Everyday life
Children in the Bible
57 passages of the Berean Standard Bible, line by line, from Nave’s Topical Bible.
At birth
- Newborns were washed, rubbed with salt and wrapped in clothsEzek 16:4
The verses
Ezek 16:4On the day of your birth your cord was not cut, nor were you washed with water for cleansing. You were not rubbed with salt or wrapped in cloths.
- Jesus is wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in a mangerLuke 2:7, Luke 2:12
- A midwife ties a scarlet thread on a twin’s wristGen 38:27–30
The verses
Gen 38:27–30When the time came for Tamar to give birth, there were twins in her womb. And as she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it around his wrist. “This one came out first,” she announced. But when he pulled his hand back and his brother came out, she said, “You have broken out first!” So he was named Perez. Then his brother came out with the scarlet thread around his wrist, and he was named Zerah.
- Esau is born red and hairy, Jacob grasping his heelGen 25:24–26
The verses
Gen 25:24–26When her time came to give birth, there were indeed twins in her womb. The first one came out red, covered with hair like a fur coat; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. And Isaac was sixty years old when the twins were born.
- Boys were circumcised on the eighth dayGen 17:12, Lev 12:3, Luke 2:21
The verses
Gen 17:12Generation after generation, every male must be circumcised when he is eight days old, including those born in your household and those purchased from a foreigner—even those who are not your offspring.
Lev 12:3And on the eighth day the flesh of the boy’s foreskin is to be circumcised.
Luke 2:21When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.
- Parents who prayed for a child: Isaac, Hannah, ZechariahGen 25:21, 1 Sam 1:11, 1 Sam 1:20, Luke 1:13
The verses
Gen 25:21Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.
1 Sam 1:11And she made a vow, pleading, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever come over his head.”
1 Sam 1:20So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
Luke 1:13But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
Naming
- Leah and Rachel give each son a name with a reasonGen 29:32–35, Gen 30:6–13, Gen 30:22–24
The verses
Gen 29:32–35And Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she named him Reuben, for she said, “The LORD has seen my affliction. Surely my husband will love me now.” Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon. Once again Leah conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Now at last my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” So he was named Levi. And once more she conceived and gave birth to a son and said, “This time I will praise the LORD.” So she named him Judah. Then Leah stopped having children.
Gen 30:6–13Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me; He has heard my plea and given me a son.” So she named him Dan. And Rachel’s servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “In my great struggles, I have wrestled with my sister and won.” So she named him Naphtali. When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she gave her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. And Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “How fortunate!” So she named him Gad. When Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son, Leah said, “How happy I am! For the women call me happy.” So she named him Asher.
Gen 30:22–24Then God remembered Rachel. He listened to her and opened her womb, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. “God has taken away my shame,” she said. She named him Joseph, and said, “May the LORD add to me another son.”
- Dying Rachel names her son Ben-oni; Jacob calls him BenjaminGen 35:18
The verses
Gen 35:18And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
- Hannah names Samuel: “I have asked for him from the LORD”1 Sam 1:20
The verses
1 Sam 1:20So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”
- Ichabod: “The glory has departed from Israel”1 Sam 4:21
The verses
1 Sam 4:21And she named the boy Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel,” because the ark of God had been captured and her father-in-law and her husband had been killed.
- Pharaoh’s daughter names Moses: “I drew him out of the water”Exod 2:10
The verses
Exod 2:10When the child had grown older, she brought him to Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and explained, “I drew him out of the water.”
- Relatives want the baby named after his father; Elizabeth says JohnLuke 1:59–63
The verses
Luke 1:59–63On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.” They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child. Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
- The neighbor women name Naomi’s grandson ObedRuth 4:17
The verses
Ruth 4:17The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Nursing and weaning
- Abraham holds a great feast the day Isaac is weanedGen 21:8
The verses
Gen 21:8So the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham held a great feast on the day Isaac was weaned.
- Hannah keeps Samuel until he is weaned, then brings him to Shiloh1 Sam 1:22–28
The verses
1 Sam 1:22–28but Hannah did not go. “After the boy is weaned,” she said to her husband, “I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there permanently.” “Do what you think is best,” her husband Elkanah replied, “and stay here until you have weaned him. Only may the LORD confirm His word.” So Hannah stayed and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Once she had weaned him, Hannah took the boy with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine. Though the boy was still young, she brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. And when they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli. “Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this boy, and since the LORD has granted me what I asked of Him, I now dedicate the boy to the LORD. For as long as he lives, he is dedicated to the LORD.” So they worshiped the LORD there.
- Moses’ own mother is paid to nurse himExod 2:7–9
The verses
Exod 2:7–9Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call one of the Hebrew women to nurse the child for you?” “Go ahead,” Pharaoh’s daughter told her. And the girl went and called the boy’s mother. Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages.” So the woman took the boy and nursed him.
- Naomi takes the baby Obed on her lapRuth 4:16
The verses
Ruth 4:16And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him.
- A nurse flees with Mephibosheth, five; he falls and becomes lame2 Sam 4:4
The verses
2 Sam 4:4And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.
- Baby Joash is hidden with his nurse from Athaliah2 Kgs 11:2
The verses
2 Kgs 11:2But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.
Growing up
- Each year Hannah made the boy Samuel a little robe1 Sam 2:18–19
The verses
1 Sam 2:18–19Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod. Each year his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice.
- Parents taught their children at home and along the roadDeut 6:7, Deut 11:19
The verses
Deut 6:7And you shall teach them diligently to your children and speak of them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Deut 11:19Teach them to your children, speaking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
- When your son asks, “What does this mean?” — tell him the storyExod 13:14
The verses
Exod 13:14In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
- Train up a child in the way he should goProv 22:6
The verses
Prov 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
- Sayings in Proverbs about the rod of disciplineProv 13:24, Prov 29:15
The verses
Prov 13:24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.
Prov 29:15A rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
- Children listened when the Law was read aloudJosh 8:35, Neh 8:2–3
The verses
Josh 8:35There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua failed to read before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, the little ones, and the foreigners who lived among them.
Neh 8:2–3On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
- Children skip about and play in the streetsJob 21:11, Zech 8:5
- Jesus at twelve in the temple, asking the teachers questionsLuke 2:41–47
The verses
Luke 2:41–47Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast. When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed. Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends. When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.
- Jesus grew in wisdom and statureLuke 2:40, Luke 2:52
- Paul was educated at the feet of GamalielActs 22:3
The verses
Acts 22:3“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but raised in this city. I was educated at the feet of Gamaliel in strict conformity to the law of our fathers. I am just as zealous for God as any of you here today.
- Timothy learned from his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice2 Tim 1:5, 2 Tim 3:15
The verses
2 Tim 1:5I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced is in you as well.
2 Tim 3:15From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
- Children shout “Hosanna” in the temple courtsMatt 21:15
The verses
Matt 21:15But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”
- Jesus blesses the little childrenMatt 19:13–15, Mark 10:13–16
The verses
Matt 19:13–15Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
Mark 10:13–16Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.
Examples
- Jacob loves Joseph most and gives him a robe of many colorsGen 37:3–4
The verses
Gen 37:3–4Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors. When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
- The Law protects the double share of an unloved wife’s firstbornDeut 21:15–17
The verses
Deut 21:15–17If a man has two wives, one beloved and the other unloved, and both bear him sons, but the unloved wife has the firstborn son, when that man assigns his inheritance to his sons he must not appoint the son of the beloved wife as the firstborn over the son of the unloved wife. Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of his unloved wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he has. For that son is the firstfruits of his father’s strength; the right of the firstborn belongs to him.
- A young Israelite girl tells Naaman’s wife about the prophet2 Kgs 5:2–3
The verses
2 Kgs 5:2–3At this time the Arameans had gone out in bands and had taken a young girl from the land of Israel, and she was serving Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.”
- Joash becomes king at seven, Josiah at eight2 Kgs 11:21, 2 Kgs 22:1
The verses
2 Kgs 11:21Joash was seven years old when he became king.
2 Kgs 22:1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. His mother’s name was Jedidah daughter of Adaiah; she was from Bozkath.
- Children taken as slaves for their parents’ debts2 Kgs 4:1, Neh 5:5
The verses
2 Kgs 4:1Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!”
Neh 5:5We and our children are just like our countrymen and their children, yet we are subjecting our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters are already enslaved, but we are powerless to redeem them because our fields and vineyards belong to others.”
- Pharaoh orders Hebrew baby boys thrown into the NileExod 1:22
The verses
Exod 1:22Then Pharaoh commanded all his people: “Every son born to the Hebrews you must throw into the Nile, but every daughter you may allow to live.”
- Herod kills the boys of Bethlehem two years old and underMatt 2:16
The verses
Matt 2:16When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
- Grandchildren are the crown of the agedProv 17:6
The verses
Prov 17:6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
Sources
From Nave’s Topical Bible (Orville J. Nave, 1896; public domain): subjects chosen, lines shortened and put into modern words, lines of interpretation left out; each verse checked.
Berean Standard Bible · Public domain