bible verses about mothers

Bible Verses About Mothers: 14

Bible verses about mothers: 14 Scriptures on maternal care, nurture, honor for moms, and the gift of a mother's teaching.

Illustrated portrait of Christopher McAllister

By Christopher McAllister

Founder of theBibleand.Love

Published September 30, 2026Updated October 4, 20265 min readProverbs 31:28 (NIV)

An adult child steadies an elderly parent on a step at a household doorway.

"Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her."

— Proverbs 31:28 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about mothers want Scripture for maternal care — nurture, honor, and the work of a mom's teaching — not only a general parents list. This page is a numbered list of fourteen passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about a mother's love, Bible verses about parents, Bible verses about children, Bible verses about family, and Love and family. Mothers here means maternal care and honor for moms — distinct from the broader parents list and the essay-style a mother's love page.

Word study (lead theme). In Hebrew, "mother" is אֵם ēm (Strong's H517; Bible Hub H517) — mother, a woman as parent. In Greek, μήτηρ mētēr (Strong's G3384; Bible Hub G3384) is mother. Scripture treats mothers as teachers, comforters, and people to honor — not as optional extras in the home.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Proverbs 31 presses that the virtuous woman's children and husband rise to bless and praise her for faithful household love (Bible Hub commentaries on Proverbs 31:28; Bible Hub MHC Proverbs 31; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Proverbs 31). On Exodus 20 he ties honor of father and mother to long life in the land as a command with a promise (Bible Hub commentaries on Exodus 20:12; Bible Hub MHC Exodus 20).

14 Bible verses about mothers

  1. Genesis 3:20. "Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living." Motherhood enters the story as life-bearing — Eve named for living. See Bible verses about creation.

  2. 1 Samuel 1:20. "So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, 'Because I asked the Lord for him.'" Hannah's mother-love asks and then names the gift. See Bible verses about prayer.

  3. Proverbs 14:1. "The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down." Maternal wisdom builds a household; folly unravels it.

  4. Proverbs 23:25. "May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!" A mother's joy in her children is named as a good aim — honor that lands as gladness.

  5. John 19:26-27. "When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, 'Woman, here is your son,' and to the disciple, 'Here is your mother.' From that time on, this disciple took her into his home." From the cross Jesus provides for his mother — care that does not stop at suffering. See Bible verses about the cross.

  6. Titus 2:3-5. "Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live… Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind…" Older mothers train younger ones in household love. See Bible verses about kindness.

  7. Psalm 113:9. "He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord." God settles joy into mothering — including stories that began in longing. See Bible verses about hope.

  8. Ruth 4:14-15. "The women said to Naomi: 'Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a guardian-redeemer… He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.'" Mothering and grandmothering meet in Naomi's story of renewed life. See Bible verses about loyalty.

  9. Genesis 21:6-7. "Sarah said, 'God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.' And she added, 'Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.'" Motherhood can arrive as laughter after long wait.

  10. Luke 1:46-48. "And Mary said: 'My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed…'" Mary's mother-song is praise before the hard years. See Bible verses about praise.

  11. 2 Timothy 1:5. "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also." A mother's faith can take root across generations. See Bible verses about a mother's love.

  12. Mark 10:19. "You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.'" Jesus lists honor of mother among the commands that shape a life. See Bible verses about parents.

  13. Proverbs 29:15. "A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother." Maternal care includes formation — neglect is not kindness.

  14. 1 Kings 3:26. "The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, 'Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!'…" A mother's love chooses the child's life over winning the argument — Solomon's test reveals maternal heart.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse for Mother's Day, a hard parenting week, or a thank-you note — not fourteen. If you need honor language, start with Mark 10:19 or Proverbs 23:25. If you need faith across generations, start with 2 Timothy 1:5. If you need the essay-style companion on maternal love, read Bible verses about a mother's love. For the broader home list, see Bible verses about parents. For Mary the mother of Jesus, open Bible verses about Mary. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about mothers?

Proverbs 31:28 (children call her blessed), 2 Timothy 1:5 (faith in Lois and Eunice), and John 19:26-27 (Jesus providing for Mary) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about mothers differ from verses about parents?

Parents covers father and mother together as a pair; this mothers page focuses maternal nurture, teaching, and honor for moms. Cross-link Bible verses about parents and Bible verses about a mother's love.

What Bible verse honors a mom on Mother's Day?

Proverbs 31:28, Proverbs 23:25, and Psalm 113:9. Pair with a short note that names one concrete gift she gave.

Does the Bible only praise perfect mothers?

No. Hannah prayed through barren ache; Naomi walked bitterness into blessing; Mary treasured and also suffered. Scripture honors real mothers, not airbrushed ones.

Where can I read more about mothers and family?

Start with Bible verses about a mother's love, then Bible verses about family and Love and family.

Sources

A son steadies his mother on a step at a doorway.

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