The Bible repeatedly emphasizes the importance of honoring one’s parents. Honoring our parents is not just a cultural norm; it is a command from God with promises attached to it. This act of respect and obedience reflects our relationship with God and demonstrates our willingness to follow His divine order. When we honor our parents, we align ourselves with God’s plan for family and society.
From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see God’s heart concerning parental honor. God made it clear that respecting and valuing our parents is an essential part of living a righteous life. Jesus Himself reiterated this command during His earthly ministry, showing that it remains relevant. The Apostle Paul also reminded children to obey and honor their parents as a righteous act before God.
Honoring parents is not only about obedience but also about showing love, respect, and gratitude for their sacrifices. Even when parents are flawed, the Bible teaches us to treat them with dignity. This does not mean we must agree with everything they say, but it does mean we should regard them with the respect God commands. When we do this, we reflect the love and grace of Christ in our family relationships.
Below are Bible verses that highlight this important biblical principle. These scriptures remind us that parental honor is not just an obligation but a way to receive God’s blessings. By following this command, we strengthen our families, set a good example for future generations, and live in obedience to God’s will.
Preachers Quotes
“Next to God, thy parents.” – William Penn
“A child who is allowed to be disrespectful to his parents will not have true respect for anyone.” – Billy Graham
“There is no greater responsibility in life than to honor and care for those who gave you life.” – Charles Spurgeon
“God’s command to honor our parents isn’t conditioned on whether or not they deserve it; it is an act of obedience to Him.” – John MacArthur
“Parents are earthly reflections of God’s authority. To dishonor them is to dishonor Him.” – R.C. Sproul
“If you want to please God, begin by respecting the parents He gave you.” – Adrian Rogers
“One of the simplest ways to show gratitude to God is to honor the ones who raised you.” – Matthew Henry
You might also be interested in: Bible verses about Sons And Mothers
Bible Verses About Honoring Parents
Exodus 20:12 – The Commandment with a Promise
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12
Leviticus 19:3 – A Call to Reverence
“Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and keep My Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.” – Leviticus 19:3
Deuteronomy 5:16 – Obedience Leads to Blessings
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” – Deuteronomy 5:16
Proverbs 1:8-9 – Parental Wisdom is a Crown
“My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.” – Proverbs 1:8-9
Proverbs 20:20 – The Danger of Cursing Parents
“Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in deep darkness.” – Proverbs 20:20
Matthew 15:4 – Jesus Reaffirms the Command
“For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’” – Matthew 15:4
Colossians 3:20 – Pleasing God Through Obedience
“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord.” – Colossians 3:20
Ephesians 6:1-3 – The First Commandment with Promise
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother,’ which is the first commandment with promise: ‘that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.’” – Ephesians 6:1-3
1 Timothy 5:4 – Providing for Parents
“But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.” – 1 Timothy 5:4
Proverbs 23:22 – Listen and Respect
“Listen to your father who begot you, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” – Proverbs 23:22
Exodus 21:17 – The Severity of Dishonor
“And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.” – Exodus 21:17
Luke 2:51 – Jesus’ Example of Obedience
“Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart.” – Luke 2:51
Proverbs 30:17 – The Consequences of Mocking Parents
“The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it.” – Proverbs 30:17
Deuteronomy 27:16 – A Curse for Dishonoring Parents
“Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt.” And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’” – Deuteronomy 27:16
Proverbs 10:1 – A Wise Son Brings Joy
“A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.” – Proverbs 10:1
Proverbs 15:20 – A Foolish Son Despises His Mother
“A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.” – Proverbs 15:20
Exodus 22:22 – Caring for Widows and Mothers
“You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child.” – Exodus 22:22
2 Timothy 3:2 – The Sign of Ungodliness
“For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” – 2 Timothy 3:2
Zechariah 7:9-10 – Show Mercy to Parents
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless.’” – Zechariah 7:9-10
Mark 7:10 – Jesus Quotes the Law
“For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’” – Mark 7:10
Genesis 9:23 – Covering Parents’ Shame
“But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father.” – Genesis 9:23
Proverbs 6:20 – Keep Your Parents’ Teaching
“My son, keep your father’s command, and do not forsake the law of your mother.” – Proverbs 6:20
Deuteronomy 21:18-21 – Punishment for a Rebellious Son
“If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother… all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones.” – Deuteronomy 21:18-21
1 Peter 5:5 – Submission to Elders
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility.” – 1 Peter 5:5
1 Kings 2:19 – Solomon Honors His Mother
“Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon… and the king rose up to meet her and bowed down to her.” – 1 Kings 2:19
Luke 18:20 – Jesus Reaffirms the Commandment
“You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” – Luke 18:20
Exodus 4:18 – Seeking Parental Permission
“So Moses went and returned to Jethro his father-in-law, and said to him, ‘Please let me go and return to my brethren.’” – Exodus 4:18
Proverbs 19:26 – Shame Comes to Those Who Mistreat Parents
“He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.” – Proverbs 19:26
Job 42:15 – Honoring Women in the Family
“In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.” – Job 42:15
Genesis 45:9-11 – Joseph Cares for His Father
“Hurry and go up to my father, and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph: God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry.’” – Genesis 45:9-11
1 Timothy 5:8 – Providing for Family
“But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” – 1 Timothy 5:8
Psalm 103:13 – A Father’s Compassion
“As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him.” – Psalm 103:13
Genesis 28:7 – Jacob Obeys His Parents
“And that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother and had gone to Padan Aram.” – Genesis 28:7
1 Samuel 22:3-4 – David Protects His Parents
“Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, ‘Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.’” – 1 Samuel 22:3-4
John 19:26-27 – Jesus Cares for His Mother
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’” – John 19:26-27
Proverbs 13:1 – A Wise Son Listens
“A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.” – Proverbs 13:1
Joshua 24:15 – A Family that Serves God
“But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15
Jeremiah 35:6-7 – The Rechabites Honor Their Father
“We will drink no wine, for Jonadab the son of Rechab, our father, commanded us, saying, ‘You shall drink no wine, you nor your sons, forever.’” – Jeremiah 35:6-7
Proverbs 22:6 – Training a Child
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6
Genesis 50:1 – Joseph Mourns His Father
“Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him, and kissed him.” – Genesis 50:1
If you’re interested, here’s another article on: Bible verses about Mothers And Daughters
What Does The Bible Say About Honoring Parents
Honoring parents is a command that appears many times in the Bible. It is one of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses in Exodus 20:12, where He says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” This shows that honoring parents is not just a good thing to do but a requirement from God. It is also the first commandment with a promise—God promises a long and blessed life to those who obey it.
Honoring parents means showing them respect, obedience, and care. In Proverbs 1:8-9, the Bible says, “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.” This means that listening to our parents’ advice brings wisdom and blessing. Parents are given the responsibility to guide their children in the ways of the Lord, and children are expected to follow their teachings with respect.
In the New Testament, Jesus reaffirms the importance of this commandment. In Matthew 15:4, He says, “For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’” This shows that God takes dishonoring parents seriously. In Ephesians 6:1-3, Paul also reminds children to obey their parents, saying that it is “right” in the eyes of the Lord. He again mentions that honoring parents comes with the promise of a good life.
Honoring parents does not only mean obeying them when we are young. Even when we grow older, we are called to care for them. In 1 Timothy 5:8, the Bible says, “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” This means that taking care of our parents in their old age is part of our Christian duty.
Even Jesus, while on the cross, showed an example of honoring parents. In John 19:26-27, He made sure His mother, Mary, was taken care of by His disciple John. This shows that no matter our situation, we must honor and care for our parents. The Bible teaches that honoring parents is a reflection of our respect for God. It brings blessings, wisdom, and long life. It is a command that remains important throughout our lives.