25 Bible Verses About Family

When God created humans, he designed us to live in families. The Bible reveals that family relationships are important to God. The church, the universal body of believers, is called the family of God. When we receive God's Spirit at salvation, we are adopted into his family. This collection of Bible verses about family will help you focus on the various relational aspects of a godly family unit.

25 Key Bible Verses About Family

In the following passage, God created the first family by instituting the inaugural wedding between Adam and Eve. We learn from this account in Genesis that marriage was God's idea, designed and established by the Creator.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. ​(Genesis 2:24, ​ ESV)

Children, Honor Your Father and Mother

The fifth of the Ten Commandments calls children to give honor to their father and mother by treating them with respect and obedience. It is the first commandment that comes with a promise. This command is emphasized and often repeated in the Bible, and it applies to grown children as well:

"Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you." (Exodus 20:12, ​ NLT)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and 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 1:7-9, NIV)

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother. (Proverbs 15:20, NIV)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise) ... (Ephesians 6:1-2, ESV)

Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. (Colossians 3:20, NLT)

Inspiration for Family Leaders

God calls his followers to faithful service, and Joshua defined what that meant so no one would be mistaken. To serve God sincerely means to worship him wholeheartedly, with undivided devotion. Joshua promised the people he would lead by example; He would serve the Lord faithfully, and lead his family to do the same. The following verses offer inspiration to all leaders of families: 

"But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15, NLT)

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. (Psalm 128:3-4, ESV)

Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, and everyone in his household believed in the Lord. Many others in Corinth also heard Paul, became believers, and were baptized. (Acts 18:8, NLT)

So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church? (1 Timothy 3:2-5, NLT)

Blessings for Generations

God's love and mercy last forever for those who fear him and obey his precepts. His goodness will flow down through the generations of a family: 

But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children — with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. (Psalm 103:17-18,  NIV)

The wicked die and disappear, but the family of the godly stands firm. (Proverbs 12:7, NLT)

A large family was considered to be a blessing in ancient Israel. This passage conveys the idea that children provide security and protection for the family:

Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior's hands. How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them! He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates. (Psalm 127:3-5, NLT)

Scripture suggests that in the end, those who bring trouble on their own family or don't take care of their family members will inherit nothing but disgrace:

Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. (Proverbs 11:29, NIV)

A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live. (Proverbs 15:27, NIV)

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8, NASB)

A Crown to Her Husband

A virtuous wife — a woman of strength and character — is a crown to her husband. This crown is a symbol of authority, status, or honor. On the other hand, a disgraceful wife will do nothing but weaken and destroy her husband:

A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. (Proverbs 12:4, NIV)

These verses stress the importance of teaching children the right way to live:

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it. (Proverbs 22:6, NLT)

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4, NLT)

The Family of God

Family relationships are vital because they are a pattern for how we live and relate within the family of God. When we received God's Spirit at salvation, God made us full sons and daughters by formally adopting us into his spiritual family. We were given the same rights as children born into that family. God did this through Jesus Christ:

“Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.​" (Acts 13:26)

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15, ESV)

My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters. I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them. They are the people of Israel, chosen to be God's adopted children. God revealed his glory to them. He made covenants with them and gave them his law. He gave them the privilege of worshiping him and receiving his wonderful promises. (Romans 9:2-4, NLT)

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. (Ephesians 1:5, NLT)

So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. You are members of God's family. (Ephesians 2:19, NLT)

For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named ... (Ephesians 3:14-15, ESV)