Adoption is a beautiful reflection of God’s love, weaving people into families and into His eternal family through faith. The Bible speaks richly about adoption, both in the sense of earthly care for others and our spiritual adoption as God’s children. Whether you’re an adoptive parent, considering adoption, or exploring God’s heart for belonging, these Bible verses about adoption offer encouragement and insight. Below, you’ll find 40 carefully chosen Scriptures to inspire and ground you in God’s design for family.
God’s Vision for Adoption
Scripture reveals adoption as an act of love and inclusion, mirroring God’s adoption of us into His family. Ephesians 1:5 sets the tone: “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.” These verses highlight God’s care for the vulnerable and His invitation to belong, offering hope for all who seek family in Him.
40 Bible Verses About Adoption
- Ephesians 1:5 – “He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
- Romans 8:15 – “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
- Galatians 4:5 – “To redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
- John 1:12 – “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
- Psalm 68:5-6 – “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home…”
- James 1:27 – “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction…”
- Romans 9:8 – “This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.”
- 1 John 3:1 – “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
- Deuteronomy 10:18 – “He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing.”
- Isaiah 1:17 – “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.”
- Hosea 14:3 – “In you the orphan finds mercy.”
- Romans 8:23 – “And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons…”
- Galatians 3:26 – “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
- Psalm 82:3 – “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.”
- Proverbs 23:10-11 – “Do not move the ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless, for their Redeemer is strong…”
- Ephesians 2:19 – “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:18 – “And I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”
- Psalm 27:10 – “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.”
- Exodus 22:22-24 – “You shall not mistreat any widow or fatherless child…”
- Isaiah 43:6-7 – “I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold; bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth…”
- Matthew 18:5 – “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.”
- Romans 8:16-17 – “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs…”
- Psalm 10:14 – “But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.”
- John 14:18 – “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
- Deuteronomy 24:19 – “When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it. It shall be for the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow…”
- Zechariah 7:10 – “Do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”
- Psalm 146:9 – “The Lord watches over the sojourner; he upholds the widow and the fatherless…”
- Jeremiah 49:11 – “Leave your fatherless children; I will keep them alive; and let your widows trust in me.”
- Hebrews 2:11 – “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers.”
- Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
- Isaiah 54:5 – “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name…”
- Matthew 25:40 – “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”
- Proverbs 31:8-9 – “Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute…”
- Romans 15:7 – “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
- Psalm 113:9 – “He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!”
- 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…”
- Luke 18:16 – “But Jesus called them to him, saying, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.’”
- Deuteronomy 14:29 – “…the fatherless and the widow who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be satisfied…”
- Colossians 3:11 – “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.”
- Psalm 94:6-7 – “They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless…”
Engaging with These Verses
These Bible verses about adoption can inspire and guide you in various ways. Here are some suggestions to make them part of your spiritual life:
- Daily Reflection – Pick one verse each day to meditate on. Consider how it speaks to your understanding of family or God’s love.
- Prayer Inspiration – Use these verses to pray for adoptive families, children needing homes, or your own sense of belonging in God’s family.
- Journaling – Write about what these verses reveal about God’s heart. How do they encourage you to act or think differently?
- Sharing – Share a favorite verse with someone considering adoption or struggling with identity, offering them God’s promise of belonging.
Final Thoughts
The Bible’s message about adoption is one of hope, love, and inclusion. These 40 Bible verses about adoption remind us that God is a Father who welcomes all into His family, offering us a place to belong forever. Whether you’re touched by earthly adoption or celebrating your spiritual adoption through Christ, let these Scriptures guide your heart toward God’s love.
Which verse resonated with you? Share your thoughts below to encourage others!
