Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  8000 The life of the believer  »  8200 The character of the believer  »  8292 love  »  8300 love, and the world

Scripture promotes the love of family, home and country and contains many examples of such love.

Parental love

Aspects of parental love

Proverbs 13:24; Ephesians 6:4 See also Deuteronomy 6:7; 2 Corinthians 12:14; Colossians 3:21; 1 Timothy 3:4; 2 Timothy 3:15

Examples of maternal love

Genesis 21:16 Hagar; Exodus 2:3 Moses' mother; Judges 5:28; 1 Samuel 2:19 Hannah; 2 Samuel 21:10; 1 Kings 3:26; Kings 17:18

The Shunammite:

2 Kings 4:20,27 Matthew 15:22 pp Mark 7:26; Luke 2:48; Luke 7:12-13 the widow of Nain; John 19:25

Examples of paternal love

Genesis 22:2 Abraham; Genesis 31:28; Genesis 37:35; Genesis 42:38

David:

2 Samuel 12:16; Samuel 13:39 Mark 5:23 pp Luke 8:41-42 Jairus

Love for parents

Exodus 20:12; 1 Timothy 5:4 See also Genesis 46:29 Joseph; Leviticus 19:3; Judges 11:36; 1 Samuel 22:3 David; 1 Kings 19:20 Elisha; Jeremiah 35:8; Matthew 15:4 pp Mark 7:10; Luke 2:51; John 19:26-27; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20

Other instances of family love

Genesis 34:7; Genesis 45:14-15 Joseph and his brothers; Ruth 1:16-17; 2 Samuel 13:22

Mordecai and Esther:

Esther 2:7,11

Love of home and country

Examples of love of home

Genesis 31:30; Genesis 49:29; Genesis 50:25; Numbers 10:30; Ruth 1:6; 2 Samuel 10:12; Samuel 19:37; Samuel 23:15; Nehemiah 4:14

Exhortations to patriotism

Psalm 122:6; Psalm 137:5-6 See also 2 Samuel 1:20; Esther 4:8; Jeremiah 51:50

Examples of patriotism

1 Samuel 17:26; Samuel 27:8-10; Nehemiah 1:3-4; Nehemiah 2:5; Esther 8:6; Psalm 137:1; Jeremiah 51:51; Romans 9:3

See also

4030  world, behaviour in
5053  responsibility for world
5339  home
5664  children
5684  fathers
5718  mothers
5731  parents
8211  commitment to world
8232  discipline, family
8778  materialism
8848  worldliness
8848  worldliness