What does the Bible say about widows and orphans?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible calls God’s people to reflect his fatherly care by defending, providing for, and honoring widows and orphans, who are especially vulnerable to injustice. God himself is “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows” (Psalm 68:5), and he watches over them (Psalm 146:9). True religion includes caring for orphans and widows in their distress (James 1:27), not merely professing faith. The Law sternly forbids afflicting them (Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 27:19), while the prophets command God’s people to seek justice and protect the oppressed (Isaiah 1:17; Zechariah 7:9-10). Such mercy flows from faith in the righteous God, who hears the needy and calls his people to do likewise.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- James 1:27 5 votes
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.
- Isaiah 1:17 3 votes
Learn to do well. Seek justice. Relieve the oppressed. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow.”
- Psalms 146:9 3 votes
Yahweh preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but he turns the way of the wicked upside down.
- Psalms 68:5 3 votes
A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
- Zechariah 7:9-10 2 votes
“Thus has Yahweh of Armies spoken, saying, ‘Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother. Don’t oppress the widow, the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.’
- Exodus 22:22 2 votes
“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.
- Psalms 82:3 2 votes
“Defend the weak, the poor, and the fatherless. Maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
- Exodus 22:22-24 2 votes
“You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child. If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry; and my wrath will grow hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.
- Deuteronomy 27:19 2 votes
‘Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, fatherless, and widow.’ All the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
- Job 29:12-13 2 votes
because I delivered the poor who cried, and the fatherless also, who had no one to help him, the blessing of him who was ready to perish came on me, and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
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