Bible verses for mother's and father's day

Mother's and Father's Day are civic holidays that churches often observe. Because Scripture has no explicit Mother's Day or Father's Day, readers turn to passages that celebrate parental love, family duty, and the image of God as a parent. The four passages below are frequently chosen for their warmth and domestic familiarity, even though they were not written for these occasions.

1. Proverbs 31:25-31

   “her children rise up”

   ²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come. ²⁶She opens her mouth with wisdom. Kind instruction is on her tongue. ²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness. ²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her: ²⁹“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.” ³⁰Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised. ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!

   This poem about the capable wife and mother is a favorite for Mother's Day because it praises a woman's strength, wisdom, and care for her household. The image of children rising up and calling her blessed resonates with families honoring a mother. It gives thanks for her works.

   The passage is about this

   Worth knowing: The passage describes a particular ideal of womanhood from an ancient agrarian household; it was not written as a universal checklist, and reading it as one can create pressure. It is a song of praise, not a job description.

   Read Proverbs 31 in full →

2. Ephesians 6:1-4

   “do not provoke your children”

   ¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ²“Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with a promise: ³“that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.” ⁴You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

   This pairing of a command to children and a command to fathers is often read on both Mother's and Father's Day because it frames family relationships within the Lord. It quotes the fifth commandment and then warns fathers not to provoke their children, balancing authority with nurture.

   The passage is about this

   Worth knowing: The promise attached to the commandment ('that it may be well with you') is a general wisdom saying, not a guarantee of prosperity for every obedient child. Also, the instruction to fathers is often extended to mothers, but the original text addresses fathers specifically.

   Read Ephesians 6 in full →

3. Psalms 103:13

   “as a father has compassion”

   ¹³Like a father has compassion on his children, so Yahweh has compassion on those who fear him.

   This verse uses the image of a father's compassion to describe God's mercy. It is read on Father's Day to honor fathers by comparing their love to God's, and on Mother's Day it can be adapted similarly. It is short and suitable for a meditation.

   The passage is about this

   Worth knowing: The verse emphasizes a specific aspect of God's character; it does not say that all human fathers are compassionate by nature. It is a simile, not a promise about human fathers.

   Read Psalms 103 in full →

4. Proverbs 22:6

   “train up a child”

   ⁶Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

   This proverb about training a child is a staple for both days because it speaks to the long-term influence of parents. It is often quoted by parents and grandparents as a comfort and a hope.

   The passage is about this

   Worth knowing: It is a proverb, not a divine guarantee. Many parents who have trained a child faithfully still see the child depart from the way; the book of Proverbs itself presents such sayings as general wisdom, not ironclad promises.

   Read Proverbs 22 in full →

Scripture quoted from the World English Bible. The commentary is AI-generated and labelled by what kind of claim it makes; it is not the ruling of any tradition.