“Grandparents are the best kind of grownups!” This quote with origins unknown refers to the sweet relationship that many have with their grandparents.
Whether it’s their birthday, Grandparents’ Day, or another special day, honoring grandparents and those like grandparents to you is a worthy endeavor. Here are 11 Bible verses for grandma and grandpa, to honor grandparents no matter what day of the year it is.
Honoring Grandparents: The Importance of Honoring Older Generations
Today’s culture does not always value the older generations. However, in the Bible, there are many commands to honor those who are older and to minister to them. We can be of encouragement to the older generations by appreciating them and helping them.
We can honor God by helping them, sometimes just as they helped us as children. These Bible Verses for Grandma and Grandpa can remind us to honor them, as well as encourage them.
Bible Verses for Grandparents Day
These Bible verses honor older people, including grandmas and grandpas, for the wisdom and experience that they have.
Proverbs 16:31
“Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.”
The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Abridged Edition): Old Testament reminds us that “this proverb presents the ideal.” That is, not all people with gray hair have lived a life of righteousness. And none of our lives can be declared righteous except for Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross.
But overall, you can’t judge a life as righteous until many years have accumulated. Gray hair can be seen as an achievement rather than something unwanted.
Proverbs 20:29
“The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.”
This verse similarly views that gray hair is a badge of achievement. While young people may be stronger, older people may have the benefit of their years of experience.
James 1:27
“Pure religion and undefiled before our God and Father is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
Noticing and serving the older people was so important that James included it as “pure religion and undefiled before our God.”
Psalm 68:5
“A father of the fatherless, and a defender of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.”
Widows, who were mostly helpless to provide for themselves in Biblical times, are important to God. This verse demonstrates that He will defend the widow.
Deuteronomy 32:7
“Remember the days of old. Consider the years of many generations. Ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you.”
In Deuteronomy 32, Moses was telling the history of the nation of Israel’s relationship with God. In verse 7, he called on the younger to check with the older generations.
This shows the wisdom of talking with those who have gone before you, and learning from their experiences.
Proverbs 23:22
“Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.”
This verse reminds us that older generations have knowledge and wisdom from their experience, and are worthy of honor.
Bible Verses for Grandma & Grandpa
Some of these Bible verses remind younger people to lend a hand to older people, while others Bible verses exhort older people to live godly lives.
Psalm 71:17-18
“God, you have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wondrous works. Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come.”
This prayer reminds both the young and old that our mission is to declare God, His works, and His strength to everyone, especially to those who are younger than us.
Psalm 148:12-13
“Young men and maidens together, old men and children! Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.” (ESV translation)
We should all praise the Lord, no matter what age we are! This verse reminds both young and old people that we have one common purpose: to exalt the name of the Lord.
Titus 2:2-3
“That older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance: and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good.”
Paul reminds older people that they need to keep honoring God in their behavior, later mentioning in verse 7 that they are to be examples to others.
1 Timothy 5:1-16
1 Timothy 5:1-16 has a lot to say to both the young and old. To the younger people, Paul says in verses 1-3,
“Don’t rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father; the younger men as brothers; the elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are widows indeed.”
These verses remind younger people to treat older people with respect, even if not related to them. But Paul has some words for widows specifically in verses 5-6.
“Now she who is a widow indeed and desolate, has her hope set on God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day. But she who gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.”
In the whole passage, Paul is trying to give guidelines for helping the older people and widows in their church community.
He wants the families to take responsibility for those who are too old to work; but he does make a few qualifiers, that they need to be godly people who serve the Lord, and not just please themselves.
There are people who cannot physically serve the body of Christ, and Paul is not shaming them. He instead is asking those who can work and serve do so, and that those who cannot use their hearts and mind to honor God and have a ministry of prayer.
Free Printable Encouraging Bible Verses for Grandparents
These printable Bible verses for grandma and grandpa are a nice way to remember to honor your grandparents. You can download it by clicking the picture above, or downloading here.
Share these Bible verses for grandma and grandpa with someone dear to you.
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Some relationships with grandparents or grandchildren can be complicated, or the chance to connect with your grandparents or grandchildren never happened. But we often have a chance to connect with the generations younger and older than us.
Use the principles found in these verses! If you are older, mentor a younger person who can use your insight. If you are younger, reach out to an older person who may need a helping hand. In this, we honor God and exalt His name together!
If you liked Bible Verses for Grandma and Grandpa, you may also like 5 Ways to Respond to Unanswered Prayers and 5 Examples of Prayers for Grandmothers.