Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Disobedient Children?
18 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Disobedient Children in the Bible
What does the Bible say about disobedient children? Browse 20 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Disobedient Children
- 1
- 2Exodus 21:17
“And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. curseth: or, revileth”
KJV - 3Leviticus 20:9
“For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.”
KJV - 4
- 5Deuteronomy 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 - 6Proverbs 13:24
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
KJV - 7Proverbs 23:13
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”
KJV - 8Proverbs 30:17
“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”
KJV - 9Matthew 15:4
“For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”
KJV - 10Mark 7:9
“And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. reject: or, frustrate”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Disobedient Children? (8 Verses)
“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”
“For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.”
“But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;”
“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:”
“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”
“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 Disobedient Children? (10 Verses)
“For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.”
“And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. reject: or, frustrate”
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. disobedience: or, unbelief”
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”
“For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:”
“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Disobedient 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 disobedient 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 disobedient 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 disobedient 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 disobedient children needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about disobedient 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 disobedient 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 Disobedient Children?
You have studied 18 verses about disobedient children. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.