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.
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders work in vain. A home’s strength starts with Him.
Bible Verses About Family
Bible verses about family that people choose most are Psalm 127:1, Ephesians 4:2-3 and Psalm 133:1. The Bible is full of families, and almost none of them are perfect. Its family verses speak of love, patience and faith passed on at home, and of a God who “setteth the solitary in families.”
A verse for you
Psalm 127:1
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.
Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders work in vain. A home’s strength starts with Him.
KJV17 Bible verses about family
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Humility, gentleness and patience keep the bond of peace between people.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
A song about how good it is when brothers and sisters, in a family or among God’s people, live together in unity.
Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
Even if a mother could forget her child, God says, I will not forget you.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Love each other like family and try to outdo one another in showing honor.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
God’s mercy lasts from generation to generation, to children’s children.
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.
Faith is passed on at home, in ordinary talk: at the table, on the road, at bedtime and in the morning.
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.
Joshua’s choice, made before all Israel: as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
Love deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Paul to a church: bear with one another’s faults and forgive, as Christ forgave you. Forgiving is not the same as accepting harm.
God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
God places the lonely in families. If your own family has failed you, He makes room for you among His people.
When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.
Even if those closest to you let go, the Lord will take you up.
And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
A word to fathers: do not provoke your children to anger, but raise them with the Lord’s care and teaching.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
The commandment to honor your father and mother. Honor is not obeying someone into harm; no one is asked to accept abuse.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
A proverb about the lasting power of early training: wisdom about how life usually goes, not a guarantee about any one child.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Grandchildren are the crown of the old, and children take pride in their parents.
For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.
Jesus calls everyone who does God’s will His brother, sister and mother: a family wider than blood.
What the Bible says
From Genesis on, Scripture tells family stories honestly: Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, Joseph sold by his brothers, David grieving over Absalom. They are less models to copy than proof that God works through real, complicated families. Joseph could finally tell the brothers who had wronged him, “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20), but only after years, tears and a long road back to each other.
The Bible’s picture of a healthy home rests on God and on love practiced daily. “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” Joshua’s “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” is a decision made at home. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 places faith not mainly in formal lessons but in ordinary talk: at the table, on the road, at bedtime. And what holds any relationship together holds a family: “lowliness and meekness,” patience, “forbearing one another in love.”
Children are told to honor their parents (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1-3), and parents are told not to provoke their children but to bring them up in the Lord’s care (Ephesians 6:4). The duties run both ways. Honoring a parent does not mean obeying them into harm or accepting abuse, and Proverbs 22:6 is wisdom about how life usually goes, not a promise that makes every wandering child a parent’s failure.
If your family is a source of pain, Scripture has room for you too. “When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.” God says that even if a mother could forget her child, “yet will I not forget thee.” Jesus called everyone who does God’s will “my brother, and my sister, and mother,” and the church is meant to be family to the lonely. If anyone in your home is being hurt, safety comes first; see the questions below.
A prayer
Lord, You know my family, its joys and its wounds. Build our house, because without You we labor in vain. Give us humility, gentleness and patience with one another, and teach us to bear with each other in love. Where there is distance, bring healing; where someone is being hurt, bring safety. Thank You that even when people fail us, You will not forget us. As for me and my house, we will serve You. Amen.
Questions people ask
What is a good Bible verse for family?
Joshua 24:15, “as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” is the classic for a home. Psalm 127:1 is about building a family on God, Psalm 133:1 about unity, and Ephesians 4:2-3 about everyday patience.
What does the Bible say about family conflict?
It expects conflict and calls for humility, patience and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:2-3, Colossians 3:13), honest conversation (Matthew 18:15) and peace “as much as lieth in you” (Romans 12:18). Joseph and his brothers show that reconciliation can take years. A pastor, priest or family counselor can help when you are stuck.
Do I have to honor parents who hurt me?
Honoring your parents (Exodus 20:12) does not mean accepting abuse, staying in danger or pretending nothing happened. You can keep distance, set firm boundaries and still, over time, pray for them. If anyone in your home is hurting or threatening you or your children, your safety comes first: forgiveness never requires staying where you are being harmed. In the US, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233; elsewhere, call your local emergency number.
What verse can I pray over my children?
Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless thee, and keep thee,” is the classic blessing. Isaiah 54:13 asks that they be “taught of the Lord,” and Psalm 103:17 trusts God’s mercy “unto children’s children.”
What does the Bible say to someone without a family?
“God setteth the solitary in families” (Psalm 68:6). Psalm 27:10 promises that the Lord takes up those whose parents forsake them, and Jesus calls everyone who does God’s will His brother, sister and mother (Mark 3:35). A church community can become a real family.
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