tell them of God’s judgments Joel 1:3
To tell them of the miraculous works of God Exodus 10:2; Psalms 78:4
To command them to obey God Deuteronomy 32:46; 1 Chronicles 28:9
To bless them Genesis 48:15; Hebrews 11:20
To pity them Psalms 103:13
To provide for them Job 42:15; 2 Corinthians 12:14; 1 Timothy 5:8
To rule them 1 Timothy 3:4; 1 Timothy 3:12
To correct them Proverbs 13:24; Proverbs 19:18; Proverbs 23:13; Proverbs 29:17; Hebrews 12:7
Not to provoke them Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21
Not to make unholy connections for them Genesis 24:1-4; Genesis 28:1; Genesis 28:2
Wicked children, a cause of grief to Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 17:25
Should pray for their children
For their spiritual welfare Genesis 17:18; 1 Chronicles 29:19
When in temptation Job 1:5
When in sickness 2 Samuel 12:16; Mark 5:23; John 4:46; John 4:49
When Faithful
Are blessed by their children Proverbs 31:28
Leave a blessing to their children Psalms 112:2; Proverbs 11:21; Isaiah 65:23
Sins of, visited on their children Exodus 20:5; Isaiah 14:20; Lamentations 5:7
Negligence of, sorely punished 1 Samuel 3:13
When wicked
Instruct their children in evil Jeremiah 9:14; 1 Peter 1:18
Set a bad example to their children Ezekiel 20:18; Amos 2:4
Good - Exemplified
Abraham Genesis 18:19
Jacob Genesis 44:20; Genesis 44:30
Joseph Genesis 48:13-20
Mother of Moses Exodus 2:2; Exodus 2:3
Manoah Judges 13:8
Hannah 1 Samuel 1:28
David 2 Samuel 18:5; 2 Samuel 18:33
Shunammite 2 Kings 4:19; 2 Kings 4:20
Job Job 1:5
Mother of Lemuel Proverbs 31:1

Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.

Go deeper

Ask Explain Bible AI about parents and get a fuller answer from a Reformed theological perspective.

Ask what the Bible says about parents