Children hold a special place in God’s heart and in His design for families and society. Throughout Scripture, God affirms the value of children, provides guidance for their upbringing, and calls us to welcome and nurture them. These Bible verses about children remind us that they are blessings from the Lord, that Jesus welcomed little ones, and that parents bear the sacred responsibility of teaching children about God. Understanding the biblical perspective on children transforms how we view, treat, and raise the next generation.
Children as Blessings and Gifts
Scripture repeatedly affirms that children are precious gifts from God:
Psalm 127:3-5 – “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 128:3 – “Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”
Genesis 33:5 – “Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. ‘Who are these with you?’ he asked. Jacob answered, ‘They are the children God has graciously given your servant.'”
Proverbs 17:6 – “Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
Genesis 1:28 – “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'”
Deuteronomy 7:13-14 – “He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. You will be blessed more than any other people; none of your men or women will be childless, nor will any of your livestock be without young.”
Psalm 113:9 – “He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.”
Jesus’s Love for Children
Christ demonstrated special care and affection for children throughout His ministry:
Matthew 19:14 – “Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'”
Mark 10:16 – “And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
Matthew 18:10 – “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.”
Luke 18:16-17 – “But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘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 will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.'”
Matthew 18:5-6 – “And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
Matthew 21:15-16 – “But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they were indignant. ‘Do you hear what these children are saying?’ they asked him. ‘Yes,’ replied Jesus, ‘have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise”?'”
Mark 9:36-37 – “He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.'”
Training and Teaching Children
Parents are commanded to teach children about God and His ways:
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – “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.”
Proverbs 22:6 – “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
2 Timothy 3:15 – “And how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Deuteronomy 11:19 – “Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Psalm 78:4-6 – “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. 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.”
Proverbs 1:8 – “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
Discipline and Correction
Scripture emphasizes the importance of loving discipline in raising children:
Proverbs 13:24 – “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”
Proverbs 29:17 – “Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.”
Proverbs 19:18 – “Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.”
Proverbs 22:15 – “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.”
Hebrews 12:11 – “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Proverbs 23:13-14 – “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 29:15 – “A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.”
Children’s Responsibility to Parents
Scripture also addresses children’s duties toward their parents:
Exodus 20:12 – “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Ephesians 6:1-3 – “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.'”
Colossians 3:20 – “Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Proverbs 23:22 – “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
Leviticus 19:3 – “Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.”
Proverbs 30:17 – “The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.”
Proverbs 20:20 – “If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.”
Examples of Young Faithful Servants
The Bible provides inspiring examples of children and youth who served God:
1 Samuel 2:26 – “And the boy Samuel continued to grow in stature and in favor with the Lord and with people.”
1 Samuel 3:10 – “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, ‘Speak, for your servant is listening.'”
2 Timothy 1:5 – “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”
Jeremiah 1:7 – “But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am too young.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you.'”
1 Timothy 4:12 – “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Ecclesiastes 12:1 – “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.'”
Psalm 8:2 – “Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”
Raising the Next Generation in Faith
These Bible verses about children reveal God’s heart for the young and His design for their upbringing. Children are not burdens or interruptions but precious gifts entrusted to parents for a season. They come into the world with inherent dignity as image-bearers of God, deserving of protection, nurture, and instruction. The way we treat children reflects our understanding of God’s character and our stewardship of His blessings. Every child represents potential for kingdom impact and the continuation of faith to the next generation.
Raising children according to biblical principles requires intentionality, sacrifice, and consistent effort. It means prioritizing their spiritual formation over academic achievement or athletic success. It involves modeling authentic faith, not just teaching religious concepts. It requires balancing love and discipline, grace and correction, freedom and guidance. Parents are called to create environments where children can ask questions, make mistakes, and grow in understanding while being rooted in God’s truth. This happens through regular family worship, conversations about faith during everyday moments, and living out biblical values in practical ways that children can observe and imitate.
As you meditate on these scriptures, consider your role in the lives of children—whether as a parent, grandparent, teacher, mentor, or friend. Are you investing in the next generation, helping them know and love God? Are you treating children with the respect and value that Scripture assigns to them? Are you creating opportunities for them to encounter Jesus and grow in faith? Remember that Jesus took time for children when others tried to push them aside, blessing them and declaring that the kingdom belongs to such as these. Follow His example by valuing children, protecting their innocence, nurturing their faith, and equipping them to become the godly men and women God designed them to be. The investment you make in children today will bear fruit for generations to come.
