Scripture calls grandchildren a crown: "Children's children are the crown of old men" (Proverbs 17:6). Grandparents are called to pass on the faith, "Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation" (Joel 1:3), and to bless, as Jacob said of his grandsons, "Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them" (Genesis 48:9).
Becoming a grandparent is one of life's great surprises of joy. Grandparents often have more time and patience than they did as parents, and grandchildren often listen to them in ways they do not listen to anyone else. People look up Bible verses about grandchildren for a birth announcement or a baby shower card, for a grandchild's baptism or dedication, for Grandparents Day, or to write in a Christmas card or a Bible they are giving as a gift. Others look them up because a grandchild is far away, far from God, or kept from them by family conflict. These twelve King James verses celebrate grandchildren as a gift, call grandparents to pass on the faith, and give blessings to pray. For grandmothers especially, see grandmother; for the whole household, see family.
Grandchildren are a gift
1. Genesis 48:11
"And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed."
Jacob had once believed for about twenty-two years that his son Joseph was dead. Now, near the end of his life and nearly blind, he had seen Joseph again and was holding Joseph's sons. I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. The verse before says he "kissed them, and embraced them" (Genesis 48:10). Grandchildren are often God's gift beyond what we dared to hope.
2. Genesis 50:23
"And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees."
Joseph lived to see his great-grandchildren, and the children of Machir were brought up upon Joseph's knees. The phrase paints a picture every grandparent knows: a little one on your lap. Many scholars think it also meant Joseph formally welcomed them into the family. Either way, it is a picture of closeness and belonging.
3. Job 42:16
"After this lived Job an hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations."
Job had lost his children in a single day (Job 1:19). At the end of his story God gave him another family, and he lived to see four generations. New grandchildren never replace those we have lost, but they can be a sign that God's story is not finished. If you are grieving a child or grandchild, see lost loved ones.
4. Genesis 45:10
"And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:"
When Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, one of his first wishes was to have his father near him, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children. Many families today live far apart. This verse can be a prayer for holiday visits, video calls and, where possible, living close enough to share ordinary life across three generations.
Passing faith to the next generation
5. Exodus 10:2
"And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the LORD."
God tells Moses that the plagues will become a story to tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son. Faith is passed on by telling what God has done. Grandparents carry decades of these stories: answered prayers, hard years, unexpected provision. Tell them at the holiday table. Write them down. Your grandchildren need to hear that God was real in your life.
6. Deuteronomy 6:2
"That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged."
Moses names three generations at once: thou, and thy son, and thy son's son. A few verses later comes the great call to teach God's words "diligently unto thy children" (Deuteronomy 6:7) at home, on the road, at bedtime and in the morning. Grandparents are part of that circle of teaching, often in the small, unhurried moments parents are too busy to notice. See parenting.
7. Joel 1:3
"Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation."
Joel calls for a story to be passed down four generations. In context it is the memory of a devastating locust plague and a call to return to God, so the lesson is not only about happy stories. Grandparents can pass on the hard lessons too: what you learned when you failed, and how God met you there.
8. Psalms 78:6
"That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:"
The psalmist thinks about the children which should be born, grandchildren and great-grandchildren not yet alive. You can pray for them now. Many grandparents keep a list of prayers for each grandchild, including those still to come, and ask God to raise up a generation that will declare them to their children.
Blessings to pray over grandchildren
9. Genesis 48:9
"And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them."
Jacob asked for his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh so that he could bless them. In many Jewish homes parents still bless their sons each Friday evening with the words Jacob spoke: "God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh" (Genesis 48:20). Speaking a blessing over a grandchild, with a hand on their head and a short prayer, is a gift they will remember. See blessing.
10. Psalms 78:7
"That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:"
This is the goal of everything grandparents pass on: That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God. Not that they would become exactly like us, but that their hope would rest in God. It is a perfect verse to write in the front of a children's Bible you give as a gift.
11. Psalms 112:2
"His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed."
Psalm 112 describes the person who fears the Lord, and promises that the generation of the upright shall be blessed. A godly life is an inheritance that reaches further than money. It is a strong verse to pray over a newborn grandchild or write in a birth or baptism card. For a new baby, see infants.
12. Psalms 102:28
"The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee."
Psalm 102 is the prayer of someone in deep distress who looks beyond his own short life to God who endures forever. Its final line is a promise for the next generations: The children of thy servants shall continue. If a grandchild has wandered from faith, keep praying this verse. God's faithfulness outlasts a season of distance.
A short prayer
Lord, thank You for the gift of grandchildren. I lift each one up to You by name. Keep them safe, draw them to Yourself, and let them set their hope in You. Give me wisdom, patience and joy as a grandparent, and help me to tell them what You have done in my life. Where there is distance or conflict, bring healing. Bless my children as they raise them, and let our family praise You from generation to generation. 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.
Do our free Bible word search printable with your grandkids · Color our free Christian Christmas coloring pages together · Give Scripture Memory Cards as a gift to a grandchild
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bible verse about grandchildren?
The best known is Proverbs 17:6, which calls grandchildren "the crown of old men" (Proverbs 17:6). Others are "thou shalt see thy children's children" (Psalm 128:6) and the promise that God's righteousness reaches "unto children's children" (Psalm 103:17). For passing on faith, Joel 1:3 and Psalm 78:6-7 above are favourites.
What Bible verse can I write in a card for a new grandchild?
Short options: Psalm 112:2 above, Psalm 78:7, or the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24-26. You might add a line such as: We are praying for you already, and we cannot wait to tell you what God has done. For a baby dedication or baptism, see infants and baptism.
Is there a grandmother in the Bible who passed on her faith?
Yes. Paul praised Timothy's sincere faith, "which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice" (2 Timothy 1:5). Naomi held her grandson Obed and cared for him (Ruth 4:16). Their faithfulness shaped a pastor and a royal line. See grandmother.
How can grandparents pass on their faith?
Pray for each grandchild by name. Tell your own stories of God's faithfulness. Read Bible stories together, sing, and take them to church when you can. Give Scripture gifts at birthdays and Christmas. Above all, let them see that your faith is real in ordinary life: how you speak, forgive and give. For kids' verses to share, see Bible verses for kids.
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.
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