11 Inspiring Father's Day Bible Verses for Cards, Letters and Gifts

Jun 17, 2018 10:12 AM EDT

Father's Day is today--Sunday, June 17--and is a special day when we celebrate the unique role of fatherhood and take time to appreciate our individual fathers, grandfathers, and father figures.

For those of us who have been raised by a Christian father, this day is particularly significant, because we understand that through our earthly father's selfless love and sacrifice, he has given us a glimpse of our heavenly Father's deep and unfailing love for his children.

We've compiled a list of our top 10 Father's Day Bible quotes, in no particular order, for you to use in this year's cards and gifts to make your dad, grandfather, or father figure know how much he is loved. These passages are meant to highlight your father's unique role, importance, and value, not only in your eyes, but in the eyes of God.

Psalm 103:13 - As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 - And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord

Psalms 127:3-5 - Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

Exodus 20:12 - Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.

Genesis 18:19 - For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, so that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.

Proverbs 23:22 - Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Proverbs 23:24 - The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

Proverbs 3:11-12 - My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

I Corinthians 13:4-7- Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous; is not proud; is not conceited; does not act foolishly; is not selfish; is not easily provoked to anger; keeps no record of wrongs; takes no pleasure in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Malachi 4:6 - He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.

Father's Day Poem:

"God made a father who is,
as sweet as a nectar,
as brave as a lion,
as cheerful as a bear,
and he gave such dear father to me."

-Tanusrii Gopal Krishnan

"With these three words,
'Dear Heavenly Father,'
I begin my every prayer,
But the man I see
While on bended knee
Is always my earthly dad.
He is the image
Of the Father divine
Reflecting the nature of God,
For his love and care
And the faith he shared
Pointed me to my Father above."

--Mary Fairchild