27 Bible Verses About Children (NIV & KJV)

Few things matter more to the heart of God than children. Throughout Scripture they are called a blessing, a reward, and a heritage from the Lord, entrusted to parents to be loved, taught, and raised in the ways of God.

These Bible verses about children gather the Bible's wisdom on the value of every child, the calling of parents, and the tender way Jesus welcomed the youngest among us. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, teacher, or simply seeking God's view of children, these passages offer encouragement and direction.

From the discipline of Proverbs to the embrace of Christ in the Gospels, Scripture reminds us that children are gifts to be cherished and guided. The verses below celebrate that truth.

🎁 Children Are a Gift from God

The Bible treasures children as a reward and a blessing, not a burden.

“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”— Psalm 127:3 (NIV)“Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.”— Psalm 127:3 (KJV)

“Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.”— Psalm 127:4 (NIV)“As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.”— Psalm 127:4 (KJV)

“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”— Psalm 128:3 (NIV)“Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.”— Psalm 128:3 (KJV)

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”— Proverbs 17:6 (NIV)“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.”— Proverbs 17:6 (KJV)

““Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.””— Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”— Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV)

👨‍👩‍👧 Raising and Teaching Children

Scripture calls parents to train, instruct, and guide their children in the ways of the Lord.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”— Proverbs 22:6 (NIV)“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”— Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”— Ephesians 6:4 (NIV)“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”— Ephesians 6:4 (KJV)

“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”— Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NIV)“And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And 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.”— Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (KJV)

“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”— Colossians 3:21 (NIV)“Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”— Colossians 3:21 (KJV)

“Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?”— Proverbs 20:11 (NIV)“Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”— Proverbs 20:11 (KJV)

✝️ Jesus and the Little Children

Jesus welcomed children with open arms and lifted them up as examples of faith.

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.””— Matthew 19:14 (NIV)“But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”— Matthew 19:14 (KJV)

“When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”— Mark 10:14 (NIV)“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”— Mark 10:14 (KJV)

“And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”— Mark 10:16 (NIV)“And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.”— Mark 10:16 (KJV)

“And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”— Matthew 18:3 (NIV)“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”— Matthew 18:3 (KJV)

“And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.”— Matthew 18:5 (NIV)“And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”— Matthew 18:5 (KJV)

📖 Wisdom and Discipline

The Bible teaches that loving discipline and instruction shape a child's character.

“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.”— Proverbs 22:15 (NIV)“Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”— Proverbs 22:15 (KJV)

“Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.”— Proverbs 23:13 (NIV)“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.”— Proverbs 23:13 (KJV)

“A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.”— Proverbs 29:15 (NIV)“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”— Proverbs 29:15 (KJV)

“Discipline your children, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to their death.”— Proverbs 19:18 (NIV)“Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.”— Proverbs 19:18 (KJV)

“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.”— Proverbs 29:17 (NIV)“Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.”— Proverbs 29:17 (KJV)

🌟 Children Who Follow God

Scripture honors children who walk faithfully and obey their parents in the Lord.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”— Ephesians 6:1 (NIV)“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”— Ephesians 6:1 (KJV)

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”— Exodus 20:12 (NIV)“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”— Exodus 20:12 (KJV)

“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.”— Proverbs 1:8 (NIV)“My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:”— Proverbs 1:8 (KJV)

“and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”— 2 Timothy 3:15 (NIV)“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”— 2 Timothy 3:15 (KJV)

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”— 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”— 1 Timothy 4:12 (KJV)

🕊️ God's Care for Children

The Lord watches over children with tender love and protection.

“All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.”— Isaiah 54:13 (NIV)“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”— Isaiah 54:13 (KJV)

“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.”— Psalm 8:2 (NIV)“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.”— Psalm 8:2 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Children?

The Bible says that children are a precious heritage and reward from the Lord, as Psalm 127:3 declares, and that God knows and values each child even before birth. Far from being insignificant, children are held up by Jesus as models of the humble, trusting faith required to enter the kingdom of heaven. In Mark 10:14 He insisted that the little children be brought to Him and not turned away.

Scripture also gives parents a clear calling. Proverbs 22:6 instructs them to train up a child in the way he should go, and Ephesians 6:4 charges fathers to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord without provoking them to anger. Loving instruction, godly discipline, and a faithful example are the means by which the Bible says children are best raised toward a lifelong walk with God.

May these verses encourage you to cherish and guide the children in your life. For more, explore our collections of Bible verses about family, Bible verses about mothers, and Bible verses about fathers.