A Father For
The Bible for Kids
Made for kids and the grown-ups who love them. Here is the truth your child can hold onto: God made you, He knows your name, and nothing in the whole wide world can make Him stop loving you. He is a good, good Father, and He is always near.
If you're looking for Bible verses for kids, you're in the right place. Every child needs to know one big thing: God made you, He knows your name, and He loves you no matter what. The Father's Heart Bible™ is a fresh, easy-to-read English Bible you can read and listen to together for free — and it shows God as a loving Father on every page. Whether you searched "Bible verses for kids," "short Bible verses for kids to memorize," verses for children, or "God loves me," the answer is the same and it's simple: you have a good, good Father in heaven who is always near. Younger ones can also visit our Bible verses for children page.
By Kevin White — leading the Father’s Heart Bible™ translation · Last updated June 2026
Key takeawayGod made you, He knows your name, and He loves you no matter what.
Why God's love matters so much for kids
Kids feel big things — fear, worry, feeling small or left out. And grown-ups want to plant God's love in their hearts early. Here is what the research shows, and it points to good news.
- 1 in 11
- U.S. children ages 3–17 have diagnosed anxiety — about 9.4% (CDC)
- Most
- people who follow Jesus first did so before age 18 — childhood is when faith takes root (Barna)
- 63%
- of practicing Christians say their faith began in childhood, before age 13 (Barna)
- Daily reading aloud
- to young children supports language, bonding, and emotional growth (AAP)
- Under 1 hr/day
- of screen time is recommended for kids ages 2–5 — reading together is a gentle alternative (AAP)
- Most
- U.S. parents say it's important to them to pass on their faith to their children (Pew Research)
Every child carries a little heart that feels a lot — happy and scared, brave and shy, all in the same day. When kids are afraid or feel left out or have big, big feelings, what they need most is to know they are safe and loved.
That's why telling kids about God's love early matters so much. A child who learns young that God made them, knows their name, and loves them no matter what carries that truth for the rest of their life. There is a good, good Father in heaven, and He has something gentle to say to every child.
Sources: CDC — Data and Statistics on Children's Mental HealthBarna Group — Research on faith and the next generationAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) — Reading and Screen Time for Young Children
A Father for kids
Here is the most important thing a child can ever hear: you have a Father in heaven who made you on purpose and loves you with all His heart. He is a good, good Father.
He knows your name. He knows how many hairs are on your head. He sees you when you're happy and when you're sad and when you're scared in the dark. And He is right there with you, every minute, because He is always near.
You don't have to be the biggest or the best or get everything right. God loves you no matter what — when you win and when you mess up, when you're brave and when you're afraid. Nothing you do could ever make Him love you less. You are His child, and He is so glad you're His.
God made you, He knows your name, and nothing in the whole wide world can make Him stop loving you.
Photos via Pexels.
Bible verses for kids: the Father's voice
Nine simple Bible verses for kids in the Father's Heart Bible™ — each one a word from your good, good Father, easy to read together and to remember. Tap any verse to read and listen free.
“Thank You, Father, for making me. You made me wonderfully, and everything You make is good.”
God made you on purpose, and He is so happy with how He made you.
Psalm 139:14“Be strong and brave. Don't be afraid, because I, your Father, am with you everywhere you go.”
You can be brave, because your Father goes with you wherever you are.
Joshua 1:9“When I feel afraid, I will trust in You, my Father.”
When you feel scared, you can talk to God — He helps you feel safe.
Psalm 56:3“God loved the whole world so much that He gave His only Son, so everyone who believes in Him can live with their Father forever.”
God's love is so big that He gave us Jesus.
John 3:16“We love because our Father loved us first.”
God loved you first — before you did anything at all.
1 John 4:19“My Father is like a shepherd who takes care of me. He gives me everything I need.”
God watches over you like a kind shepherd who never leaves.
Psalm 23:1“Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and don't stop them, because heaven belongs to children like these."”
Jesus loves having kids come close to Him — you are always welcome.
Matthew 19:14“Your Father is with you. He is strong, and He saves you. He is so happy with you that He sings over you with love.”
Your Father is so glad you're His that He sings about you.
Zephaniah 3:17“Don't be afraid, because I am with you. I am your Father, and I will hold you with My strong, kind hand.”
When you're afraid, your Father holds your hand and stays close.
Isaiah 41:10What "our Father" offers you
God doesn't ask kids to be perfect. Here is what your good, good Father gives you instead — for free, because you're already His.
He made you, and you are wonderful
God made you on purpose, just the way you are. Read Psalm 139 together and hear how He says you are wonderfully made.
He helps you be brave
When you feel scared, you don't have to be afraid alone. Read Joshua 1 — your Father is with you everywhere you go.
He loves you no matter what
On good days and hard days, when you win and when you mess up, God loved you first — and nothing can change that.
He is always near
Your Father is so happy with you that He sings over you. Read Zephaniah 3 and rest in how close He stays.
Why the Father's Heart Bible™ for kids
Kids meet God as a good, good Father
Some Bibles can feel hard for little ones. The Father's Heart Bible™ shows God as a loving Father wherever Scripture does — from Genesis 1 on — so your child meets the One who made them and loves them most.
Free with audio — perfect for reading together
No account, no purchase, no app. Read it free online with audio on every chapter — wonderful for bedtime, the car, or snuggling up to listen together. The Father's voice fits right into your family's day.
Simple verses to learn by heart
Short, gentle verses are easy for kids to memorize. Find more with our verses by topic, and teach little ones to talk to God with our how-to-pray guide.
The Father's heart, in their words
Children understand the Father's heart more easily than anyone. The truth beneath every verse here — that God is, before anything else, a Daddy who loves His little ones — is the one these voices gave their lives to:
“Answered prayer is the interchange of love between the Father and His child.”
“The hardest, gladdest thing in the world is, to cry Father! from a full heart.”
“There is heaven in the depth of that word — Father.”
Photos via Wikimedia Commons — Andrew Murray, George MacDonald, and Charles Spurgeon (all public domain).
His Word will not return empty
You might not see it right away, and that's okay. Every verse you read with a child is a little seed of God's love planted in their heart — and seeds grow quietly, day by day. God promises that His words always do good work.
"My words will not come back empty. They will always do the good thing I send them to do." — Isaiah 55:11
Be loved first
Open the Father’s Heart Bible™ free, with audio, on any phone — and soak in the love you were made for.
What your Father says over you
"I made you, and I love you so much. I know your name, and I know everything about you — when you laugh, when you cry, and even when you're scared in the dark. I am always with you, and I will never leave you."
"You don't have to be perfect for Me to love you. I loved you first, and I will love you forever. You are My child, and I am so glad you're Mine. When you feel afraid, hold My hand — I am right here."
A prayer for kids
Our Father, thank You for making me and for loving me so much. Thank You that You know my name and You are always with me.
When I feel scared or sad, help me remember that You are right here holding my hand. Help me be brave and kind, and help me know that You love me no matter what.
Thank You that I am Your child. In Jesus' name, amen.
Keep reading
Start with the whole Bible free online with audio, learn why the Father's Heart Bible™ exists, or get started with our Bible reading guides — including how to pray and verses by topic. For your youngest ones, visit the Bible for children, and as they grow, the Bible for middle schoolers — part of the A Father For series.
More in this series
Frequently asked questions
What are good Bible verses for kids?
Gentle favorites include Psalm 139:14 (God made you wonderfully), Joshua 1:9 (be brave, God is with you), Psalm 56:3 (when I'm afraid I trust God), John 3:16 (God loves the whole world), 1 John 4:19 (we love because He loved us first), Psalm 23:1 (the Lord is my shepherd), Matthew 19:14 (let the children come to Jesus), Zephaniah 3:17 (He sings over you), and Isaiah 41:10 (don't be afraid, I am with you). Read and listen to them free together in the Father's Heart Bible™ at fathersheartbible.com/read.
What are short Bible verses for kids to memorize?
Short verses are easiest for little ones to learn by heart. Try Psalm 56:3 ("When I am afraid, I trust in You"), 1 John 4:19 ("We love because He loved us first"), Psalm 23:1 ("The Lord is my shepherd"), and Joshua 1:9 ("Be strong and brave… God is with you"). Read them together a few times, then say them out loud at bedtime. You can hear the audio free at fathersheartbible.com/read.
How do I teach my child about God?
Start simple and warm: God made you, He knows your name, and He loves you no matter what. Read one short verse together each day, listen to the audio, talk about it in everyday words, and pray a sentence or two together. Bedtime and the car are great moments. The Father's Heart Bible™ is free with audio at fathersheartbible.com/read, and our how-to-pray guide can help you teach little ones to talk to God.
Is there a free Bible with audio for children?
Yes. The Father's Heart Bible™ is free to read and listen to online — no account, no purchase, no app. Open fathersheartbible.com/read and you can read or hear any chapter together, which is perfect for bedtime, the car, or snuggling up to listen as a family.
What does the Bible say about God loving kids?
The Bible is full of God's love for children. Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me" (Matthew 19:14). Zephaniah 3:17 says God sings over you with love, and 1 John 4:19 says He loved us first. The Father's Heart Bible™ shows God as a good, good Father who made your child and loves them no matter what — read it free at fathersheartbible.com/read.
What makes the Father's Heart Bible™ good for kids?
It reveals God as a loving Father wherever Scripture reveals Him as Father, so children meet the One who made them and loves them most — not a list of rules. It's written in clear English and is free with audio, so even young kids can listen along. That helps a child grow up knowing the most important truth: God made me, He knows my name, and He loves me no matter what.
How can my child start reading the Bible?
Start small and start free. Open fathersheartbible.com/read, choose a short Psalm, and listen to the audio while you read together. Try one verse a day — Psalm 139, Psalm 23, or John 3:16 are lovely places to begin. Our verses-by-topic and how-to-pray pages can help you find simple words for whatever your child is feeling.
Photos via Pexels.
God made you and loves you no matter what
Watch the story behind the Father's Heart Bible™ — the translation that helps your child meet God as a good, good Father. Then start reading together for free, and let His gentle voice be the truth they grow up holding onto.
A Father for every calling and season — a word from the Father, whoever you are. Browse the whole series →