The Bible sums up respect in one verse: "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king" (1 Peter 2:17). It begins with reverence for God, "holy and reverend is his name" (Psalm 111:9), and reaches everyone, from elders, "rise up before the hoary head" (Leviticus 19:32), to strangers, because "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34).
Respect is something parents ask for, teachers try to teach and every workplace needs. The Bible's usual word is honour, and it gives respect a foundation deeper than manners: every person is made in God's image (Genesis 1:27), and God Himself deserves our first reverence. These twelve King James verses cover respect for God, honour for all people including elders and leaders, and the KJV's warning against respect of persons, which means favoritism. For children and parents, see parents; for a humble heart, see humility.
Respect and reverence for God
1. Malachi 1:6
"A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name?"
God reasons from everyday respect: a son honours his father and a servant his master. If God is our Father, where is His honour? The priests were offering God their leftovers (Malachi 1:8). Respect for God shows in what we give Him.
2. Psalms 89:7
"God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him."
God is to be held in reverence by all who are around Him. Respect for God shows in worship, in how we speak His name and in coming before Him with awe as well as love. See worship.
3. Psalms 111:9
"He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name."
This is the only verse in the KJV that uses the word reverend, and it is used of God's name. It is a reminder never to use His name carelessly (Exodus 20:7).
4. Leviticus 19:30
"Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD."
Reverence my sanctuary. Respect for God includes respect for His day and His house. Today that might look like arriving ready to worship and treating the church gathering as holy time.
Honour all people
5. 1 Peter 2:17
"Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."
Peter gives four commands in one breath, and honour all men comes first: everyone, including people we disagree with. Honour the king was written under the Roman emperor, so respect for leaders does not depend on agreeing with them.
6. Leviticus 19:32
"Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the LORD."
Stand up when an older person enters, God told Israel, and honour the face of the old man. Respect for elders is tied directly to the fear of God. A visit or a call to an older friend over the holidays is a simple way to obey it. See grandmother.
7. Luke 6:31
"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."
This is the Golden Rule in Luke's words: treat others as you want to be treated. It turns respect from a demand into a gift we give first.
8. 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
"And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves."
Paul asks believers to know and esteem their pastors and leaders very highly in love for their work's sake. Respect for leaders is not flattery; it is gratitude for their labour. See leadership.
Respect without favoritism
9. Acts 10:34
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:"
Peter said this in the house of Cornelius, a Roman officer. God shows no partiality by race, nation or status. In the KJV, a respecter of persons means someone who plays favorites.
10. James 2:1
"My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons."
James warns against faith mixed with respect of persons, such as giving the rich man a good seat and telling the poor man to stand (James 2:2-4). Real respect treats every person with the same dignity.
11. Ephesians 6:9
"And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him."
Masters were told to stop threatening their servants, because their own Master in heaven shows no favoritism. Bosses, managers and parents answer to God for how they use authority.
12. Proverbs 11:16
"A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches."
A gracious woman keeps her honour. Kindness earns lasting respect in a way that force and wealth cannot. See a strong woman.
A short prayer
Lord, holy and reverend is Your name. Teach me to honour You first, and then to honour all people: my parents, my elders, my leaders, my neighbors and those I disagree with. Keep me from favoritism and from careless words. Let me treat others as I want to be treated, and give respect before I demand it. 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.
Download our free SOAP study page · Learn one verse a week as a family with the Scripture Memory Cards · Get the SOAP Bible Study Journal
Frequently asked questions
What does the Bible say about respect?
It commands respect for God and for every person: "Honour all men" (1 Peter 2:17), honour your father and mother (Exodus 20:12), honour elders (Leviticus 19:32) and esteem leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:13). It also forbids favoritism: "have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons" (James 2:1).
What does respect of persons mean in the KJV?
In older English, to respect persons meant to show partiality or favoritism, usually toward the rich or powerful. So "God is no respecter of persons" (Acts 10:34) means God does not play favorites. It does not mean God fails to value people; it means He values all people alike.
How do I teach kids respect from the Bible?
Model it first, then teach a short verse such as Luke 6:31 or Ephesians 6:1. Practice simple habits: looking people in the eye, saying please and thank you, standing for elders and listening without interrupting. Our Bible verses for kids and teens pages have more.
Does the Bible say respect must be earned?
Scripture asks us to honour people because of who God made them and the roles God gave them, not only when they earn it (1 Peter 2:17; Romans 13:7). Trust is different and is earned over time. Respect never requires accepting abuse; you can honour someone and still set firm boundaries or seek help.
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 humility · Bible verses about parents · Bible verses about leadership · Bible verses about loving thy neighbor · Bible verses for teachers · Bible verses about a grandmother · Bible verses about God · Bible verses about a father and daughter
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