Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – With permission to use content ideas from Salem Web Network, the Communications Team of Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church is pleased to share with you a list of key verses arranged by topic from the Bible (Berean Standard Bible).
The family is the first place people learn about love, obedience, forgiveness and faith. From the beginning, God made the family a foundation of human life, and the Bible has much to teach both parents and children. Those teachings remain very practical in Vietnamese family life today, where honoring parents is highly valued.
These 13 Bible verses about family focus on three themes: children honoring their parents, parents teaching their children, and a family serving God together.
13 Bible Verses About Family
1. Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”
– Exodus 20:12 (BSB)
Honoring parents is one of the Ten Commandments, and the first that concerns relationships between people. God values the family so much that He placed this right after the commandments about Himself.
2. Deuteronomy 5:16
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, so 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.”
– Deuteronomy 5:16 (BSB)
The command is repeated with a promise of blessing. Honoring parents is not only a duty but a path to a blessed life.
3. Proverbs 1:8
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
– Proverbs 1:8 (BSB)
Both father and mother have a role in teaching their children. A wise child listens to their parents’ counsel, even as an adult.
4. Proverbs 6:20
“My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
– Proverbs 6:20 (BSB)
Instruction in the family is provision for a lifetime. Parents are encouraged to keep teaching patiently, even when they don’t see results right away.
5. Proverbs 15:20
“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
– Proverbs 15:20 (BSB)
How a child lives reflects their gratitude to their parents. A wise life is the greatest joy we can give those who raised us.
6. Matthew 15:4
“For God said, ‘Honor your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’”
– Matthew 15:4 (BSB)
Jesus quoted this command to rebuke those who used religious excuses to neglect their parents. Honoring parents includes caring for them in old age.
7. Ephesians 6:1–2
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise).”
– Ephesians 6:1–2 (BSB)
Children obey their parents “in the Lord.” Right after, Paul also tells parents not to provoke their children, but to bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
8. Colossians 3:20
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.”
– Colossians 3:20 (BSB)
Children’s obedience in the family pleases the Lord. This short verse is easy to memorize and teach to young children.
9. Psalm 103:17
“But from everlasting to everlasting the loving devotion of the LORD extends to those who fear Him, and His righteousness to their children’s children.”
– Psalm 103:17 (BSB)
God’s loving devotion does not stop with one generation. A family that fears God can leave a spiritual legacy for many generations to come.
10. Joshua 24:15
“But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”
– Joshua 24:15 (BSB)
“As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” is a decision every family must make. Faith in the home begins with the choice of the parents.
11. Proverbs 11:29
“He who brings trouble on his house will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.”
– Proverbs 11:29 (BSB)
Whoever stirs up trouble in the family ends up with nothing but wind: emptiness. Keeping peace at home is wisdom.
12. Proverbs 15:27
“He who is greedy for gain brings trouble to his household, but he who hates bribes will live.”
– Proverbs 15:27 (BSB)
Greed for money can throw a whole family into turmoil. Integrity with money is a foundation for a peaceful home.
13. Proverbs 31:15–17
“She rises while it is still night to provide food for her household and portions for her maidservants. She appraises a field and buys it; from her earnings she plants a vineyard. She wraps herself in strength and shows that her arms are strong.”
– Proverbs 31:15–17 (BSB)
A picture of the virtuous woman caring for her family with diligence and wisdom. It honors the mothers and wives who quietly carry their families.
Building a Family on God’s Word
A family that follows God’s Word is not a family without conflict, but one that returns to God together. Parents set an example through godly lives, children learn to honor and obey, and the whole family spends time praying and reading the Bible together.
This week, your family could choose one verse from the list above to memorize together. Let that verse become a topic of conversation at meals and a prayer before bed.
You may also like: Family Worship and 10 Ways to Weave Prayer Into Family Life.
Lord, bless our family. Help us love, respect and forgive one another, and may our whole household serve You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Compiled by: Ly Nguyễn
With permission from: Salem Web Network
Read more articles in Key Verses, or find a church near you on our Locations page. Contact the church office: 0942 248 688 (Zalo available).
