27 Bible Verses About Mothers (NIV & KJV)

Mothers hold a place of deep honor throughout Scripture. From the courageous faith of women like Hannah and Mary to the tender imagery God uses to describe His own comfort, the Bible celebrates motherhood as a high and holy calling. A mother's love reflects something of God's own heart toward His children.

These Bible verses about mothers gather the clearest passages in both the NIV and KJV on honoring our mothers, the beauty of godly motherhood, and the enduring strength of a mother's love. Whether you are preparing a Mother's Day card, thanking the woman who raised you, or seeking encouragement as a mother yourself, these words will bless and uplift.

Let these verses remind you that motherhood is treasured by God, that a faithful mother leaves a legacy that lasts for generations, and that her labor of love is never overlooked by the One who sees all.

🌷 Honoring Your Mother

Scripture commands children to honor and cherish their mothers.

“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)

“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”— Proverbs 23:22 (NIV)“Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.”— Proverbs 23:22 (KJV)

“The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.”— Proverbs 10:1 (NIV)“The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”— Proverbs 10:1 (KJV)

““The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged mother, will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, will be eaten by the vultures.”— Proverbs 30:17 (NIV)“The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.”— Proverbs 30:17 (KJV)

👑 The Virtuous Mother of Proverbs 31

These verses paint the portrait of a godly, capable mother.

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.”— Proverbs 31:10 (NIV)“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.”— Proverbs 31:10 (KJV)

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”— Proverbs 31:25 (NIV)“Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.”— Proverbs 31:25 (KJV)

“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”— Proverbs 31:26 (NIV)“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.”— Proverbs 31:26 (KJV)

“She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”— Proverbs 31:27 (NIV)“She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.”— Proverbs 31:27 (KJV)

“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:”— Proverbs 31:28 (NIV)“Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.”— Proverbs 31:28 (KJV)

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”— Proverbs 31:30 (NIV)“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”— Proverbs 31:30 (KJV)

❤️ A Mother's Love and Comfort

These verses reflect the tender, nurturing love of a mother.

““Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”— Isaiah 49:15 (NIV)“Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.”— Isaiah 49:15 (KJV)

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.””— Isaiah 66:13 (NIV)“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”— Isaiah 66:13 (KJV)

“Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,”— 1 Thessalonians 2:7 (NIV)“But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:”— 1 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV)

“When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.”— Proverbs 31:21 (NIV)“She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.”— Proverbs 31:21 (KJV)

🙏 Mothers of Faith

Scripture honors mothers whose faith shaped their children.

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.”— 1 Samuel 1:27 (NIV)“For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:”— 1 Samuel 1:27 (KJV)

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.”— 2 Timothy 1:5 (NIV)“When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.”— 2 Timothy 1:5 (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)

“And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord”— Luke 1:46 (NIV)“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,”— Luke 1:46 (KJV)

“for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,”— Luke 1:48 (NIV)“For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”— Luke 1:48 (KJV)

🌿 Raising Children in the Lord

These verses speak to a mother's role in nurturing godly children.

“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)

“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)

“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)

“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)

🕊️ Blessing and Praising Mothers

These verses celebrate the honor due to faithful mothers.

“He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.”— Psalm 113:9 (NIV)“He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.”— Psalm 113:9 (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)

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.”— Titus 2:3 (NIV)“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;”— Titus 2:3 (KJV)

What Does the Bible Say About Mothers?

The Bible holds mothers in profound honor and presents motherhood as a sacred calling. Among the Ten Commandments, God instructs every person to "honour thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12), attaching a promise of blessing to those who do. Scripture repeatedly elevates the mother's role in teaching, nurturing, and shaping the faith of her children, calling young ones to receive and never forsake the law of their mother.

The Bible also celebrates the character of a godly mother through the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31, whose strength, wisdom, and kindness lead her children to rise up and call her blessed. It uses a mother's compassion as a picture of God's own comfort, declaring that even if a mother could forget her child, God will never forget His people. From Hannah's prayers to Eunice's faith, Scripture shows that a faithful mother leaves a legacy of devotion that echoes through generations.

May these verses bless every mother and inspire honor in every child. For more Scripture to encourage your home, explore our Bible verses about family, Bible verses about children, and Bible verses about women.