100 Bible Verses about Respecting Your Elders

1 Timothy 5:1-2 ESV / 255 helpful votes

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

1 Peter 5:5 ESV / 240 helpful votes

Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 232 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

Proverbs 19:20 ESV / 210 helpful votes

Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Leviticus 19:32 ESV / 179 helpful votes

“You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.

Ephesians 6:1 ESV / 144 helpful votes

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Exodus 20:12 ESV / 89 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.

Luke 17:1-37 ESV / 78 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. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” ...

Job 12:12 ESV / 59 helpful votes

Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.

1 Timothy 5:1 ESV / 51 helpful votes

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers,

Proverbs 20:29 ESV / 51 helpful votes

The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

Ruth 1:1-22 ESV / 49 helpful votes

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband. ...

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Ephesians 6:1-3 ESV / 45 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.”

Genesis 27:1-46 ESV / 43 helpful votes

When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.” Now Rebekah was listening when Isaac spoke to his son Esau. So when Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it, ...

Proverbs 16:31 ESV / 40 helpful votes

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

Genesis 5:1-32 ESV / 37 helpful votes

This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created. When Adam had lived 130 years, he fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. The days of Adam after he fathered Seth were 800 years; and he had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days that Adam lived were 930 years, and he died. ...

Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV / 34 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.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 34 helpful votes

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

1 Peter 2:17 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

Proverbs 19:2 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

Romans 13:7 ESV / 31 helpful votes

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

2 Samuel 1:1-27 ESV / 30 helpful votes

After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” ...

Matthew 18:15-20 ESV / 28 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ...

Proverbs 23:22 ESV / 28 helpful votes

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

Matthew 15:4 ESV / 27 helpful votes

For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’

John 3:16-17 ESV / 26 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.

Proverbs 1:8 ESV / 26 helpful votes

Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching,

Deuteronomy 5:16 ESV / 26 helpful votes

“‘Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

1 Timothy 5:2 ESV / 25 helpful votes

Older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV / 25 helpful votes

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

Romans 13:2 ESV / 24 helpful votes

Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 23 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,

1 Peter 5:1-14 ESV / 22 helpful votes

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ...

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV / 22 helpful votes

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Colossians 3:20 ESV / 22 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 20:11 ESV / 22 helpful votes

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

Ephesians 6:2 ESV / 21 helpful votes

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

Ephesians 5:33 ESV / 21 helpful votes

However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Ephesians 6:5 ESV / 20 helpful votes

Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ,

Mark 7:9-13 ESV / 20 helpful votes

And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

Hebrews 13:7 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Philippians 2:3 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Romans 13:1-7 ESV / 19 helpful votes

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ...

Job 32:6 ESV / 19 helpful votes

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: “I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.

1 John 2:1-29 ESV / 17 helpful votes

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: ...

Revelation 20:4 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

Revelation 4:11 ESV / 16 helpful votes

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Titus 2:1-15 ESV / 16 helpful votes

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ...

1 Timothy 6:1-2 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.

Acts 20:28 ESV / 16 helpful votes

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Isaiah 3:1-26 ESV / 16 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. ...

Hebrews 13:16 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Colossians 3:21 ESV / 15 helpful votes

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

Romans 12:10 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Acts 20:17 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.

Job 32:4 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he.

1 Timothy 6:1 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled.

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Acts 14:23 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

Luke 20:25 ESV / 14 helpful votes

He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”

Leviticus 19:3 ESV / 14 helpful votes

Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.

Exodus 21:17 ESV / 14 helpful votes

“Whoever curses his father or his mother shall be put to death.

James 2:1 ESV / 13 helpful votes

My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Proverbs 19:13 ESV / 13 helpful votes

A foolish son is ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

1 Peter 5:1-4 ESV / 12 helpful votes

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Titus 1:5 ESV / 12 helpful votes

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—

Leviticus 1:8 ESV / 12 helpful votes

And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar;

James 1:27 ESV / 11 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.

Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 11 helpful votes

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Matthew 5:6 ESV / 11 helpful votes

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Proverbs 19:26 ESV / 11 helpful votes

He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is a son who brings shame and reproach.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

Proverbs 22:6 ESV / 9 helpful votes

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

1 Timothy 3:2 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Luke 24:13-35 ESV / 8 helpful votes

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. ...

Genesis 9:20-26 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. He drank of the wine and became drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. Then Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and walked backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned backward, and they did not see their father's nakedness. When Noah awoke from his wine and knew what his youngest son had done to him, ...

Revelation 19:11-16 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ...

1 Peter 3:15 ESV / 7 helpful votes

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Hebrews 12:9 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

Ephesians 6:3 ESV / 7 helpful votes

“that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

John 3:16 ESV / 7 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.

Proverbs 17:6 ESV / 7 helpful votes

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

1 Peter 5:3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

1 Peter 2:18 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust.

Titus 1:9 ESV / 6 helpful votes

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Colossians 3:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Acts 16:4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.

John 14:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Isaiah 3:5 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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.

1 Kings 12:6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, “How do you advise me to answer this people?”

Revelation 21:1-27 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” ...

Revelation 20:1-15 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. ...

Colossians 2:1-23 ESV / 5 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. ...

1 Peter 5:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

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

1 Timothy 5:4 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 5:3 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Honor widows who are truly widows.

1 Timothy 3:5 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

1 Thessalonians 5:2 ESV / 4 helpful votes

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

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