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What does the Bible say about respecting the elderly?

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The Bible calls us to honor older people with reverence, humility, practical care, and gratitude for the wisdom God often gives through long life. Leviticus 19:32 commands God’s people to rise before the aged and honor the elderly in the fear of the Lord. Children especially are bound to honor father and mother, as Exodus 20:12 and Ephesians 6:1-4 teach, while 1 Timothy 5:8 stresses a family’s duty to provide for its own. Proverbs 16:31 and Job 12:12 commend the dignity and wisdom associated with age, though all wisdom ultimately belongs to God. Christians should therefore show due respect without flattery, serving one another in humility as Philippians 2:3 commands.

Top passages, ranked by readers

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

  • Leviticus 19:32 14 votes

    You shall rise up before the gray head, and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.

  • 1 Peter 5:5 11 votes

    Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

  • 1 Timothy 5:8 5 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.

  • Ephesians 6:2 5 votes

    "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise:

  • 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.

  • Ephesians 6:1-4 4 votes

    [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.

  • Philippians 2:3 3 votes

    doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

  • Proverbs 16:31 2 votes

    Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.

  • Job 12:12 2 votes

    With aged men is wisdom, In length of days understanding.

  • Romans 13:7 2 votes

    Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.

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