What Does the Bible Say About Honoring Your Parents?
What Does the Bible Say About Honoring Your Parents? The fifth commandment instructs children to honor their father and mother — the first commandment with a promise — and this principle extends to lifelong respect and care.
Key verse: Exodus 20:12 (KJV)
The fifth commandment instructs children to honor their father and mother — the first commandment with a promise — and this principle extends to lifelong respect and care.
The fifth commandment instructs children to honor their father and mother — the first commandment with a promise — and this principle extends to lifelong respect and care.
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." — Exodus 20:12 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
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The Biblical Answer
Honoring parents is one of the Ten Commandments and the only one with an attached promise: 'Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee' (Exodus 20:12). Paul reaffirmed this for the church: 'Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right' (Ephesians 6:1-3). Proverbs repeatedly connects wisdom with heeding parental instruction: 'My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother' (Proverbs 1:8). Jesus criticized the Pharisees for using religious tradition to avoid caring for aging parents (Mark 7:9-13). Even on the cross, Jesus ensured His mother's care by entrusting her to John (John 19:26-27). Honoring parents goes beyond childhood obedience — it includes lifelong respect, gratitude, and provision. First Timothy 5:4 says caring for parents and grandparents is 'good and acceptable before God.' This commandment reflects the order God established in creation and mirrors the respect due to God Himself.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Honoring Parents?
What the Bible teaches about honoring your father and mother at every stage of life.
Key Scripture References
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise."
"My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother."
Frequently asked questions
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Related Questions
What Are the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments are God's moral law given to Moses on Mount Sinai, establishing fundamental principles for humanity's relationship with God and others.
What Does the Bible Say About Disciplining Children?
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What Does the Bible Say About Children?
The Bible describes children as a blessing from God, commands parents to raise them in the faith, and records Jesus welcoming and blessing little children.
What Does the Bible Say About Marriage?
The Bible presents marriage as a sacred covenant between a man and a woman, designed by God to reflect Christ's relationship with the church.
What Does the Bible Say About Divorce?
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Deep Dive Commentary
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Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Exodus. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Exodus on day 24 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What Does the Bible Say About Honoring Your Parents?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
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