Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Honoring Your Parents?

10 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Honoring Your Parents in the Bible

Explore what the Bible says about honoring your parents. This collection of 12 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme.

10
Total Verses
7
Old Testament
3
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Honoring Your Parents

  1. 1
    Exodus 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. 2
    Exodus 21:15
    And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Leviticus 19:3
    Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Leviticus 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
  5. 5
    Deuteronomy 5:16
    Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Proverbs 20:20
    Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. lamp: or, candle
    KJV
  7. 7
    Proverbs 23:22
    Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Ephesians 6:1
    Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
    KJV
  9. 9
    Ephesians 6:2
    Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
    KJV
  10. 10
    Colossians 3:20
    Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
    KJV

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Honoring Your Parents? (7 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.
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the LORD your God.
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.
Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. lamp: or, candle
Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Honoring Your Parents? (3 Verses)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Honoring Your Parents

  1. 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. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about honoring your parents. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 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. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about honoring your parents 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 honoring your parents 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 honoring your parents needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about honoring your parents 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 honoring your parents, 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 Honoring Your Parents?

You have studied 10 verses about honoring your parents. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about honoring your parents?
Explore what the Bible says about honoring your parents. This collection of 12 key Scripture passages reveals God's wisdom and guidance on this important theme. The Bible contains 10 key verses about honoring your parents spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about honoring your parents are there?
There are 10 key Bible verses about honoring your parents compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about honoring your parents?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about honoring your parents is Exodus 20:12 — "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
Where in the Bible does it talk about honoring your parents?
Honoring Your Parents is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 10 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

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