bible verses about hospitality

Hospitality Bible Verses: 15 Scriptures on Welcoming Others

Bible verses about hospitality: 15 Scriptures on welcoming strangers, guests, and visitors, plus short verses for hosting a holiday table.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 28, 2026Updated October 20, 20266 min readRomans 12:13 (NIV)

A host pours water for guests at a table of bread and olives under a vine trellis.

"Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."

— Romans 12:13 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about hospitality want Scripture for an open door — not entertaining for show, welcome that makes room for strangers and saints, and love that shares a table. This page is a numbered list of fifteen passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. The wider essay sits under Love and hospitality. Related lists: Bible verses about loving others, Bible verses about kindness, Bible verses about serving others, and Bible verses about God's love. Hospitality here is welcoming strangers and saints into real space — distinct from the general love-of-neighbor focus in Bible verses about loving others.

Word study (lead verse). In Romans 12:13 Paul commands philoxenia — hospitality / love of strangers — from Greek φιλοξενία (Strong's G5381): affection that makes room for the outsider. Old Testament near-kin is Hebrew גֵּר ger (Strong's H1616) — sojourner / stranger under Israel's care. See also Bible Hub G5381 and Bible Hub H1616.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 12 presses welcome as real supply, not empty words: "Be ready to entertain those who do good: as there is occasion, we must welcome strangers" (Bible Hub commentaries on Romans 12:13; fuller MHC on the chapter at Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Romans 12 and Bible Hub MHC Romans 12).

15 Bible verses about hospitality

  1. Romans 12:13. "Share with the Lord's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." Hospitality is practiced — a habit, not a mood.

  2. Hebrews 13:2. "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." Welcome strangers; you may host more than you see. (Commentaries on Hebrews 13:2; MHC Hebrews 13)

  3. 1 Peter 4:9. "Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." The door opens; the grumbling stays closed.

  4. Matthew 25:35. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…" Welcoming the stranger is welcoming Christ.

  5. Leviticus 19:34. "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself…" Old-covenant love already included the ger. See Bible verses about loving others.

  6. 3 John 1:8. "We ought therefore to show hospitality to such people so that we may work together for the truth." Hospitality partners gospel work.

  7. Titus 1:8. "Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined." Leaders are marked by an open door.

  8. Luke 14:13-14. "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed…" Hospitality that cannot repay you is kingdom hospitality.

  9. Genesis 18:1-5. Abraham runs to welcome three visitors with water, rest, and bread — a classic open-tent picture of welcome.

  10. Job 31:32. "…no stranger had to spend the night in the street, for my door was always open to the traveler…" Job stakes integrity on an open door.

  11. Acts 16:15. "…If you consider me a believer in the Lord… come and stay at my house. And she persuaded us." Lydia's faith shows up as lodging.

  12. Romans 15:7. "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Acceptance is hospitality's heart posture.

  13. Isaiah 58:7. "Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter…" True fasting includes shelter for the wanderer.

  14. 1 Timothy 5:10. "…and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the Lord's people…" Hospitality is listed among proven good deeds.

  15. Mark 9:37. "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me…" Welcome scales from a child to Christ himself. See Love and hospitality and Bible verses about kindness.

Bible verses for welcoming guests and visitors

If you are hosting a holiday meal, greeting visitors at church, or making a welcome sign for your home, these are short enough to read at the door or print on a card. For verses to read once everyone is at the table, see Bible verses for Thanksgiving Day.

  • Romans 15:7. "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." A welcome line for a church greeter or a front-door sign.
  • Hebrews 13:2. "Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it." For the guest nobody knows yet.
  • Luke 10:38. "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him." Opening the home comes first; Jesus' word to Martha in Luke 10:41-42 reminds a busy host that the guest matters more than the preparations.
  • 1 Peter 4:8-9. "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." For the host who is tired before the doorbell rings.
  • Luke 14:13-14. "But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed." A nudge to set one extra place for someone who will not be invited elsewhere.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for a closed-door habit, a stranger at church, or a meal you could open to someone lonely — not fifteen. Read it out loud. If you need the practice-hospitality line, start with Romans 12:13. If you need the angels-unawares line, start with Hebrews 13:2. If you need the essay that frames welcome inside love, read Love and hospitality. For loving others as a related but different search, see Bible verses about loving others. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about hospitality?

Romans 12:13 (practice hospitality), Hebrews 13:2 (hospitality to strangers), and 1 Peter 4:9 (offer hospitality without grumbling) are clear starting places.

What Bible verse is good for welcoming visitors or guests?

Romans 15:7 ("Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you") and Hebrews 13:2 (hospitality to strangers) are short enough for a welcome sign or a church greeter. For a host who feels stretched, 1 Peter 4:9 says to offer hospitality "without grumbling."

What does the Bible mean by hospitality?

In Romans 12:13 it is philoxenia — love of strangers — practiced alongside sharing with saints in need. See Love and hospitality.

How is hospitality different from loving others?

Loving others is the wide command; hospitality is the concrete welcome of people into your space and table. Link Bible verses about loving others.

What Bible verse helps when hosting feels like a burden?

1 Peter 4:9 and Romans 12:13. Practice without grumbling — and share with those in need.

Where can I read more about love and hospitality?

Start with Love and hospitality, then Bible verses about kindness and Bible verses about serving others.

Sources

A woman pours water for guests under a vine trellis.

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