Bible Verses About Children

“Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.”

Children as heritage, reward, and arrows: gifts received from God and aimed at a future beyond their parents.

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

The most quoted parenting proverb. Early formation sets a life’s trajectory, even accounting for detours.

“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Faith is passed on in ordinary moments: sitting, walking, bedtime, breakfast. The curriculum is daily life.

“And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”

A promise parents have prayed for generations: God teaching their children personally, with peace as the fruit.

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”

Parenting has two guardrails here: do not exasperate them, and do not leave them untaught. Warmth and formation together.

“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”

Jesus’ standing welcome to children. Bringing your kids toward Him has His explicit approval.

“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”

Mark adds the detail that Jesus was displeased when children were turned away, and that He blessed them one by one, in His arms.

“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”

Both parents’ teaching is treasured here, pictured as something beautiful the child wears for life.

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Timothy learned Scripture from childhood, from his mother and grandmother. Early seeds carried him into adulthood.

“We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.”

Each generation is a relay runner. Telling children what God has done is how the story keeps moving.

“For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:”

God’s blessing described as poured out on your offspring. A verse to pray over children and grandchildren by name.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

The end goal of raising children, stated as a parent’s deepest joy: not their success, but their walking in truth.