The Bible speaks of adoption in two ways: God adopts believers into His family, and God's people care for children who need a home. "Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (Galatians 4:7). God is "the helper of the fatherless" (Psalm 10:14), and "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27).
November is National Adoption Month in the United States, and many churches set aside a Sunday in the fall to pray for children waiting for families and for foster and adoptive parents. People look up Bible verses about adoption for an adoption announcement, a finalization day, a baby shower, a foster care training or a church service. Adoptees look them up to understand their own story, and birth parents look for words for a grief that is mixed with love. These twelve King James verses show that adoption is close to the heart of the gospel, tell the adoption stories in the Bible, and offer encouragement for every family touched by adoption. For God's love as a Father, see God's love; for the whole household, see family.
Adopted into God's family
1. Romans 8:14
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
Paul is the only New Testament writer who uses the word adoption, and he uses it five times (Romans 8:15, 8:23 and 9:4; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 1:5). In the Roman world an adopted son received the full rights and name of the family. The next verse says believers have "received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father" (Romans 8:15). See identity in Christ.
2. Galatians 4:7
"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
A servant lives in the house; a son belongs to it and inherits it. Paul says God's children are not guests on probation but heirs. Every adoptive parent understands this: an adopted child is not a lesser child. God sent His Son "that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Galatians 4:5).
3. Ephesians 2:19
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;"
No more strangers and foreigners. Many adoptees describe feeling caught between two families or two cultures. In God's family no one is an outsider or a second-class member; every child belongs to the household of God. It is a beautiful verse for an adoption day or a child's room.
4. Romans 8:23
"And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body."
Paul says believers are still waiting for the adoption: the final day when our bodies are made new. Our adoption is already real and not yet complete. Adoptive families know that kind of waiting well: paperwork, home studies, court dates and long nights of hope. God understands the groaning of the wait. See waiting on God.
Adoption stories in the Bible
5. Exodus 2:10
"And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water."
Moses was raised as the son of Pharaoh's daughter, who named him and gave him a home. But his birth mother, Jochebed (Exodus 6:20), nursed him first (Exodus 2:9). His story honours both mothers. Many adoptive families today keep a child's birth family in their story with respect, and Moses' life shows that God works through both.
6. Esther 2:7
"And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter."
When Esther was orphaned, her older cousin Mordecai took for his own daughter. This is kinship care: a relative stepping in when parents are gone. Esther's Hebrew name, Hadassah, means myrtle. The girl Mordecai raised later saved her people. Grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins who raise a child are doing holy work.
7. Matthew 1:20
"But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost."
Joseph was not Jesus' biological father, yet he took Mary as his wife, named the child, and "called his name JESUS" (Matthew 1:25). In Nazareth Jesus was known as "the carpenter's son" (Matthew 13:55). In a real sense, the Son of God was raised by an adoptive father. It is a tender verse to remember at Christmas. See Christmas.
8. 2 Samuel 9:11
"Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons."
Mephibosheth was the disabled son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul, David's old enemy. David brought him to the palace, restored his land, and gave him a permanent seat at the royal table, as one of the king's sons. He could do nothing to earn it. This is a picture of grace and of adoption, done for love's sake. See loyalty.
For adoptive and foster families
9. James 1:27
"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."
To visit the fatherless means to look after and care for them, not just stop by. Not everyone is called to adopt, but everyone can help: foster care, respite care for foster parents, meals for a family bringing a child home, mentoring, or giving toward adoption costs. James says this is what real faith looks like.
10. Psalms 10:14
"Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless."
God beholdest mischief and spite. He sees what children have been through before they came home, and He is the helper of the fatherless. Many adopted and foster children carry early trauma. Parents may need patience, training and professional help, and they can pray this verse over a child who is hurting.
11. Mark 9:37
"Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me."
Jesus took a child in His arms and said that to welcome a child in His name is to welcome Him, and to welcome Him is to welcome the Father. Every child welcomed into a home, a classroom or a church in Jesus' name is welcomed by Jesus. Foster and adoptive parents do this daily.
12. Deuteronomy 10:18
"He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment."
God loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment. His care is practical: food and clothes. Many foster children arrive with almost nothing. Churches can reflect God's heart by keeping clothes, car seats and welcome bags ready for families who say yes to a child at short notice. See helping other people.
A short prayer
Father, thank You that You adopted me into Your family through Jesus, and that I am no longer a stranger but Your child and heir. I lift up every child waiting for a family, every foster and adoptive parent, and every birth mother and father. Heal what has been broken, comfort what has been lost, and give each child a deep sense of belonging. Show me how I can help. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Go deeper: a SOAP study prompt
Pick one verse above and write: - Scripture: copy the verse by hand. - Observation: what does it say? Who is speaking, to whom? - Application: what does it mean for you today? - Prayer: turn it into a two-line prayer.
New to this method? See our Bible study guide or pick a Bible reading plan.
Pray through the adoption journey with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Teach your child Galatians 4:7 with the Scripture Memory Cards · Print our free Bible verse bookmarks
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about adoption?
It speaks of adoption both spiritually and practically. Spiritually, God adopts believers as His children: "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). Practically, God cares for the fatherless and "setteth the solitary in families" (Psalm 68:6), and He calls His people to care for children without parents (James 1:27).
Who was adopted in the Bible?
Moses was adopted by Pharaoh's daughter (Exodus 2:10). Esther was raised by her cousin Mordecai (Esther 2:7). Jesus was raised by Joseph, who was not His biological father (Matthew 1:20-25). Mephibosheth was welcomed by King David as one of his own sons (2 Samuel 9:11). Each story shows God working through a family formed by love.
What Bible verse is good for an adoption announcement or finalization day?
Short options: Galatians 4:7, Ephesians 2:19, Psalm 68:6 and 1 John 3:1. You might write: Chosen, loved and home. Some adoptees prefer not to celebrate a gotcha day, because the day also marks a loss, so follow your child's lead as they grow. For a new baby, see infants.
What does the Bible say to birth mothers and to adoptees?
Love and grief can live in the same heart. Jochebed hid her baby in a basket by the river to save his life (Exodus 2:3), and Hannah gave her son Samuel to be raised at the tabernacle (1 Samuel 1:27-28). God promises, "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16). No one in an adoption story is forgotten by Him. See loneliness.
Adoption brings loss as well as love for children and birth families. If you need support, ask your adoption agency about post-adoption services, or visit the US Child Welfare Information Gateway (childwelfare.gov). If you have thoughts of harming yourself, in the US call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.
Sources: All Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV), public domain in the United States. References were checked against the KJV text from bible-api.com.
Related: Family · Parenting · Father and daughter · Mothers · Infants · Feeling lonely · God's love · Identity in Christ · Bible verses about widows
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