Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Bad Children?
19 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Bad Children in the Bible
Explore what the Bible says about bad children. This collection of 20 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.
Top 10 Verses About Bad Children
- 1Exodus 20:12
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
KJV - 2
- 3Exodus 21:17
“And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. curseth: or, revileth”
KJV - 4Deuteronomy 21:18
“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:”
KJV - 5Proverbs 10:1
“The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”
KJV - 6Proverbs 13:24
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
KJV - 7
- 8Proverbs 19:18
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. for: or, to his destruction: or, to cause him to die”
KJV - 9Proverbs 20:11
“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”
KJV - 10Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train: or, Catechise in: Heb. in his way”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Bad Children? (14 Verses)
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
“And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.”
“And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. curseth: or, revileth”
“If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:”
“The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
“A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.”
“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. for: or, to his destruction: or, to cause him to die”
“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. Train: or, Catechise in: Heb. in his way”
“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”
“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
“The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. the valley: or, the brook”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Bad Children? (5 Verses)
“For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”
“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”
“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby .”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Bad Children
- 1
Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.
- 2
Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about bad children. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.
- 3
Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.
- 4
Memorise at least one key verse about bad children and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.
Practical Application
Studying what the Bible says about bad children is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:
Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on bad children needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about bad children with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.
Pray through the key verses about bad children, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.
How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Bad Children?
You have studied 19 verses about bad children. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.