What does the Bible say about widows?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls God’s people to honor, protect, and provide for widows, reflecting God’s own fatherly care for the vulnerable. God warns against oppressing widows in Exodus 22:22-24 and is praised as their defender in Psalms 68:5 and 146:9. Isaiah 1:17 and James 1:27 show that true righteousness and pure religion include seeking justice and practical care for those in need. In 1 Timothy 5, the church is to support genuinely needy widows, while families bear the primary responsibility to care for their relatives. Jesus condemns religious leaders who exploit widows in Luke 20:47, calling believers to compassionate integrity.
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Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- Exodus 22:22-24
[22] "You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. [23] If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; [24] and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
- Psalms 68:5
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, Is God in his holy habitation.
- 1 Timothy 5:3-6
[3] Honor widows who are widows indeed. [4] But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to repay their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. [5] Now she who is a widow indeed, and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. [6] But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.
- 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.
- Psalms 146:9
Yahweh preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, But the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
- Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do well. Seek justice, Relieve the oppressed, Judge the fatherless, Plead for the widow."
- 1 Timothy 5:16
If any man or woman who believes has widows, let them relieve them, and don't let the assembly be burdened; that it might relieve those who are widows indeed.
- James 1:27
Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
- Proverbs 15:25
Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, But he will keep the widow's borders intact.
- Luke 20:47
who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these will receive greater condemnation."
Study outline
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- Character of true Luke 2:37; 1 Timothy 5:5; 1 Timothy 5:10
- God
- Surely hears the cry of Exodus 22:23
- Judges for Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalms 68:5
- Relieves Psalms 146:9
- Establishes the border of Proverbs 15:25
- Will witness against oppressors of Malachi 3:5
- Exhorted to trust in God Jeremiah 49:11
- Should not be
- Afflicted Exodus 22:22
- Oppressed Jeremiah 7:6; Zechariah 7:10
- Treated with violence Jeremiah 22:3
- Deprived of raiment in pledge Deuteronomy 24:17
- Should be
- Pleaded for Isaiah 1:17
- Honoured, if widows indeed 1 Timothy 5:3
- Relieved by their friends 1 Timothy 5:4; 1 Timothy 5:16
- Relieved by the Church Acts 6:1; 1 Timothy 5:9
- Visited in affliction James 1:27
- Allowed to share in our blessings Deuteronomy 14:29; Deuteronomy 16:11; Deuteronomy 16:14; Deuteronomy 24:19-21
- Though poor, may be liberal Mark 12:42; Mark 12:43
- When young, exposed to may temptations 1 Timothy 5:11-14
- Saints
- Relieve Acts 9:39
- Cause joy to Job 29:13
- Disappoint not Job 31:16
- The wicked
- Do no good to Job 24:21
- Send, away empty Job 22:9
- Take pledges from Job 24:3
- Reject the cause of Isaiah 1:23
- Vex Ezekiel 22:7
- Make a prey of Isaiah 10:2; Matthew 23:14
- Slay Psalms 94:6
- Curse for perverting judgment of Deuteronomy 27:19
- Woe to those who oppress Isaiah 10:1; Isaiah 10:2
- Blessings on those who relieve Deuteronomy 14:29
- A type of Zion in affliction Lamentations 5:3
- Were released from all obligation to former husbands Romans 7:3
- Were clothed in mourning after the decease of husbands Genesis 38:14; Genesis 38:19; 2 Samuel 14:2; 2 Samuel 14:5
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