Complete Bible Study Guide
What Does the Bible Say About Foster Care?
17 Scripture references with full text and commentary
Understanding Foster Care in the Bible
What does the Bible say about foster care? Browse 20 carefully selected verses that illuminate this biblical theme.
Top 10 Verses About Foster Care
- 1Leviticus 19:33
“And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. vex: or, oppress”
KJV - 2Job 31:18
“(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) her: that is, the widow”
KJV - 3Psalms 10:14
“Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. committeth: Heb. leaveth”
KJV - 4Psalms 72:4
“He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.”
KJV - 5
- 6Psalms 82:3
“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Defend: Heb. Judge”
KJV - 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 - 8Proverbs 31:8
“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. such: Heb. the sons of destruction”
KJV - 9Proverbs 31:20
“She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She: Heb. She spreadeth”
KJV - 10Isaiah 1:17
“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. relieve: or, righten”
KJV
Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Foster Care? (10 Verses)
“And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. vex: or, oppress”
“(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother's womb;) her: that is, the widow”
“Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. committeth: Heb. leaveth”
“He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.”
“He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.”
“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Defend: Heb. Judge”
“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”
“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction. such: Heb. the sons of destruction”
“She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She: Heb. She spreadeth”
“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. relieve: or, righten”
New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Foster Care? (7 Verses)
“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
“Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.”
“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
How to Study What the Bible Says About Foster Care
- 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 foster care. 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 foster care 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 foster care 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 foster care needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.
Share what you have learned about foster care 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 foster care, 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 Foster Care?
You have studied 17 verses about foster care. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.