Encyclopedia entry
Child
This word has considerable latitude of meaning in Scripture. Thus Joseph is called a child at the time when he was probably about sixteen years of age (Gen. 37:3); and Benjamin is so called when he was above thirty years (44:20). Solomon called himself a little child when he came to the kingdom (1 Kings 3:7).
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The descendants of a man, however remote, are called his children; as, “the children of Edom,” “the children of Moab,” “the children of Israel.”
In the earliest times mothers did not wean their children till they were from thirty months to three years old; and the day on which they were weaned was kept as a festival day (Gen. 21:8; Ex. 2:7, 9; 1 Sam. 1:22-24; Matt. 21:16). At the age of five, children began to learn the arts and duties of life under the care of their fathers (Deut. 6:20-25; 11:19).
To have a numerous family was regarded as a mark of divine favour (Gen. 11:30; 30:1; 1 Sam. 2:5; 2 Sam. 6:23; Ps. 127:3; 128:3).
Figuratively the name is used for those who are ignorant or narrow-minded (Matt. 11:16; Luke 7:32; 1 Cor. 13:11). “When I was a child, I spake as a child.” “Brethren, be not children in understanding” (1 Cor. 14:20). “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro” (Eph. 4:14).
Children are also spoken of as representing simplicity and humility (Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). Believers are “children of light” (Luke 16:8; 1 Thess. 5:5) and “children of obedience” (1 Pet. 1:14).
In the Bible
211
Verses where Child is named. Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
- 1 Corinthians 4:17
That is why I have sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which is exactly what I teach everywhere in every church.
- 1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.
- 1 Kings 3:7
And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.
- 1 Kings 3:17
One woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth while she was in the house.
- 1 Kings 3:19
During the night this woman’s son died because she rolled over on him.
- 1 Kings 3:20
So she got up in the middle of the night and took my son from my side while I was asleep. She laid him in her bosom and put her dead son at my bosom.
+205 more verses naming Child.
Scripture on Child
118
See all 118 +−
- Matthew 2Luke 11 Samuel 1Genesis 21Judges 131 Samuel 2Genesis 17Luke 9Revelation 121 Kings 141 Kings 17Ecclesiastes 4Ecclesiastes 6Matthew 18Mark 9Genesis 11Genesis 37Genesis 38Leviticus 121 Samuel 31 Samuel 42 Samuel 6Job 3Proverbs 22Proverbs 23Proverbs 29Isaiah 7Isaiah 11Isaiah 26Jeremiah 1Jeremiah 31Matthew 1Mark 5Mark 10Mark 13Luke 16Luke 18Acts 41 Corinthians 131 Thessalonians 51 Timothy 1Hebrews 11Genesis 16Genesis 18Genesis 19Genesis 42Genesis 44Exodus 1Exodus 21Exodus 22Leviticus 22Numbers 11Deuteronomy 6Deuteronomy 25Judges 11Ruth 42 Samuel 111 Kings 111 Kings 132 Kings 52 Kings 82 Kings 15Job 24Psalms 58Psalms 127Psalms 131Proverbs 4Proverbs 20Ecclesiastes 10Ecclesiastes 11Isaiah 3Isaiah 8Isaiah 9Isaiah 10Isaiah 49Isaiah 54Isaiah 65Isaiah 66Jeremiah 4Jeremiah 20Jeremiah 30Jeremiah 44Lamentations 4Hosea 11Hosea 13Amos 1Zechariah 12Matthew 10Matthew 11Matthew 17Matthew 19Matthew 21Matthew 23Matthew 24Mark 7Luke 7Luke 8Luke 21John 4John 16Acts 7Acts 131 Corinthians 41 Corinthians 14Galatians 4Ephesians 4Philippians 22 Timothy 12 Timothy 22 Timothy 3Titus 1Philemon 11 Peter 1
Entries that reference Child
1
Voices on Child
24
Surfaced by name match — accuracy varies by title clarity.
Sources · Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)
Public-domain text. Modernized only where archaic spelling impedes reading; original facts preserved. Verify against an authoritative modern reference before quoting.