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Parents

Parents bear significant responsibility before God for training and disciplining their children in righteousness, and their faithfulness or unfaithfulness has lasting spiritual consequences for their families.

Overview

Scripture presents parenting as a sacred trust from God. Parents are called to instruct their children in God's ways and maintain their own covenant faithfulness, knowing that their example and instruction shape their children's spiritual trajectories. The Bible acknowledges both the blessing of obedient parenting and the consequences of parental unfaithfulness that can extend across generations.

Key Scriptures

"For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice" (Genesis 18:19, ESV).

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her" (Proverbs 31:28, ESV).

"But his mother taught him evil" (2 Chronicles 22:3, NASB)—illustrating how parental instruction directs a child's path.

Application

Christian parents should prioritize teaching their children God's Word and modeling genuine faith, recognizing that faithful parenting is worship and spiritual investment in the next generation.

Scripture References 40

Genesis 18:19 Proverbs 31:28 2 Chronicles 22:3 Genesis 6:18 Exodus 20:6 Psalms 103:17 Ezekiel 16:44 Ezekiel 16:45 Exodus 20:5 Leviticus 20:5 Isaiah 14:20 Jeremiah 9:14 Lamentations 5:7 2 Samuel 18:5 2 Samuel 18:33 1 Samuel 3:13 Genesis 17:18 1 Chronicles 29:19 1 Samuel 1:28 Mark 6:24 Jeremiah 9:14 1 Peter 1:18 1 Samuel 2:27 1 Samuel 2:28 1 Samuel 2:29 1 Samuel 2:30 1 Samuel 2:31 1 Samuel 2:32 1 Samuel 2:33 1 Samuel 2:34 1 Samuel 2:35 1 Samuel 2:36 1 Samuel 4:10 1 Samuel 4:11 1 Samuel 4:12 1 Samuel 4:13 1 Samuel 4:14 1 Samuel 4:15 1 Samuel 4:16 1 Samuel 4:17

Full Topical Reference List 177 total — Nave's Topical Bible

Abraham

Genesis 18:19

Are blessed by their children

Athaliah

2 Chronicles 22:3

Covenant benefits of, entailed on children

Exodus 20:6 Genesis 6:18 Psalms 103:17

Curses entailed

Exodus 20:5 Ezekiel 16:44 Ezekiel 16:45 Isaiah 14:20 Jeremiah 9:14 Lamentations 5:7 Leviticus 20:5

David

2 Samuel 18:5 2 Samuel 18:33

Eli

1 Samuel 3:13

For their spiritual welfare

1 Chronicles 29:19 Genesis 17:18

Hannah

1 Samuel 1:28

Herodias

Mark 6:24

Instruct their children in evil

1 Peter 1:18 Jeremiah 9:14

Involved in children's wickedness

1 Samuel 2:27 1 Samuel 2:28 1 Samuel 2:29 1 Samuel 2:30 1 Samuel 2:31 1 Samuel 2:32 1 Samuel 2:33 1 Samuel 2:34 1 Samuel 2:35 1 Samuel 2:36 1 Samuel 4:10 1 Samuel 4:11 1 Samuel 4:12 1 Samuel 4:13 1 Samuel 4:14 1 Samuel 4:15 1 Samuel 4:16 1 Samuel 4:17 1 Samuel 4:18 1 Samuel 4:19 1 Samuel 4:20 1 Samuel 4:21 1 Samuel 4:22

Jacob

Genesis 44:20 Genesis 44:30

Job

Job 1:5

Joseph

Genesis 48:13 Genesis 48:14 Genesis 48:15 Genesis 48:16 Genesis 48:17 Genesis 48:18 Genesis 48:19 Genesis 48:20

Leave a blessing to their children

Isaiah 65:23 Proverbs 11:21 Psalms 112:2

Lois and Eunice

2 Timothy 1:5

Manasseh

2 Chronicles 33:6

Manoah

Judges 13:8

Mother of Lemuel

Proverbs 31:1

Mother of Micah

Judges 17:3

Mother of Moses

Exodus 2:2 Exodus 2:3

Negligence of, sorely punished

1 Samuel 3:13

Nobleman

John 4:49

Not to make unholy connections for them

Genesis 24:1 Genesis 24:2 Genesis 24:3 Genesis 24:4 Genesis 28:1 Genesis 28:2

Not to provoke them

Colossians 3:21 Ephesians 6:4

Paternal reproaches

Genesis 9:24 Genesis 9:25 Genesis 49:3 Genesis 49:4 Genesis 49:5 Genesis 49:6 Genesis 49:7

Receive their children from God

1 Samuel 1:27 Genesis 33:5 Psalms 127:3

Saul

Set a bad example to their children

Amos 2:4 Ezekiel 20:18

Shunammite

2 Kings 4:19 2 Kings 4:20

Sins of, visited on their children

Exodus 20:5 Isaiah 14:20 Lamentations 5:7

To bless them

Genesis 48:15 Hebrews 11:20

To bring them to Christ

Matthew 19:13 Matthew 19:14

To command them to obey God

1 Chronicles 28:9 Deuteronomy 32:46

To correct them

Hebrews 12:7 Proverbs 13:24 Proverbs 19:18 Proverbs 23:13 Proverbs 29:17

To instruct them in God's word

Deuteronomy 4:9 Deuteronomy 11:19 Isaiah 38:19

To love them

Titus 2:4

To pity them

Psalms 103:13

To provide for them

1 Timothy 5:8 2 Corinthians 12:14 Job 42:15

To rule them

1 Timothy 3:4 1 Timothy 3:12

To tell them of God's judgments

Joel 1:3

To tell them of the miraculous works of God

Exodus 10:2 Psalms 78:4

To train them up for God

Ephesians 6:4 Proverbs 22:6

Unclassified scriptures relating to

1 Timothy 3:4 1 Timothy 3:5 Deuteronomy 4:9 Deuteronomy 4:10 Deuteronomy 6:7 Deuteronomy 6:20 Deuteronomy 6:21 Deuteronomy 6:22 Deuteronomy 6:23 Deuteronomy 6:24 Deuteronomy 11:18 Deuteronomy 11:19 Deuteronomy 11:20 Deuteronomy 11:21 Deuteronomy 32:46 Exodus 10:2 Exodus 12:26 Exodus 12:27 Exodus 13:8 Exodus 13:14 Exodus 20:5 Exodus 20:10 Exodus 21:17 Genesis 18:19 Isaiah 38:19 Isaiah 49:15 Isaiah 66:13 Jeremiah 31:1 Jeremiah 49:11 Lamentations 5:7 Leviticus 20:9 Leviticus 23:3 Luke 11:11 Luke 11:12 Luke 11:13 Proverbs 3:12 Proverbs 13:22 Proverbs 13:24 Proverbs 19:18 Proverbs 22:6 Proverbs 22:15 Proverbs 23:13 Proverbs 23:14 Proverbs 27:11 Proverbs 29:15 Proverbs 29:17 Proverbs 31:28 Psalms 78:5 Psalms 78:6 Psalms 103:13

When in sickness

2 Samuel 12:16 John 4:46 John 4:49 Mark 5:23

When in temptation

Job 1:5

Wicked children, a cause of grief to

Proverbs 10:1 Proverbs 17:25

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