Bible Verses About Fathers

30 verses in the King James Version (KJV) and the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)

Being a father is a privilege and a weighty responsibility. The Bible speaks to dads about patience, instruction, integrity, and tenderness, and it describes God himself as a Father who has compassion on his children. These verses include practical wisdom from Proverbs and the moving picture of a father running to welcome a son home. Share them on Father's Day, with a new dad, or with anyone who has stepped up to be a father to someone.

Ephesians 6:4

KJV

And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
BSB

Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath; instead, bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Colossians 3:21

KJV

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
BSB

Fathers, do not provoke your children, so they will not become discouraged.
Proverbs 22:6

KJV

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
BSB

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 20:7

KJV

The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
BSB

The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.
Proverbs 23:24

KJV

The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
BSB

The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
Proverbs 4:1

KJV

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
BSB

Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Proverbs 3:11

KJV

My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
BSB

My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke;
Proverbs 3:12

KJV

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
BSB

for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
Proverbs 13:24

KJV

He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
BSB

He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Proverbs 17:6

KJV

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
BSB

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
Psalm 103:13

KJV

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
BSB

As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 68:5

KJV

A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
BSB

A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in His holy habitation.
Psalm 127:3

KJV

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
BSB

Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward.
Psalm 127:4

KJV

As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
BSB

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth.
Deuteronomy 6:6

KJV

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
BSB

These words I am commanding you today are to be upon your hearts.
Deuteronomy 6:7

KJV

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.
BSB

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.
Malachi 4:6

KJV

And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
BSB

And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Luke 15:20

KJV

And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
BSB

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
Hebrews 12:7

KJV

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
BSB

Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Hebrews 12:9

KJV

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
BSB

Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
Hebrews 12:11

KJV

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
BSB

No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields a harvest of righteousness and peace to those who have been trained by it.
1 Corinthians 16:13

KJV

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
BSB

Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
1 Corinthians 16:14

KJV

Let all your things be done with charity.
BSB

Do everything in love.
Joshua 24:15

KJV

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.
BSB

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!”
Matthew 7:11

KJV

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
BSB

So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
1 John 3:1

KJV

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
BSB

Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
Proverbs 14:26

KJV

In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
BSB

He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge.
1 Thessalonians 2:11

KJV

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
BSB

For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children—
1 Thessalonians 2:12

KJV

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
BSB

encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Genesis 18:19

KJV

For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
BSB

For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”

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