What Does The Bible Say About Adult Children? (35 Bible Verses)
Navigating relationships with adult children can be challenging and rewarding. The Bible offers wisdom on how to maintain healthy, respectful relationships with our grown-up kids. From honoring parents to being supportive and understanding, let’s see what the Bible says about these evolving family dynamics.
What Does The Bible Say About Adult Children
Proverbs 22:6 – Training a Child in the Way of the Lord
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Colossians 3:20 – Obeying Parents in Everything
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:1-3 – Honoring Father and Mother
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise— ‘so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’ “
2 Timothy 3:14-15 – Continuing in God’s Word
“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Proverbs 1:8-9 – Listening to Parental Instruction
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”
Proverbs 13:1 – A Wise Son Listens to His Father
“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.”
Proverbs 15:20 – A Wise Son Brings Joy to His Father
“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
Proverbs 23:22 – Do Not Despise Your Mother when She is Old
“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
Proverbs 30:11 – Cursing Father or Mother
“Some people curse their father and do not thank their mother.”
Matthew 15:4 – Honor Father and Mother
“For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ “
Proverbs 20:20 – Cursing Parents
“If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.”
Proverbs 6:20 – Keeping Parent’s Commands
“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Proverbs 23:24-25 – Rejoicing in a Wise Son
“The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!”
Psalm 34:11 – Teaching Children Fear of the Lord
“Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.”
Proverbs 29:17 – Correcting Children
“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.”
Proverbs 22:15 – Foolishness is Bound in the Heart of a Child
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.”
Proverbs 23:13-14 – Using the Rod of Discipline
“Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. Punish them with the rod and save them from death.”
Proverbs 13:24 – Disciplining a Child with Love
“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”
Hebrews 12:7-8 – God Disciplines His Children
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.”
Proverbs 29:21 – Bringing Shame or Delight to Parents
“Whoever pampers their servant from childhood will have children who bring them shame.”
Proverbs 29:15 – Correcting a Child Gives Wisdom
“A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.”
Proverbs 19:18 – Disciplining Your Son While There is Still Hope
“Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.”
Proverbs 17:25 – Foolish Child and Grief to Parents
“Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the mother who bore them.”
Proverbs 29:3 – Bringing Joy to Parents by Living Wisely
“A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.”
Proverbs 20:7 – Righteous Children Bring Blessings
“The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.”
Proverbs 14:26 – Children Providing Refuge
“Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge.”
Psalms 127:3-5 – Children Are a Heritage from the Lord
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.”
Psalm 103:13 – A Father Has Compassion on His Children
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – Teaching God’s Word to Your Children
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Psalm 78:5-6 – Telling the Next Generation About God’s Praise
“He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.”
Deuteronomy 4:9 – Teaching God’s Word to Your Children
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
Psalm 145:4 – Praising God’s Works to the Next Generation
“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.”
Psalm 78:4 – Not Hiding God’s Testimonies from Children
“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
Proverbs 20:11 – Even a Child is Known by Their Actions
“Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right.”
Matthew 18:3-4 – Becoming Like Little Children
“And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’ “
Mark 10:14 – The Kingdom of God Belongs to Such as These
“When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’ “
Proverbs 31:28 – A Mother’s Children Rise and Call Her Blessed
“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”
1 Timothy 5:4 – Caring for Widows and Their Children
“But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.”
Psalm 22:9-10 – God’s Faithfulness from Childhood
“Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God.”
Proverbs 17:6 – Grandchildren are a Crown to the Elderly
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
2 John 1:4 – Children Walking in the Truth
“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us.”
Proverbs 15:5 – A Foolish Child Despises a Parent’s Discipline
“A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.”
Proverbs 13:22 – Wise People Leave an Inheritance for Their Children
“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.”
Isaiah 44:3 – God Pouring His Spirit on the Children
“For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.”
Acts 2:39 – The Promise is for Your Children
“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
Psalm 78:7 – Telling the Next Generation About God’s Commandments
“Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.”
