Bible verses about family
The best-known family verses are Joshua 24:15, Psalm 133:1 and Psalm 68:6. They cover choosing a direction for your household, living together in peace, and God making room for people who feel alone. All eleven verses are below in full.
Free to read, no account. Last updated November 9, 2026. Scripture: King James Version and World English Bible (public domain).
1.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.
In the World English Bible
If it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua tells the people to choose who they will serve, then says where his own house stands. A decision made at home level.
2.Psalm 133:1
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
In the World English Bible
See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity!
One line about how good it is when relatives live together in harmony. Short enough for a card.
3.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.
In the World English Bible
God sets the lonely in families. He brings out the prisoners with singing, but the rebellious dwell in a sun-scorched land.
God is pictured as someone who gives the lonely a household. A good one for people whose family looks different.
4.Deuteronomy 6:6-7
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.
In the World English Bible
These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Instructions to talk about God at home, at dinner, on the way somewhere, at bedtime. Faith as ordinary conversation.
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.
In the World English Bible
But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Blunt advice on providing for relatives. Paul takes it seriously and says so without softening.
6.Proverbs 17:6
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
In the World English Bible
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
Grandchildren and parents each get credit here. Family as a source of pride in both directions.
7.Ruth 1:16
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
In the World English Bible
Ruth said, “Don’t urge me to leave you, and to return from following you, for where you go, I will go; and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God my God.
Ruth stays with her mother-in-law when she could have gone home. Loyalty that nobody required of her.
8.Acts 16:31
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
In the World English Bible
They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Said to a jailer in Philippi, and the household is part of the story that follows.
9.Colossians 3:20-21
Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.
In the World English Bible
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.
Two short lines to children and fathers, side by side. Each gets one thing to work on.
10.Psalm 127:1-2
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. It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
In the World English Bible
Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain. It is vain for you to rise up early, to stay up late, eating the bread of toil, for he gives sleep to his loved ones.
Builders and guards work hard here, yet the psalm says the house is still God's to build. A line for tired parents.
11.Psalm 128:1-3
Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
In the World English Bible
Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways. For you will eat the labor of your hands. You will be happy, and it will be well with you. Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table.
A picture of a household at the table: a spouse like a fruitful vine and children like olive shoots.
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Read today's verseQuestions
What is a good Bible verse about family?
Joshua 24:15 is a good place to start. Joshua tells the people to choose who they will serve, then says where his own house stands. A decision made at home level.
What does the Bible say about family?
Scripture treats family as important and imperfect. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells parents to talk about God at home, Psalm 128:1-3 pictures a full table, and 1 Timothy 5:8 says to provide for relatives. Genesis is also full of difficult families, and the Bible doesn't hide that.
What if a family is broken or absent?
Psalm 68:6 describes God as the one who places lonely people into households. Ruth 1:16 shows loyalty holding a family together after loss. Many churches read these as an invitation to treat each other like relatives.
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Made by Lamplight, a small Sarvixo product. Notes on each verse are ours, written with AI tools and checked against the passage. The verses are printed exactly as published.