15 Bible Verses About Fatherhood

The 15 most-voted scriptures about Fatherhood, from 8 books (Proverbs, Psalm, Genesis and 5 more), ranked by the OpenBible.info community.

Psalm 103:13

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As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

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Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

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Like a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

Proverbs 20:7

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The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.

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The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.

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A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.

Ephesians 6:4

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Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

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And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

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Genesis 18:19

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For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”

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For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

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For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him.”

Proverbs 4:1–9

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1Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. 2For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive. 3When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother, 4he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live. 5Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them. 6Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you. 7Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding. 8Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you. 9She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

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1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. 2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

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1Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding; 2for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law. 3For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother. 4He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live. 5Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth. 6Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you. 7Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. 8Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her. 9She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”

Show all 9 verses

Proverbs 22:6

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Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

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Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

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Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Colossians 3:21

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Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.

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Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

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Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.

Psalm 78:5–8

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5For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, 6that the coming generation would know them—even children yet to be born—to arise and tell their own children 7that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments. 8Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

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5For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments: 8And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

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5For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; 6that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children, 7that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments, 8and might not be as their fathers— a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation that didn’t make their hearts loyal, whose spirit was not steadfast with God.

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Psalm 127:3–5

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3Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. 4Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. 5Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

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3Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. 5Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

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3Behold, children are a heritage of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is his reward. 4As arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are the children of youth. 5Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. They won’t be disappointed when they speak with their enemies in the gate.

Proverbs 3:11–12

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11My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; 12for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.

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11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: 12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

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11My son, don’t despise the LORD’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction; 12for whom the LORD loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs 13:24

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He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

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He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

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One who spares the rod hates his son, but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Proverbs 19:18

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Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.

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Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.

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Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.

Matthew 23:9

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And do not call anyone on earth your father, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

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And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

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Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.

Luke 15:20–24

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20So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

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20And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

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20“He arose and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and ran, fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let’s eat and celebrate; 24for this, my son, was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.’ Then they began to celebrate.

3 John 1:4

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I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

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I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

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I have no greater joy than this: to hear about my children walking in truth.

15 verses, from 8 books:

  • Genesis (1)
  • Psalm (3)
  • Proverbs (6)
  • Matthew (1)
  • Luke (1)
  • Ephesians (1)
  • Colossians (1)
  • 3 John (1)