Family

The family is the household of husband, wife, children and kin, established by God from creation. Parents are to teach their children the ways of the Lord, children are to honor their parents, and each is to provide for his own house; the church is the household of God.

Established by God

• Genesis 2:24
  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.
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• Psalm 68:6
  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.God settles the lonely in families; He leads the prisoners out to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
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• Psalm 127:1
  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.
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• Ephesians 3:14-15
  ¹⁴For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
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Husbands and wives

• Ephesians 5:22-25
  ²²Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. ²³For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. ²⁴Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. ²⁵Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
  Show context · Read Ephesians 5 →
• Colossians 3:18-19
  ¹⁸Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. ¹⁹Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.
  Show context · Read Colossians 3 →

Children a heritage

• Psalm 127:3-5
  ³Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. ⁴As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. ⁵Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.
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• Psalm 128:3-4
  ³Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table. ⁴Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.In this way indeed shall blessing come to the man who fears the LORD.
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• Proverbs 17:6
  Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
  Show context · Read Proverbs 17 →

Teaching the household

• Deuteronomy 6:6-7
  ⁶And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts. ⁷And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
  Show context · Read Deuteronomy 6 →
• Joshua 24:15
  And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.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!”
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• 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 up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
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• Ephesians 6:4
  And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
  Show context · Read Ephesians 6 →

Honor and provision

• 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.Honor your father and mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
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• Ephesians 6:1-3
  ¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)“Honor your father and mother” (which is the first commandment with a promise), ³That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.“that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.”
  Show context · Read Ephesians 6 →
• 1 Timothy 5:4
  But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
  Show context · Read 1 Timothy 5 →
• 1 Timothy 5:8
  But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
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The household of faith

• Galatians 6:10
  As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.
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• Ephesians 2:19
  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;Therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household,
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• Mark 3:33-35
  ³³And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?But Jesus replied, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” ³⁴And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!Looking at those seated in a circle around Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! ³⁵For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.”
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See also

• Fathers
• Mothers
• Children
• Marriage
• Siblings

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.