The Bible's father and daughter stories are full of tenderness. Jairus begged Jesus, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death" (Mark 5:23), and Caleb gave his daughter "the upper springs, and the nether springs" (Joshua 15:19). For every daughter, God is "A father of the fatherless" (Psalm 68:5).
Fathers and daughters look for verses for Christmas and birthday cards, a father-daughter dance, a wedding toast or a quiet prayer at bedtime. These twelve King James verses serve all of those. The first group tells the stories of fathers and daughters in the Bible, the second offers blessings a father can pray over his daughter, and the third points to God, the Father who never fails, including for daughters whose earthly fathers are absent or gone. For dads in general, see dad; for girls, see daughters.
Fathers and daughters in the Bible
1. Joshua 15:19
"Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs."
Caleb's daughter Achsah asked boldly for a blessing, and her father gave her more than she asked: the upper springs and the lower springs. A good father listens to his daughter and is generous. The story is told again in Judges 1:15.
2. Job 42:15
"And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren."
After his suffering, Job named his three daughters (Job 42:14) and gave them an inheritance among their brothers, unusual in that culture. He honored them openly. Fathers love this verse because it shows daughters being valued.
3. Mark 5:23
"And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live."
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, fell at Jesus' feet for his twelve-year-old daughter. Status and pride did not matter when his little girl was dying. Jesus went with him and raised her (Mark 5:41-42).
4. Acts 21:9
"And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy."
Philip the evangelist had four daughters who prophesied. A father who served God opened his home to Paul and his companions (Acts 21:8), and his daughters grew up serving God too.
A father's blessing for his daughter
5. Proverbs 14:26
"In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge."
A father who fears the LORD gives his children strong confidence and a place of refuge. His faith becomes shelter for his daughter, not just his rules.
6. Deuteronomy 33:12
"And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders."
Moses blessed the tribe of Benjamin as the beloved of the LORD, dwelling in safety between His shoulders, like a child carried on a father's back. Many dads pray these words over a daughter at night.
7. Psalms 90:16
"Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children."
Moses prayed that God's glory would be shown to the next generation. A father's deepest wish for his daughter is not only success but that she will see the work and glory of God for herself.
8. Luke 8:50
"But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole."
Jesus spoke to Jairus right after news came that his daughter had died: fear not, believe only. It is a word for every father who is afraid for his child.
God, the Father who never fails
9. Psalms 68:5
"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation."
God calls Himself a father of the fatherless. If your dad has died, left or hurt you, God sees you and has not left you without a Father. See lost loved ones.
10. Galatians 4:6
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father."
The Spirit in our hearts cries Abba, Father, a close family word. Every believer, son or daughter, may come to God with the trust of a child running to her dad.
11. Luke 11:13
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"
Jesus reasons from good earthly fathers to the heavenly Father. If a loving dad gives his children good gifts, how much more will God give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.
12. Ephesians 3:14-15
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,"
Paul bows before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and earth is named. Fatherhood begins in God, and every good dad is a small picture of Him.
A short prayer
Father in heaven, thank You for fathers and daughters. Bless this girl with strong confidence in You and a place of refuge in her home. Help her father to listen, to give generously and to love her as You love Your children. Where a father is absent or gone, be her Father. Let Your glory be seen in her life. 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.
Print our free 12 Days of Christmas Scripture Cards · Give the Scripture Memory Cards to your daughter or your dad · Color our free Christian Christmas coloring pages together
Frequently asked questions
What is a good Bible verse for a father to give his daughter?
Short blessings work best in a card: "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee" (Numbers 6:24), "Strength and honour are her clothing" (Proverbs 31:25), or Deuteronomy 33:12. Add a personal line such as I am proud of the woman you are becoming. For a Christmas card, see Christmas card verses.
What Bible verse is good for a father-daughter dance?
Many dads choose "Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all" (Proverbs 31:29), Zephaniah 3:17, where the LORD "will joy over thee with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17), or Job 42:15. A short prayer together before the dance can be a memory she keeps for life.
Is there a Bible verse for a father walking his daughter down the aisle?
Many fathers pray Numbers 6:24-26 as a blessing, choose Psalm 90:16-17 for the next generation, or read Psalm 127:1 over the new home. See a wedding for ceremony readings and a mother and daughter for verses from mom's side.
What if my father was not there for me?
God knows. Psalm 27:10 says, "When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up" (Psalm 27:10). Your worth does not depend on how your father treated you. Healing takes time, and a pastor or counselor can help you work through it. See self-esteem.
Honoring a father never requires accepting abuse. If you are being harmed, in the US call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 or contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, 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: Bible verses about dad · Bible verses about daughters · Bible verses about fathers · Bible verses about a mother and daughter · Bible verses about parenting · Bible verses for Christmas cards · Bible verses for a wedding · Bible verses about respect
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