Bible Verses About Children

“Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.”

The psalm calls children a heritage and a reward from the Lord, likening them to arrows in a warrior's hands. They are received with thanks, not earned or owned.

“For You formed my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.”

David marvels that God shaped him before birth and knew his days in advance. Every child is known and intended by God from the very beginning.

“Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.”

When disciples try to shoo children away, Jesus is indignant, holds them, and blesses them. He also says the kingdom belongs to people who receive it as a child would.

“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.”

Asked who is greatest, Jesus places a child in the middle of the group. Humility and trust, not status, are what mark citizens of the kingdom.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as reminders on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates.”

Israel is told to love God fully and to talk about his ways at home, on the road, at bedtime and at breakfast. Faith is handed on mostly through ordinary life together.

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

This proverb encourages parents to set a child on a good path early. Many Christians read it as a general pattern of wisdom rather than a guarantee, and grown children still make their own choices.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Paul warns fathers not to provoke their children to anger, but to raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Correction is meant to build a child up, never to crush.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.”

A short and sober word to parents: do not exasperate your children, or they may lose heart. Encouragement matters as much as rules.

“We will not hide them from their children but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might and the wonders He has performed. For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the coming generation would know them— even children yet to be born— to arise and tell their own children that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments.”

One generation tells the next about God's power and deeds so that they will put their hope in him. Sharing your own story of God's help is part of this teaching.

“But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Timothy is reminded that he has known the Scriptures since infancy, taught by those closest to him. Early, patient teaching can bear fruit for decades.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.””

Children are asked to obey their parents in the Lord and to honor them, echoing one of the Ten Commandments. Honor is tied to a promise of a good life.

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.”

A parent urges a son to listen to instruction and not drop his mother's teaching, comparing it to a garland of grace. Wisdom starts with a willingness to listen.

“Let no one despise your youth, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”

Paul tells young Timothy not to let anyone look down on his youth, but to set an example in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Being young is no barrier to being useful.

“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Luke sums up Jesus' growing-up years: he grew in wisdom, in stature, and in favor with God and people. Growth in every area of life is part of a healthy childhood.

“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. God's own tenderness is the pattern for parents.

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

John says nothing brings him greater joy than hearing that his spiritual children walk in the truth. Many parents feel the same about their own, and pray for them daily.