The commandment to “Honor your father and mother” is a foundational principle in the Bible, representing a call to respect, cherish, and obey one’s parents.
This directive is found in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12) and is reiterated throughout the Scriptures. The following compilation explores 30 Bible verses on honoring parents, accompanied by brief commentary to illuminate the significance of this timeless guidance.
Honor Your Father And Mother Bible Verse
Exodus 20:12 (NIV):
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
This verse introduces the commandment, emphasizing that honoring parents is linked to a promise of longevity and blessings in the land.
Ephesians 6:2-3 (NLT):
“‘Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.’”
Paul, in Ephesians, reinforces the commandment, highlighting the promise of well-being and longevity that accompanies honoring one’s parents.
Colossians 3:20 (NIV):
“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
The call to obedience is emphasized in Colossians, connecting it to pleasing the Lord.
Proverbs 1:8-9 (NLT):
“My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction! What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.”
Proverbs underscores the value of parental guidance, portraying it as a source of grace and honor.
Proverbs 23:22 (NIV):
“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
This verse in Proverbs emphasizes the importance of listening to parents and maintaining respect even as they age.
Matthew 15:4 (NLT):
“For instance, God says, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and ‘Anyone who speaks disrespectfully of father or mother must be put to death.'”
Jesus reaffirms the commandment, emphasizing the seriousness of showing disrespect towards parents.
Leviticus 19:3 (NIV):
“‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.'”
Leviticus intertwines the command to honor parents with the directive to observe God’s Sabbaths, emphasizing their interconnected significance.
Deuteronomy 5:16 (NIV):
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Deuteronomy repeats the commandment, reiterating the promise of a good and long life for those who honor their parents.
1 Timothy 5:8 (NLT):
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
Paul emphasizes the responsibility of providing for family, connecting it to faith and honoring familial relationships.
Mark 7:10 (NIV):
“For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’”
In Mark, Jesus reinforces the commandment and emphasizes the gravity of dishonoring parents.
Proverbs 30:17 (NLT):
“The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.”
Proverbs uses vivid imagery to convey the serious consequences of disrespecting and mocking parents.
Matthew 19:19 (NIV):
“honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Jesus incorporates honoring parents into the broader command to love one’s neighbor, emphasizing its integral role in a righteous life.
Sirach 3:1-3 (NRSV):
“Children, listen to me, your father; act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety. For the Lord honored the father above the children, and he confirmed the right of the mother over her sons.”
This passage from the Book of Sirach emphasizes the divine endorsement of parental authority and the safety that comes from heeding their guidance.
Malachi 1:6 (NLT):
“The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the priests: ‘A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. If I am your father and master, where are the honor and respect I deserve? You have shown contempt for my name!'”
Malachi highlights the importance of showing honor not only to earthly parents but also to God as the ultimate Father and Master.
Proverbs 15:20 (NIV):
“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.”
Proverbs draws a contrast between wisdom and foolishness, illustrating the impact of a child’s actions on the joy of their parents.
Proverbs 20:20 (NLT):
“If you insult your father or mother, your light will be snuffed out in total darkness.”
This proverb emphasizes the dire consequences of insulting parents, equating it with being cast into total darkness.
Proverbs 30:11 (NIV):
“There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.”
Proverbs highlights the contrast between those who curse their fathers and fail to bless their mothers, portraying a lack of honor.
Proverbs 30:17 (NIV):
“The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley; it will be eaten by the vultures.”
Repeating a similar theme, Proverbs uses strong imagery to illustrate the consequences of mocking and scorning parents.
1 Peter 3:7 (NIV):
“Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
While not directly addressing children, this verse emphasizes the broader principle of treating family members with respect, echoing the spirit of honoring relationships.
Proverbs 4:1-4 (NIV):
“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.”
Proverbs exhorts sons to listen to a father’s instruction, highlighting the importance of gaining understanding through parental guidance.
Proverbs 6:20 (NIV):
“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”
This verse in Proverbs emphasizes the importance of adhering to parental commands and teachings.
Proverbs 23:24-25 (NLT):
“The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy.”
Proverbs expresses the joy that comes to parents when their children walk in wisdom and bring them happiness.
Proverbs 10:1 (NIV):
“A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.”
The recurring theme in Proverbs highlights the contrasting effects of wisdom and foolishness on the joy and grief of parents.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV):
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Though not specifically about parents, this passage on love from Corinthians reflects the qualities of love that align with the principles of honoring and respecting one’s family.
Proverbs 22:6 (NIV):
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Proverbs underscores the impact of early guidance in shaping the future paths of children, emphasizing the responsibility of parents.
Proverbs 15:5 (NIV):
“A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.”
Proverbs draws a distinction between a fool who rejects parental discipline and one who demonstrates prudence by heeding correction.
Psalm 127:3-5 (NLT):
“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him. Children born to a young man are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.”
This Psalm acknowledges children as a divine gift and likens them to arrows, emphasizing the significance of raising them with honor and guidance.
Proverbs 23:22-25 (NIV):
“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it—wisdom, instruction, and insight as well.”
Proverbs again stresses the importance of heeding parental guidance and valuing wisdom, instruction, and insight.
Proverbs 30:17 (NLT):
“The eye that mocks a father and despises a mother’s instructions will be plucked out by ravens of the valley and eaten by vultures.”
Repeated for emphasis, Proverbs uses vivid imagery to convey the severe consequences of mocking a father and despising a mother’s instructions.
Proverbs 20:1 (NIV):
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise.”
While not directly related to parental honor, Proverbs warns against behaviors that lead one astray, reflecting the broader theme of wisdom and discernment promoted in the context of familial relationships.
In conclusion, these 30 Bible verses, along with their commentary, underscore the significance of honoring and respecting parents. Whether through obedience, listening, or providing care, the Scriptures consistently emphasize the importance of maintaining a posture of honor toward parents, recognizing the role they play in shaping lives and fostering a harmonious society.