What does the Bible say about adoption?

As Christians we often like to look to Scripture as our guide. So, in terms of adoption, what does the Bible say? First, some of the most notable characters from the Bible appear to have been adopted. The Pharaoh’s family took in Moses after his mother let him go in an effort to save his life. Mordecai cared for Esther after she was orphaned.

While there are a few stories concerning adoption in the Bible, we can perhaps gain more appreciation for the idea when we consider three of Scripture’s major themes, faith, hope, and love.

Faith. Throughout life we will accumulate all kinds of things, but our faith will always be our most important possession. When parents adopt a child, they want to give him or her everything that they can. One of the most important gifts that we as Christians can give our children is insight into our faith.

Hope. If you have looked at some of the pictures of the orphanages where some of the children await adoption, things may have looked fairly hopeless. Adoption is a way to bring hope to those children who have little or no hope.

Love. Adoption is one of the greatest expressions of Christian love. Love is the basic reason for adopting a child. In all that we do, we should be motivated by love. Bringing a child into our family is one of the most loving acts that we can do. We are in a sense giving our lives to the child. We can be reminded of Jesus’ words that the greatest act of love is to give our life over for another life.

Paul, in his letters, often speaks of adoption as well. Here the idea is more of a spiritual one, concerning our relationship to God. However, these passages also seem to affirm the act of adoption as worthy because it is an act that God himself partakes in.

Here are some other passages that might be helpful in thinking about Scripture and adoption:


Proverbs 31:8,9
8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."


James 1:27
27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.