100 Bible Verses about Hurting Children

Matthew 18:6 ESV / 438 helpful votes

But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Luke 17:2 ESV / 226 helpful votes

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

Mark 9:42 ESV / 179 helpful votes

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Psalm 127:3-5 ESV / 178 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 157 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Exodus 23:7 ESV / 136 helpful votes

Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked.

Matthew 18:10 ESV / 135 helpful votes

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 25:40 ESV / 97 helpful votes

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 ESV / 92 helpful votes

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 32:35 ESV / 75 helpful votes

Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Proverbs 19:18 ESV / 71 helpful votes

Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death.

Mark 10:13-16 ESV / 64 helpful votes

And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 59 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Mark 9:36-37 ESV / 51 helpful votes

And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

Matthew 18:2-6 ESV / 50 helpful votes

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 49 helpful votes

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:18 ESV / 46 helpful votes

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV / 45 helpful votes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Colossians 3:21 ESV / 42 helpful votes

Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Romans 12:19 ESV / 41 helpful votes

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

1 Peter 5:7 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Revelation 21:4 ESV / 38 helpful votes

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

John 16:21 ESV / 37 helpful votes

When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

Luke 17:1-2 ESV / 37 helpful votes

And he said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 37 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalm 22:24 ESV / 34 helpful votes

For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him.

Colossians 3:20 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Luke 1:37 ESV / 32 helpful votes

For nothing will be impossible with God.”

Proverbs 1:8-9 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 ESV / 30 helpful votes

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 30 helpful votes

For behold, the Lord God of hosts is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah support and supply, all support of bread, and all support of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms. And I will make boys their princes, and infants shall rule over them. And the people will oppress one another, every one his fellow and every one his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the despised to the honorable. ...

Proverbs 13:24 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.

Deuteronomy 18:9-13 ESV / 30 helpful votes

“When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God,

Psalm 113:9 ESV / 29 helpful votes

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!

Nahum 1:7 ESV / 27 helpful votes

The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him.

Proverbs 17:6 ESV / 27 helpful votes

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

Psalm 9:9 ESV / 27 helpful votes

The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

James 1:27 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

1 John 3:18 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Matthew 18:5 ESV / 25 helpful votes

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,

Jeremiah 1:5 ESV / 25 helpful votes

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Proverbs 18:21 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Psalm 37:1-40 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Of David. Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. ...

Romans 13:10 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Mark 10:14 ESV / 23 helpful votes

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Jeremiah 22:3 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV / 23 helpful votes

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Exodus 20:12 ESV / 23 helpful votes

“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Colossians 2:1-23 ESV / 22 helpful votes

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. ...

Romans 14:19 ESV / 22 helpful votes

So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Matthew 19:13-14 ESV / 22 helpful votes

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Psalm 139:13-16 ESV / 22 helpful votes

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 21 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

John 3:16-17 ESV / 21 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

1 John 4:8 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Matthew 21:15-16 ESV / 19 helpful votes

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?”

Matthew 18:12-14 ESV / 19 helpful votes

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Proverbs 20:11 ESV / 18 helpful votes

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 17 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood ...

Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 17 helpful votes

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 1:1-29 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father. We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, ...

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 16 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Isaiah 41:10 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Colossians 3:1-25 ESV / 14 helpful votes

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:23 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Colossians 4:1-18 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. ...

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Galatians 6:2 ESV / 13 helpful votes

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Mark 11:25 ESV / 13 helpful votes

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

Romans 12:18 ESV / 12 helpful votes

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

John 3:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Mark 10:14-16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.

Genesis 3:16 ESV / 12 helpful votes

To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be contrary to your husband, but he shall rule over you.”

James 1:5 ESV / 11 helpful votes

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Titus 1:6 ESV / 11 helpful votes

If anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

Colossians 3:13 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

Ephesians 5:1 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Romans 16:19 ESV / 11 helpful votes

For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

Romans 8:31 ESV / 11 helpful votes

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Acts 2:38 ESV / 11 helpful votes

And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:33 ESV / 11 helpful votes

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 40:31 ESV / 11 helpful votes

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Exodus 21:1-36 ESV / 11 helpful votes

“Now these are the rules that you shall set before them. When you buy a Hebrew slave, he shall serve six years, and in the seventh he shall go out free, for nothing. If he comes in single, he shall go out single; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master gives him a wife and she bears him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out alone. But if the slave plainly says, ‘I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free,’ ...

Ephesians 3:20 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Romans 12:17 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.

Proverbs 23:22 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Psalm 6:2 ESV / 10 helpful votes

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.

Luke 15:7 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Matthew 18:21-22 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

Matthew 18:2 ESV / 9 helpful votes

And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them

Isaiah 54:13 ESV / 9 helpful votes

All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.

Matthew 19:14 ESV / 8 helpful votes

But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Proverbs 29:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

Exodus 21:22 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine.

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