Mother’s Day is a wonderful time to draw our attention to our mothers (and mother-figures!) and the important role they have played and continue to play in our lives.
We admire our mothers and mother figures for their nurturing, their strength, their kindness, their sacrifice, and perhaps their sense of humor and their special hugs.
Mothers are essential to our care growing up, but a relationship with your mother is such a blessing in your adult years as well. My mother and I have a long-distance relationship, but that hasn’t stopped us from chatting about the things we both enjoy, many of which she has inspired me to love as well, such as gardening, decorating, and cooking.
God’s word has a lot to say about the blessing mothers bring to our lives.
Here are 20 Bible verses that honor mothers:
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Halfpoint
1. Proverbs 31:28-29
Proverbs 31, although cited so often when it comes to women and mothers, deserves a mention here:
“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’”
2. Proverbs 31:31
“Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.”
3. Genesis 3:20
This verse speaks to mothers’ incredible ability to nurture life:
“The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.”
Photo Credit: © Getty Images
4. John 19:25-27
This verse that shows Jesus’ tender concern and provision for his own mother:
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”
5. Proverbs 23:22-25
This is a wonderful way to honor your mother:
“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice.”
6. Exodus 20:12
And we can’t forget the fifth commandment:
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.”
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/mbolina
7. 3 John 1:4
Godly mothers are blessed when they know their children are following the Lord:
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
8. Ruth 1:16-17
Ruth remained committed to her mother-in-law, even through trials:
“But Ruth said, ‘Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.’”
9. Ephesians 6:1-3
This verse reminds us of the 5th Commandment:
“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.’"
10. 2 Timothy 1:5
Our mothers are often the ones who show us what faith looks like in practice:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”
11. Luke 2:51
Jesus, the Son of God and King of Kings, also obeyed his mother:
“And he [Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.”
12. Proverbs 23:22
Mothers have wisdom to offer, whether you’re two or 62:
“Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.”
13. 1 Timothy 5:2 NLT
Many of us have been blessed with mother figures in our lives. They may not be our mothers biologically, but they are true mothers in so many other ways.
“Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.”
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/monkeybusinessimages
14. Proverbs 1:8-9 NLT
A mother’s wisdom is something to draw on throughout your life:
“My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.”
15. Psalm 113:9
God is the one who gives the blessing of children:
“He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!”
16. Isaiah 66:13
God values mothers so much that he even compares himself to one:
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
17. Proverbs 17:6 NLT
When we talk about mothers, let’s not forget grandmothers!
“Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.”
18. Luke 1:46-48
Mary, one of the most well-known mothers in the Bible, is a beautiful reminder to mothers that we can rejoice in our life-giving ability, even when we are bearing children in difficult circumstances.
“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.”
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/monkeybusinessimages
19. Proverbs 14:1 NIV
A wise mother works to edify and encourage those in her family. She knows that often knowledge of the Lord begins in the home.
“The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
20. Psalm 139:13-14
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
*Note: All Bible verses were taken from the English Standard Version, unless otherwise noted.
Veronica Olson wrote her first poem at age seven and went on to study English in college, focusing on 18th century literature. When she is not listening to baseball games, enjoying the outdoors, or reading, she can be found mostly in Richmond, VA writing primarily about nature, nostalgia, faith, family, and Jane Austen.
Photo Credit: © Pexels/Jefferson Luc
Originally published Sunday, 09 May 2021.
