100 Bible Verses about Unruly Children

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 609 helpful votes

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 454 helpful votes

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 ESV / 448 helpful votes

“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city at the gate of the place where he lives, and they shall say to the elders of his city, ‘This our son is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.’ Then all the men of the city shall stone him to death with stones. So you shall purge the evil from your midst, and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

Exodus 20:12 ESV / 390 helpful votes

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Proverbs 22:15 ESV / 366 helpful votes

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Leviticus 20:9 ESV / 356 helpful votes

For anyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 314 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 29:15 ESV / 302 helpful votes

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

Proverbs 23:13-14 ESV / 281 helpful votes

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.

Colossians 3:20 ESV / 273 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 273 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV / 267 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Proverbs 15:5 ESV / 267 helpful votes

A fool despises his father's instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

Proverbs 29:17 ESV / 258 helpful votes

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

Ephesians 6:1 ESV / 257 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Romans 13:1-5 ESV / 240 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience.

Proverbs 12:1 ESV / 229 helpful votes

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 194 helpful votes

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

James 1:5 ESV / 193 helpful votes

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV / 193 helpful votes

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

John 3:16 ESV / 181 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 6:23 ESV / 176 helpful votes

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 170 helpful votes

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 169 helpful votes

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 169 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Titus 1:6 ESV / 162 helpful votes

If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 157 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Deuteronomy 21:18 ESV / 156 helpful votes

“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them,

Deuteronomy 5:16 ESV / 155 helpful votes

“‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Romans 3:20 ESV / 154 helpful votes

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 154 helpful votes

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 150 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Psalm 113:9 ESV / 149 helpful votes

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!

Exodus 21:15 ESV / 147 helpful votes

“Whoever strikes his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Matthew 18:10 ESV / 143 helpful votes

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

1 John 5:21 ESV / 142 helpful votes

Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Romans 5:8 ESV / 142 helpful votes

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Proverbs 1:8 ESV / 142 helpful votes

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,

Proverbs 15:20 ESV / 141 helpful votes

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV / 140 helpful votes

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV / 137 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 134 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:21 ESV / 132 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Hebrews 13:5 ESV / 130 helpful votes

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Romans 3:23 ESV / 129 helpful votes

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Leviticus 19:3 ESV / 129 helpful votes

Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 126 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Proverbs 30:17 ESV / 126 helpful votes

The eye that mocks a father and scorns to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the vultures.

1 John 3:18 ESV / 121 helpful votes

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 121 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

John 14:26 ESV / 119 helpful votes

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 118 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Psalm 137:9 ESV / 118 helpful votes

Blessed shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!

Proverbs 23:22 ESV / 117 helpful votes

Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Matthew 15:4 ESV / 116 helpful votes

For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

Galatians 5:22 ESV / 115 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Proverbs 10:1 ESV / 115 helpful votes

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 ESV / 114 helpful votes

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

2 Kings 2:23-24 ESV / 112 helpful votes

He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” And he turned around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV / 110 helpful votes

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

John 3:30 ESV / 110 helpful votes

He must increase, but I must decrease.”

1 John 1:9 ESV / 109 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 5:5 ESV / 109 helpful votes

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Ecclesiastes 12:1 ESV / 109 helpful votes

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;

Psalm 139:13-16 ESV / 107 helpful votes

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 106 helpful votes

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 105 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV / 104 helpful votes

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ESV / 104 helpful votes

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

John 14:1 ESV / 103 helpful votes

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Mark 10:14 ESV / 103 helpful votes

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV / 101 helpful votes

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

John 16:21 ESV / 99 helpful votes

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 98 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

1 John 3:16 ESV / 97 helpful votes

By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Proverbs 20:11 ESV / 97 helpful votes

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

John 14:1-31 ESV / 96 helpful votes

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ...

Isaiah 3:5 ESV / 96 helpful votes

And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable.

Proverbs 23:13 ESV / 96 helpful votes

Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV / 93 helpful votes

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Philippians 4:19 ESV / 92 helpful votes

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 92 helpful votes

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 92 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Proverbs 3:11-12 ESV / 91 helpful votes

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Galatians 5:22-23 ESV / 89 helpful votes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

James 1:27 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV / 88 helpful votes

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Acts 1:8 ESV / 88 helpful votes

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

1 John 4:4 ESV / 87 helpful votes

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Proverbs 28:24 ESV / 84 helpful votes

Whoever robs his father or his mother and says, “That is no transgression,” is a companion to a man who destroys.

Exodus 21:17 ESV / 83 helpful votes

“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 82 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Acts 2:38 ESV / 82 helpful votes

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Deuteronomy 11:19 ESV / 82 helpful votes

You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Proverbs 6:23 ESV / 80 helpful votes

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Mark 10:13-16 ESV / 77 helpful votes

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Matthew 10:21 ESV / 70 helpful votes

Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,

Proverbs 22:4 ESV / 66 helpful votes

The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

Exodus 20:2 ESV / 66 helpful votes

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

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