A good verse to pray for your boyfriend is "be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man" (1 Kings 2:2), with "Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments" (Psalm 112:1). For the relationship itself, ask, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3), and pray for a love that will "increase and abound" (1 Thessalonians 3:12).
Christian dating can feel confusing, because the Bible never uses the word dating. It does give clear wisdom about character, purity and love. These twelve King James verses are for a young woman who wants to pray for her boyfriend, share a verse with him, or think honestly about where the relationship is going. They are grouped as prayers for him, foundations for a Christ-centered relationship, and wisdom about boundaries and red flags. For the companion page, see Bible verses for your girlfriend; for marriage, see love and marriage.
Verses to pray for your boyfriend
1. 1 Kings 2:2
"I go the way of all the earth: be thou strong therefore, and shew thyself a man;"
King David gave this charge to Solomon near the end of his life, and the next verse explains it: keep the ways of the LORD (1 Kings 2:3). Being a man in God's eyes means strength used for faithfulness, not for control.
2. Psalms 112:1
"Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments."
Psalm 112 describes a blessed man: he fears the LORD, loves God's word, is generous and is not afraid of bad news (Psalm 112:7). It is a portrait worth praying over a boyfriend.
3. 1 Timothy 6:11
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."
Paul tells Timothy to flee greed and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness. Pray these six qualities by name for him, and for yourself.
4. Colossians 1:10
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"
Paul prayed that believers would walk worthy of the Lord and keep growing in the knowledge of God. It is a good prayer for any man you care about, whether or not the relationship lasts.
Building a Christ-centered relationship
5. Philippians 2:2
"Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Paul's joy would be full if believers were likeminded, with the same love and one mind. Amos 3:3 asks the same question: can two walk together unless they agree? Talk early about faith, church, purity and the future; shared values matter more than shared hobbies.
6. Genesis 29:20
"And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her."
Jacob worked seven years for Rachel, and they seemed like only a few days because he loved her. Real love is willing to wait and to work. See patience.
7. 1 Thessalonians 3:12
"And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:"
Paul prays that love will increase toward one another and toward all people. A healthy relationship makes both of you kinder to everyone, not only to each other.
8. Psalms 34:3
"O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together."
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Praying, worshiping and serving side by side is one of the best signs of a Christ-centered couple.
Wisdom, boundaries and red flags
9. 2 Corinthians 6:14
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"
Paul warns believers not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. In a yoke, two oxen pull together; if one pulls a different way, both struggle. Many Christians apply this to dating as well as marriage.
10. Proverbs 22:24-25
"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."
Do not make close friends with an angry or furious man, lest you learn his ways. A boyfriend who rages, threatens or controls is a red flag, not a project to fix.
11. Proverbs 2:11
"Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:"
Discretion and understanding will keep you. Wisdom in dating looks like boundaries set in advance, friends and family who know him, and time to see his character.
12. 2 Timothy 2:24
"And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,"
The servant of the Lord must not strive but be gentle, patient and apt to teach. Gentleness and patience are green flags to look for in any man you might marry.
A short prayer
Lord, thank You for the man in my life. Make him strong and faithful, a man who fears You and delights in Your word. Help us honor You in our words, our time and our bodies. Give us wisdom to see clearly, courage to set good boundaries, and a love that grows kinder toward everyone. If this relationship is not Your best, give me peace to let go. 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 for him daily with the 30-Day Prayer Journal · Give the Scripture Memory Cards as a Christmas gift · Print our free 12 Days of Christmas Scripture Cards
Frequently asked questions
What Bible verse can I send my boyfriend?
Short verses fit a text or a card: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you" (Philippians 1:3), Psalm 112:1, 1 Corinthians 16:14, or "The LORD bless thee, and keep thee" (Numbers 6:24). Christmas and Valentine's Day are natural times; see Valentine's Day for more love verses.
Is it okay for a Christian to date a non-Christian?
Many Christians apply "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 6:14) to dating, since dating often leads to marriage. If your faith matters most to you, it is wise to look for someone who shares it. Talk it through with a pastor or mentor you trust.
What does the Bible say about physical boundaries in dating?
Scripture tells believers to "Flee fornication" (1 Corinthians 6:18) and to glorify God in their bodies (1 Corinthians 6:20). Song of Solomon 8:4 repeats a wise refrain: do not stir up love until the right time. Agree on boundaries together before you need them. See lust.
How do I know if my boyfriend is the one God has for me?
Look for character over time: faith in Christ, kindness, honesty, self-control and how he treats people who can do nothing for him. Ask trusted friends and family what they see, and pray for wisdom: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5). Peace, not pressure, is a good sign. See also the desires of your heart.
Love does not control, threaten or hurt. If you are in an unhealthy or abusive dating relationship, in the US you can call loveisrespect at 1-866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522, or call 911 if you are in immediate danger.
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 for your girlfriend · Bible verses about love and relationship · Bible verses about love and marriage · Bible verses for Valentine's Day · Bible verses about guarding your heart · Bible verses for teens · Bible verses about the desires of your heart
Explore more: All Bible verses by topic · KJV Bible verses · Verse of the day · Prayers · Bible study · Bible reading plans
