Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Family Relationships?
16 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Family Relationships in the Bible
What does the Bible say about family relationships? Browse 19 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Family Relationships
- 1Genesis 2:24
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
KJV - 2Exodus 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 - 3Joshua 1:8
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. have: or, do wisely”
KJV - 4Joshua 24:15
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
KJV - 5Psalms 1:1
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ungodly: or, wicked”
KJV - 6
- 7Proverbs 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 - 8Romans 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
KJV - 9Ephesians 4:29
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. to: or, to edify profitably”
KJV - 10Ephesians 4:32
“And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Family Relationships? (7 Verses)
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”
“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. have: or, do wisely”
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. ungodly: or, wicked”
“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
“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”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Family Relationships? (9 Verses)
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. to: or, to edify profitably”
“And be ye kind one to another , tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”
“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.”
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. quarrel: or, complaint”
“Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”
“Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.”
“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Family Relationships
- 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 family relationships. 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 family relationships 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 family relationships 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 family relationships needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about family relationships 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 family relationships, 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 Family Relationships?
You have studied 16 verses about family relationships. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.