Bible Verses

Here is what the Bible says about orphans and our Biblical responsibility for taking care of them.  (List organization is based on "A Scriptural Summary of the Orphan, the Fatherless, and Adoption" from Family Life Hope for Orphans.)

  • God Loves The Orphan
    Deuteronomy 10:14
    
Psalm 10:14
    
Psalm 68:5-6

    Jeremiah 49:11

    Hosea 14:3
  • God Defends The Orphan
    Deuteronomy 24:17
    
Psalm 10:17-18
    
Psalm 146:9

    Proverbs 23:10-11
  • God Commands His People To Care For The Orphans
    Deuteronomy 14:29
    
 Deuteronomy 16:11
    
Deuteronomy 16:14
    
Deuteronomy 24:19-21
    
Deuteronomy 26:13

    Job 22:9

    Psalm 82:3
    
Isaiah 1:17

    Jeremiah 7:5-7
    
James 1:27
  • God Opposes Those Who Would Harm The Orphan
    Exodus 22:22-24
    
Deuteronomy 27:19
    Job 6:27

    Job 24:3
    
Job 24:9

    Psalm 94:6

    Isaiah 1:23

    Isaiah 10:2
    
Jeremiah 5:28
    
Jeremiah 22:3
    
Ezekiel 22:7

    Zechariah 7:10
    
Malachi 3:5
  • God Is The Author Of Adoption
    Romans 8:15
    
Romans 8:23
    
Romans 9:4

    Galatians 4:5

    Ephesians 1:5
  • Instances of Orphans in Scripture
    • Lot in Genesis 11:27-28
    • 
The Daughters of Zelophehad in Numbers 27:1‑5
    • 
Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:3
    • Joash in 2 Kings 11:1-12

    • Esther in Esther 2:7
  • Instances of "Adoption" in Scripture
    • Moses "adopted" by Pharaoh's daughter in Exodus 2:1-10
    • 
Job cared for unnamed orphans in Job 31:16-18

    • Mordecai "adopted" Esther in Esther 2:7
    • 
Jesus "adopted" by Joseph in Matthew 1:18-24
    • 
Every Christian has been adopted by God through Christ Jesus - Ephesians 1:5