Marriage comes with many responsibilities, especially when children are involved. The Bible provides guidance on how to love and care for a spouse and their children, emphasizing the importance of family unity. Let’s explore how scripture speaks to those navigating blended families.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About The Sanctity Of Life
What Does The Bible Say About Marrying A Woman With A Child
Malachi 2:16
“For the man who does not love his wife but divorces her, says the Lord, the God of Israel, covers his garment with violence, says the Lord of hosts. So guard yourselves in your spirit, and do not be faithless.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of loving one’s spouse and being faithful to the marriage covenant. It speaks against the act of divorcing a wife, regardless of whether she has a child from a previous relationship. It encourages husbands to guard their spirits and remain committed to their wives.
Marriage is a sacred bond, and this verse reminds us that the foundation of a strong marriage lies in love, faithfulness, and commitment. It urges individuals to honor their marital vows and to seek reconciliation rather than resorting to divorce.
1 Corinthians 7:14
“For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.”
This verse addresses the scenario where a believer is married to an unbeliever, and it reassures them that their union is still sanctified and their children are considered holy. It implies that the presence of one believing spouse can have a positive spiritual influence on the entire family, including the children.
While marrying a woman with a child may present unique challenges, this verse reminds us that the faith of one spouse can bring spiritual blessings to the entire family. It encourages believers to continue living out their faith and being a living testimony to their spouse and children.
Proverbs 22:6
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
This verse emphasizes the importance of raising children in the ways of the Lord from a young age. It implies that instilling godly values and teaching them the ways of righteousness will have a lasting impact on their lives.
When marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds us of our responsibility to guide and nurture the child in the ways of the Lord. It encourages us to lead by example and teach them the principles of faith, love, and obedience to God.
Ephesians 6:4
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
This verse highlights the role of fathers (or father figures) in nurturing children in a godly manner. It urges fathers to avoid actions that may cause their children to become angry or resentful, but instead, to raise them with discipline and godly instruction.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse serves as a reminder of the importance of being a loving, patient, and nurturing figure in the child’s life. It encourages you to provide guidance and discipline with love, following the principles of the Lord.
Proverbs 17:6
“Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children.”
This verse highlights the joy and blessing that grandchildren bring to the lives of grandparents. It also acknowledges that parents bring pride and honor to their children.
When marrying a woman with a child, it is essential to understand that building a strong relationship with the child will not only impact their life but also have a ripple effect on future generations. This verse encourages us to cherish and invest in these relationships, knowing that they can bring joy and honor both now and in the future.
Psalm 127:3
“Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”
This verse acknowledges that children are a precious gift from God, a heritage and a reward. It recognizes that they are not a burden but a source of joy and blessing.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds you to view the child as a beautiful blessing from God. It encourages you to appreciate and value the child as a unique individual, entrusted to your care by the Lord.
Proverbs 23:24
“The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.”
This verse speaks of the joy and happiness that parents experience when their children grow up to be righteous and wise. It is a celebration of the positive impact that parents can have on their children’s lives.
When marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds you of the potential for joy and fulfillment that comes with being a positive influence in the life of the child. It encourages you to invest in their growth, guiding them towards righteousness and wisdom.
Proverbs 1:8-9
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”
This passage emphasizes the value of parental guidance and instruction. It urges children to listen to their father’s advice and not to neglect their mother’s teachings. It presents the guidance of parents as a source of honor and blessing.
If you are stepping into a role as a stepparent through marrying a woman with a child, this verse emphasizes the importance of offering guidance and wisdom to the child. It encourages you to value and respect the role of the child’s biological parents, working together to provide guidance and support.
Psalm 103:13
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.”
This verse draws a parallel between the compassion of earthly fathers towards their children and the compassion of the Lord towards those who fear Him. It highlights the loving nature of a father and the depth of God’s mercy.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse encourages you to embrace the role of a caring, compassionate figure in the child’s life. It reminds you to reflect the same love and mercy that our Heavenly Father shows to us in your interactions with the child.
Proverbs 6:20-22
“My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.”
This passage reinforces the importance of honoring and obeying the guidance of both parents. It encourages children to hold their parents’ teachings close to their hearts and allow them to guide and protect them throughout life.
As a step-parent, this verse highlights the significance of recognizing and respecting the authority and influence of the child’s biological parents. It encourages you to foster an environment of mutual respect and support as you work together to raise and guide the child.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
This passage instructs parents to diligently teach and impress the commandments of the Lord upon their children. It emphasizes the importance of consistently talking about and living out God’s principles in everyday life.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds you to incorporate teachings rooted in faith into everyday moments. It encourages you to create an atmosphere where faith is lived out and conversations about God and His commandments can naturally take place.
Colossians 3:21
“Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
This verse cautions fathers against treating their children in a way that could lead to bitterness or discouragement. It highlights the significance of nurturing a positive relationship and fostering a loving environment.
As a step-parent, this verse reminds you of the importance of fostering a healthy and supportive relationship with the child. It encourages you to be mindful of your words and actions, ensuring that they are nurturing and uplifting rather than discouraging.
Proverbs 13:24
“Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”
This verse speaks about the necessity of discipline in a child’s life as a reflection of love. It highlights the importance of setting boundaries and guiding children towards righteousness.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds you of the role you play in providing loving discipline to the child. It encourages you to establish boundaries and correct behavior in a manner that reflects your love and concern for their well-being.
Psalm 128:3
“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.”
This verse uses beautiful imagery to illustrate the blessings of a fruitful and joyous family. It portrays a wife as a fruitful vine and children as olive shoots, symbolizing vitality, growth, and abundance.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds you of the potential for a blessed and joy-filled family life. It encourages you to cultivate an atmosphere of love and harmony, where everyone can flourish and grow spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.
Proverbs 29:17
“Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.”
This verse highlights the positive outcomes that come from disciplining children with love and wisdom. It indicates that disciplined children can bring peace and joy to their parents’ lives.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse encourages you to embrace the role of a loving disciplinarian. It reminds you that investing in the child’s discipline can lead to a joy-filled and harmonious family dynamic.
Proverbs 4:1-2
“Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.”
These verses highlight the importance of children listening to their father’s instruction and gaining understanding. It speaks of a father imparting valuable wisdom and knowledge.
When marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds you of your role as a source of guidance and instruction in the child’s life. It encourages you to offer valuable insights, teachings, and lessons that will help the child grow in understanding and make wise choices.
1 Timothy 5:8
“But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”
This verse emphasizes the responsibility of providing for one’s family, including the members of one’s household. It highlights the importance of meeting the physical and material needs of those entrusted to our care.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds you of the obligation to provide for the child’s well-being, not just emotionally and spiritually but also physically. It encourages you to support the child with love, care, and the necessary resources.
Proverbs 20:7
“The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them.”
This verse speaks of the positive influence that righteous individuals have on their children. It implies that a life of righteousness can lead to blessings for future generations.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse encourages you to live a life of integrity and righteousness before the child. It reminds you that your example can have a lasting impact on the child, potentially leading them toward a life of blessing.
Matthew 18:6
“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.”
This verse emphasizes the grave consequences for those who lead children astray or become stumbling blocks in their spiritual journey. It reveals the seriousness of influencing children negatively.
When marrying a woman with a child, this verse serves as a reminder of the significance of being a positive influence in the child’s life. It admonishes us to be mindful of our actions and words, ensuring that they align with the teachings of Christ and support the child’s spiritual growth.
Proverbs 23:26
“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.”
This verse emphasizes the desire of a father to have the heart of his child and for the child to find joy and delight in following the father’s ways.
When marrying a woman with a child, this verse reminds you to establish a foundation of trust and love with the child. It encourages you to nurture a relationship where the child willingly gives their heart and finds joy in following the teachings and example set before them.
Ephesians 6:1-3
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
These verses instruct children to obey and honor their parents, highlighting the significance of honoring the authority placed over them.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse emphasizes the importance of respecting and honoring the child’s biological parents. It encourages you to foster an atmosphere of obedience and honor within the family, laying a foundation of mutual respect.
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
This verse speaks to the importance of supporting and helping one another, sharing in each other’s burdens, and exemplifying the selfless love taught by Christ.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse encourages you to be a source of support and comfort to both the child and the mother. It reminds you of the calling to carry the burdens of those around you, demonstrating the love and compassion of Christ in practical ways.
Proverbs 22:15
“Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.”
This verse acknowledges the tendency for children to be drawn towards foolishness or disobedience. It highlights the role of discipline in guiding children away from such behaviors.
As a step-parent, this verse reminds you of the need for loving discipline in the child’s life. It encourages you to care for the child’s well-being by correcting and steering them away from behaviors that can bring harm.
Genesis 18:19
“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.”
This verse showcases the importance of a father’s role in leading his family in righteousness and justice. It depicts God’s acknowledgment of Abraham’s commitment to guiding his household in the ways of the Lord.
If you are marrying a woman with a child, this verse serves as a reminder of the responsibility to lead the child in the ways of God. It encourages you to be intentional in teaching and modeling righteousness and justice as you fulfill the role of a father figure.