The Lord Will

Family in the Bible

Family is a gift from God, the first place where love, faith, and faithfulness are learned. From the very beginning, God established the family as the setting for life and for the passing on of His ways: it is within the home that a child first discovers who God is and learns to walk in His paths. Scripture honors family bonds and calls us to build them on the truth of God rather than on the shifting foundations of the world. Joshua declares with conviction, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15). Psalm 128 describes the blessing of the family that fears the Lord and walks in His ways. The Word also exhorts us to teach God's commandments diligently to our children: "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). These verses offer precious wisdom for loving, forgiving, and serving within the family, and for passing faith on from generation to generation. A family anchored in God grows in unity, faces trials with hope, and leaves behind a lasting spiritual legacy. The home thus remains the first place where faith is lived, shared, and handed down, and where the love of God takes shape in the most everyday relationships.

Key verse snapshot

“There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.”

Bible Verses about Family

6 Scripture passages on this theme

Joshua 17:2

“There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.”

Ezra 2:42

“The children of the porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, in all an hundred thirty and nine.”

1 Chronicles 28:4

“Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:”

2 Corinthians 1:3

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;”

John 14:2

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

Luke 12:53

“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about family?
Joshua 24:15 declares, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Scripture honors the family as a gift from God and calls it to be built on love, respect, and faith (Psalm 128). The home is the first place to live out and pass on faith.
How can we strengthen the family according to the Bible?
By cultivating love, forgiveness, and mutual respect, teaching the Word at home (Deuteronomy 6:6-7), and serving the Lord together. A family anchored in God grows in unity and leaves a legacy of faith to the generations that follow.
How can we pass faith on to our children?
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 calls us to impress God's Word on our children and to speak of it at all times. Passing on faith is lived out in daily life: through prayer, the example of parents, and the teaching of Scripture, so that faith moves from generation to generation.

Apply These Verses to Your Life

Scripture comes alive when we meditate on it and apply it daily. Read these verses in full context, pray for understanding, and ask God how they speak to your situation with family.

Author:
The Lord Will Editorial Team
Reviewed by:
Ugo Candido
Last updated:
Category:
Scripture Guidance