15 Heartwarming Adoption Scriptures to Inspire You

Adoption has always been a beautiful way to build a family. In fact, it’s been a family-building process that’s existed for as long as humans have. It’s not surprising, therefore, that there are mentions of adoption throughout important texts in history, including adoption scriptures in religious texts like the Bible.
Whether you’re religious or not, the adoption process can be a spiritual journey full of self-discovery and soul-searching. Some adoptive parents choose to look for scripture on adoption to help them through this process, as these Bible verses about adoption can provide the religious support and advice they need.
No matter your religious leanings or belief, these wise adoption scripture verses may be able to provide you a different understanding of the adoption process, whether you’re an adoptive parent, a birth parent or an adoptee yourself. While some may or may not be direct references to the adoption process, many of the Bible verses about orphans and God adopting man as his own can be interpreted as messages that also can apply to the adoption process.
We’ve collected a few of the most impactful references to adoption in the Bible in this article:

1. “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.” – Matthew 18:5
2. “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” – Romans 8:23
3. “Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless and see that they get justice.” – Proverbs 31:8-9
4. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress.” – James 1:27
5. “In you the orphan finds mercy.” – Hosea 14:3
6. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord.” – Psalm 127
7. “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” – Samuel 1:27
8. “He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.” – Deuteronomy 10:18
9. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
10. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12
11. “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” – Psalm 82:3
12. “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” – Psalm 68:5
13. “For my father and my mother has forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.” – Psalm 27:10
14. “You are the helper of the fatherless. Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.” – Psalms 10:14,17-18
15. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west… Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 43:5-6

Not only are there scriptures on adoption in the Bible, there are also many references to adoption in many life stories of Biblical figures. For example, Jesus was adopted by Joseph, and other figures like Esther, Samuel and Moses were taken in by adoptive parents.
So, if you’re looking for adoption scripture, the Bible is a wonderful place to start. Like most of the religious text, many of the phrases about love and family are open to interpretation — and can certainly be applied to your own adoption and family-building story.