Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.
Overview
A father or mother who forsakes a child, or a household divided, is what a few of the verses that readers of OpenBible linked to family rejection speak of. All are shown here in three groups, described below with their references.
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In Psalm 27:10 the psalmist says that though his father and mother forsake him, the LORD will receive him, and Psalm 34:17–20 says that the LORD is near to the brokenhearted. In Isaiah 49:15 the LORD asks whether a woman can forget her nursing child, and says that even if she could, He will not forget. Ezekiel 16:3–12 is the LORD's word to Jerusalem, pictured as a newborn thrown out into the open field on the day of her birth, whom He saw, made to live and clothed.
In Matthew 10:35–37 Jesus, sending out the Twelve, says that He has come to turn a man against his father and a daughter against her mother, and that anyone who loves father or mother more than Him is not worthy of Him. 1 Timothy 5:8 speaks of providing for one's own household, Ephesians 6:2 quotes the command to honor father and mother, and Ephesians 6:4 tells fathers not to provoke their children to wrath.
The third group does not speak of family. 1 John 4:1 says to test the spirits, Genesis 12:3 is the LORD's promise to Abram, Proverbs 3:5 speaks of trusting the LORD, John 3:16 of God's love for the world, 2 Corinthians 12:9 of the Lord's words to Paul about His grace, Galatians 5:14 of loving one's neighbor, Philippians 4:13 is Paul speaking of himself, and Hebrews 13:5 tells its readers to be content, because God has said He will never leave them. They appear because readers of OpenBible voted for them under this topic.
17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. 18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all. 20He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken.
KJV
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. 18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. 20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
WEB
17The righteous cry, and the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all. 20He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
A psalm whose heading attributes it to David, from the time he pretended to be mad before Abimelech.
Context (BSB)
Psalm 34:16
But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.
Psalm 34:21
Evil will slay the wicked, and the haters of the righteous will be condemned.
3and tell her that this is what the Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: Your origin and your birth were in the land of the Canaanites. Your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. 4On the day of your birth your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths. 5No one cared enough for you to do even one of these things out of compassion for you. Instead, you were thrown out into the open field, because you were despised on the day of your birth. 6Then I passed by and saw you wallowing in your blood, and as you lay there in your blood I said to you, ‘Live!’ There I said to you, ‘Live!’ 7I made you thrive like a plant of the field. You grew up and matured and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, but you were naked and bare. 8Then I passed by and saw you, and you were indeed old enough for love. So I spread My cloak over you and covered your nakedness. I pledged Myself to you, entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine, declares the Lord GOD. 9Then I bathed you with water, rinsed off your blood, and anointed you with oil. 10I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. 11I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your wrists and a chain around your neck. 12I put a ring in your nose, earrings on your ears, and a beautiful crown upon your head.
KJV
3And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. 4And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. 5None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. 6And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. 7I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. 8Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. 9Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. 10I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers’ skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. 11I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. 12And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.
WEB
3and say, ‘The Lord GOD says to Jerusalem: “Your origin and your birth is of the land of the Canaanite. An Amorite was your father, and your mother was a Hittite. 4As for your birth, in the day you were born your navel was not cut. You weren’t washed in water to cleanse you. You weren’t salted at all, nor wrapped in blankets at all. 5No eye pitied you, to do any of these things to you, to have compassion on you; but you were cast out in the open field, because you were abhorred in the day that you were born. 6“‘“When I passed by you, and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’ Yes, I said to you, ‘Though you are in your blood, live!’ 7I caused you to multiply as that which grows in the field, and you increased and grew great, and you attained to excellent beauty. Your breasts were formed, and your hair grew; yet you were naked and bare. 8“‘“Now when I passed by you, and looked at you, behold, your time was the time of love; and I spread my garment over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I pledged myself to you and entered into a covenant with you,” says the Lord GOD, “and you became mine. 9“‘“Then I washed you with water. Yes, I thoroughly washed away your blood from you, and I anointed you with oil. 10I clothed you also with embroidered work and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. 11I decked you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands, and put a chain on your neck. 12I put a ring on your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.
Show all 10 verses
The word of the LORD that Ezekiel is to speak to Jerusalem; this entry runs from verse 3 to verse 12.
Context (BSB)
Ezekiel 16:2
“Son of man, confront Jerusalem with her abominations
Ezekiel 16:13
So you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was made of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey, and oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be queen.
35For I have come to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36A man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ 37Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me;
KJV
35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
WEB
35For I came to set a man at odds against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36A man’s foes will be those of his own household. 37He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me.
Jesus speaking to the Twelve as He sends them out; this entry runs from verse 35 to verse 37.
Context (BSB)
Matthew 10:34
Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Matthew 10:38
and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.
“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise),
KJV
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
WEB
“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise:
From a letter in the name of Paul to the saints in Ephesus, right after it tells children to obey their parents; the verse quotes the command to honor father and mother.
Context (BSB)
Ephesians 6:1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Ephesians 6:3
“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.
KJV
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
WEB
He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, about the thorn in the flesh for which he had prayed.
Context (BSB)
2 Corinthians 12:8
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
KJV
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
WEB
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Paul, writing to the church in Philippi; he is speaking of himself and of having learned to be content.
Context (BSB)
Philippians 4:12
I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. In any and every situation I have learned the secret of being filled and being hungry, of having plenty and having need.
Philippians 4:14
Nevertheless, you have done well to share in my affliction.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
KJV
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
WEB
Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, “I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.”
From the letter to the Hebrews, whose author is not named, in its closing instructions.
Context (BSB)
Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.
Hebrews 13:6
So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
17The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears; He delivers them from all their troubles. 18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit. 19Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him from them all. 20He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken.
