childlessness
What does the Bible say about childlessness? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
10 passages · most helpful first
1Give praise, you who are barren and unable to conceive. Sing praise and make a joyful noise, you who have not given birth. For many are the children of the desolate, more so than of her who has a husband, says the Lord.
29For behold, the days will arrive in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that have not borne, and the breasts that have not nursed.’
8But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.
4And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. And death shall be no more. And neither mourning, nor crying out, nor grief shall be anymore. For the first things have passed away.”
3And let not the son of the new arrival, who adheres to the Lord, speak, saying, “The Lord will divide and separate me from his people.” And let not the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.” 4For thus says the Lord to the eunuchs: They will keep my Sabbaths, and they will choose the things that I will, and they will hold to my covenant. 5I will give them a place in my house, within my walls, and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name, which will never perish.
3Behold, the inheritance of the Lord is sons, the reward is the fruit of the womb. 4Like arrows in the hand of the powerful, so are the sons of those who have been cast out. 5Blessed is the man who has filled his desire from these things. He will not be confounded when he speaks to his enemies at the gate.
21Whoever will have married his brother’s wife has done an unlawful thing; he has uncovered his brother’s nakedness. They shall be without children.
7Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.
5In the morning, I will stand before you, and I will see. For you are not a God who wills iniquity.
15Responding, Hannah said: “By no means, my lord. For I am an exceedingly unhappy woman, and I drank neither wine, nor anything that can inebriate. Instead, I have poured out my soul in the sight of the Lord. 16You should not repute your handmaid as one of the daughters of Belial. For I have been speaking from the abundance of my sorrow and grief, even until now.” 17Then Eli said to her: “Go in peace. And may the God of Israel grant to you your petition, which you have begged of him.” 18And she said, “I wish that your handmaid may find grace in your eyes.” And the woman went on her way, and she ate, and her countenance was no longer changed for the worse.