Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Parental Love?

14 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Parental Love in the Bible

Discover 19 powerful Bible verses about parental love. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential love & relationships topic.

14
Total Verses
8
Old Testament
6
New Testament

Top 10 Verses About Parental Love

  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
    Deuteronomy 6:4
    Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
    KJV
  3. 3
    Psalms 103:13
    Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Proverbs 1:8
    My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
    KJV
  5. 5
    Proverbs 13:24
    He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
    KJV
  6. 6
    Proverbs 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
  7. 7
    Proverbs 29:15
    The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
    KJV
  8. 8
    Jeremiah 31:3
    The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. of: Heb. from afar with lovingkindness: have I extended lovingkindness unto thee
    KJV
  9. 9
    John 3:16
    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.
    KJV
  10. 10
    Romans 5:8
    But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
    KJV

Old Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Parental Love? (8 Verses)

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
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
The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. of: Heb. from afar with lovingkindness: have I extended lovingkindness unto thee

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Parental Love? (6 Verses)

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.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

How to Study What the Bible Says About Parental Love

  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 parental love. 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 parental love 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 parental love 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 parental love needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about parental love 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 parental love, 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 Parental Love?

You have studied 14 verses about parental love. 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 parental love?
Discover 19 powerful Bible verses about parental love. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential love & relationships topic. The Bible contains 14 key verses about parental love spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about parental love are there?
There are 14 key Bible verses about parental love compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about parental love?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about parental love 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 parental love?
Parental Love is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 14 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Parental Love