20 Bible Verses about Fathers, Examples Of

For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do after right and conscience, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that he hath promised him."

When Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to him saying, "I am the almighty God: walk before me and be uncorrupt. And I will make my covenant between thee and me, and will multiply thee exceedingly." And Abram fell on his face. And God talked moreover with him, saying,read more.
"I am. Behold, my covenant is with thee, that thou shalt be a father of many nations. Therefore shalt thou no more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham: for a father of many nations have I made thee, and I will multiply thee exceedingly, and will make nations of thee: yea, and kings shall spring out of thee. Moreover, I will make my covenant between me, and thee, and thy seed after thee; in their times to be an everlasting testament, so that I will be God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

The LORD visited Sara as he had said, and did unto her according as he had spoken. And Sara was with child and bare Abraham a son in his old age, even the same season which the LORD had appointed. And Abraham called his son's name that was born unto him, which Sara bare him, Isaac:read more.
and Abraham circumcised Isaac his son when he was eight days old, as God commanded him. And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.

After these deeds, God did prove Abraham and said unto him, "Abraham." And he answered, "Here am I." And he said, "Take thy only son Isaac whom thou lovest, and get thee unto the land of Moria, and sacrifice him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will show thee." Then Abraham rose up early in the morning and saddled his ass, and took two of his men with him, and Isaac his son: and clove wood for the sacrifice, and rose up and got him to the place which God had appointed him.read more.
The third day Abraham lift up his eyes and saw the place afar off, and said unto his young men, "Bide here with the ass. I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again unto you." And Abraham took the wood of the sacrifice and laid it upon Isaac his son, and took fire in his hand and a knife. And they went both of them together. Then spake Isaac unto Abraham his father and said, "My father?" And he answered, "Here am I, my son." And he said, "See, here is fire and wood, but where is the sheep for sacrifice?" And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide him a sheep for sacrifice." So went they both together. And when they came unto the place which God showed him, Abraham made an altar there and dressed the wood, and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, above upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to have killed his son. Then the angel of the LORD called unto him from heaven saying, "Abraham, Abraham?" And he answered, "Here am I." And he said, "Lay not thy hands upon the child, neither do anything at all unto him, for now I know that thou fearest God, in that thou hast not kept thine only son from me." And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked about: and behold, there was a ram caught by the horns in a thicket. And he went and took the ram and offered him up for a sacrifice in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of the place, "The LORD will see." Wherefore it is a common saying this day, "In the mount will the LORD be seen." And the angel of the LORD cried unto Abraham from heaven the second time, saying, "By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, because thou hast done this thing and hast not spared thy only son, that I will bless thee and multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven and as the sand upon the sea side. And thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because thou hast obeyed my voice."

In the time of Herod, the king of Jewry, there was a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah. And his wife was of the daughters of Aaron: And her name was Elizabeth. Both were perfect before God, and walked in all the laws and ordinances of the Lord, that no man could find fault with them. And they had no child, because that Elizabeth was barren; And both were well stricken in age.read more.
And it came to pass, as he executed the priest's office before God as his course came, according to the custom of the priest's office his lot was to burn incense. And he went into the temple of the Lord, and the whole multitude of the people were without, in their prayers, while the incense was a burning. And there appeared unto him, an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was abashed, and fear came on him. And the angel said unto him, "Fear not Zacharias, for thy prayer is heard: And thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John: And thou shalt have joy and gladness: And many shall rejoice at his birth. For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall neither drink wine nor strong drink. And he shall be filled with the holy ghost, even in his mother's womb: and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to their Lord God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the unbelievers to the wisdom of the just men: to make the people ready for the Lord." And Zacharias said unto the angel, "Whereby shall I know this? Seeing that I am old, and my wife well stricken in years." And the angel answered, and said unto him, "I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee: and to show thee these glad tidings. And behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak until the time that these things be performed, because thou believedst not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called. And he asked for writing tables and wrote, saying, "His name is John." And they marveled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue also, and he spake lauding God.read more.
And fear came on all them that dwelt nigh unto them: And all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Jewry: and all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner child shall this be? And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the holy ghost, and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he hath visited and redeemed his people. And hath raised up a horn of salvation unto us, in the house of his servant David. Even as he promised by the mouth of his holy prophets which were since the world began. That we should be saved from our enemies: And from the hands of all that hate us: To fulfill the mercy promised to our fathers; And to remember his holy covenant; And to perform the oath, which he sware to our father Abraham, for to give us. That we, delivered out of the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear: all the days of our life, in such holiness and righteousness that are accept before him. And thou child, shalt be called the prophet of the highest, for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord, to prepare his ways: And to give knowledge of salvation unto his people, for the remission of sins: Through the tender mercy of our God, whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us: To give light to them that sat in darkness, and in shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace." And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in wilderness: till the day came, when he should show himself unto the Israelites.

And he said, "A certain man had two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, father, give me my part of the goods that to me belongeth. And he divided unto them his substance. And not long after, the younger son gathered all that he had together, and took his journey into a far country, and there he wasted his goods with riotous living.read more.
And when he had spent all that he had, there rose a great dearth throughout all that same land. And he began to lack. And he went, and clave to a citizen of that same country, which sent him to his field, to keep his swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the cods, that the swine ate: and no man gave him. Then he came to himself and said, 'How many hired servants at my father's have bread enough, and I die for hunger. I will arise, and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.' And he arose, and went to his father. And when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran unto him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy henceforth to be called thy son.' But his father said to his servants, 'Bring forth that best garment, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither that fatted calf, and kill him, and let us eat and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is now found.' And they began to be merry. The elder brother was in the field, and when he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard minstrelsy, and dancing, and called one of his servants, and asked what those things meant. And he said unto him, 'Thy brother is come, and thy father had killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.' And he was angry, and would not go in. Then came his father out, and entreated him. He answered, and said to his father, 'Lo these many years have I done thee service, neither brake at any time thy commandment, and yet gavest thou me never so much as a kid to make merry with my lovers: but as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy goods with harlots, thou hast for his pleasure killed the fatted calf.' And he said unto him, 'Son, thou wast ever with me, and all that I have is thine:

And Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he begat him in his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. When his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak one kind word unto him.

Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of his venison, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Eli was very old and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how they slept with the women that waited in the door of the tabernacle of witness, and said unto them, "Why do ye such things? For I hear your wicked deeds of all these people. Oh, nay my sons: For it is no good report that I hear how that ye make the LORD's people to trespass.read more.
If one man sin against another, the judge can redress it. But if a man sin against the LORD, who can redress it?" Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, for the LORD's will was to slay them.

And there came a man of God unto Eli and said unto him, "Thus sayeth the LORD, 'I appeared unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt, in Pharaoh's house. And I chose thy father out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest for to offer upon mine altar and to burn cense, and to wear an ephod before me. And I gave unto the house of thy father all the offerings of the children of Israel. Wherefore kick ye against my sacrifice and against mine offering which I command in the tabernacle, and honourest thy children above me, and make yourselves fat of the first fruits of all the offerings of Israel my people?'read more.
Wherefore the LORD God of Israel sayeth, 'I said that thine house and the house of thy father should have walked before me forever. But now the LORD sayeth that be far from me: for them that honoureth me I will honour, and they that despise me, shall not be regarded. Behold, the days will come that I will cut off thine arm and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an elder in thine house. And thou shalt see thine enemy in the tabernacle, in all that shall please Israel, and there shall not be an elder in thine house while the world standeth. Yet will I will not root out every man of thee from mine altar, but that thine eyes may be consumed, and thy soul may be sorry. And a great multitude of thine house shall die young. And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, Hophni and Phinehas: Even in one day they shall die, both of them. And I will stir me up a faithful priest that shall do as it is in mine heart and in my mind. And I will build him a sure house. And he shall walk before mine anointed forever. And they that are left in thine house, shall come and crouch to him for a little piece of silver and a cake of bread, and shall say: put me, I pray thee, in one office or other among the priests, that I may eat a morsel of bread.'"

And the LORD said to Samuel, "Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, that the ears of as many as heareth it, shall tingle. In that day I will perform to Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin it and end it. For I have told him that I will judge his house forever. For the wickedness which he knoweth, how his sons are ungracious, and he was not wroth therewith.read more.
And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the wickedness of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering, while the world standeth." And Samuel lay till morning and then opened the doors of the house of the LORD. But Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." And he answered, "Here I am." And he said, "What is that he said unto thee? See ye hide it not from me. The LORD do so and so to thee, if thou hide anything from me, of all that he said unto thee." And Samuel told him every whit and hid it not from him. And he answered, "It is the LORD, let him do what seemeth him best."

And Abraham said unto God, "O that Ishmael might live in thy sight!" Then said God, "Nay. Sara thy wife shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name Isaac. And I will make my covenant with him, that it shall be an everlasting covenant unto his seed after him. And as concerning Ishmael also, I have heard thy request: lo, I will bless him and increase him, and multiply him exceedingly. Twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make a great nation of him.read more.
But my covenant will I make with Isaac, which Sara shall bear unto thee: even this time, twelve month." And God left off talking with him, and departed up from Abraham.

And David blessed the LORD before all the congregation and said, "Blessed art thou LORD God of Israel our father, from ever and for ever. Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, power and glory, victory and praise: for all that is in heaven and in earth is thine, and thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art lifted up a head above all. And riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all, and in thine hand is power and strength, and in thine hand it is to make great and to give strength unto all.read more.
And now our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. For what am I? And what is my people, that would obtain strength to be so willing? But all is of thee, and of that we received of thine hand we have given thee. For we be but strangers before thee and tenants, as were all our fathers. Our days on the earth is but a shadow, and there is none abiding. O LORD our God, all this heap that we have prepared to build thee a house for thy holy name, cometh of thine hand, and is all thine. I know my God, that thou provest the heart and hast pleasure in plainness. And in plainness of mine heart I have willingly given all this. And now I see thy people, which are here in gladness to offer willingly to thee. O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their hearts unto thee. And give unto Solomon my son, a pure heart to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies and thine ordinances, and to do all, and to build the house which I intended."

And Nathan departed unto his house. And the LORD struck the child, that Uriah's wife bare David, and it sickened. And David besought God for the boy and fasted and went and lay all night upon the earth. And the elders of his house arose and went to him to take him up from the earth. But he would not, neither yet eat meat with them.read more.
And it happened the seventh day that the child died. But the servants of David durst not tell him that the child was dead. For they said, "See, while the child was yet alive, we spake unto him, and he would not hearken unto our voice. How much more then will he vex himself if we tell him that the child is dead?" But David saw his servants whispering and thereby perceived that the child was dead, and said unto his servants, "Is the child dead?" And they said, "Yea." Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his apparel, and went into the house of the LORD and prayed; and after came to his own house and bade that they should set meat before him, and he did eat. Then said his servants unto him, "What is this that thou hast done? Thou did fast and weep for thy child while it was alive, and as soon as it was dead thou didst rise up and didst eat meat." And he answered, "While the child was alive, I fasted and wept. For I this thought, 'Who can tell whether God will have mercy on me that the child may live?' But now, seeing it is dead, wherefore should I fast? Can I bring him again any more? I shall go to him: but he shall not come again to me."

And his sons went and made banquets - one day in one house, another day in another - and sent for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. And it fortuned that when they had passed over the time of their banqueting round about; Job sent for them, and sanctified them, and gat up early, and offered for every one a burnt offering. For Job thought thus: "Peradventure my sons have done some offense, and have been unthankful to God in their hearts." And thus did Job everyday.

And when they were come to the people, there came to him a certain man; and kneeled down to him, and said, "Master have mercy on my son, for he is lunatic, and is sore vexed. And ofttimes, he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.

And one of the company answered, and said, "Master, I have brought my son unto thee, which hath a dumb spirit. And whensoever he taketh him, he teareth him, and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away. And I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out, and they could not."

And behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, "Master, I beseech thee behold my son, for he is all that I have: and see, a spirit taketh him, and suddenly he crieth, and he teareth him that he foameth again, and with much pain departeth he from him, when he hath rent him:

And Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he turned water into wine. And there was a certain ruler, whose son was sick at Capernaum. As soon as the same heard that Jesus was come out of Jewry, into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him, that he would descend, and heal his son: For he was even ready to die. Then said Jesus unto him, "Except ye see signs and wonders, ye cannot believe."read more.
The ruler said unto him, "Sir, come away or ever that my child die."