Short Bible verses for kids to memorize
Pick a verse for this week. These are short, easy to learn, and free to print. Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.
Start with one of these
- John 11:35Jesus wept.
- 1 John 4:8God is love phrase
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17Pray without ceasing.
- Matthew 4:19Come, follow Me phrase
- 1 Corinthians 16:14Do everything in love.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16Rejoice at all times.
Some cards are one phrase from a longer verse. The reference shows where to read the rest.
21 pages: 100 short verses as cut-apart cards, 13 longer verses, a 52-week plan and a progress chart. Prints fine in black and white. Free, no account.
King James church? Get the KJV cards
- Preschool: 8 words or fewer
- 52-week plan
- King James (KJV)
- How to help kids memorize
- Memory verse games
Picked and checked by Tony Kummer, a children’s pastor for ten years. Ministry-to-Children has been free since 2006.
52 Bible Memory Verses for Children (Printable PDF)
One verse a week for a year, shortest first, so a class that has never memorized anything starts somewhere easy.
John 11:35
Jesus wept.
1 John 4:8
God is love phrase
1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray without ceasing.
Matthew 4:19
Come, follow Me phrase
1 Corinthians 16:14
Do everything in love.
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Rejoice at all times.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed phrase
Galatians 6:2
Carry one another’s burdens phrase
Lamentations 3:22
His mercies never fail phrase
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers phrase
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in every circumstance phrase
Exodus 20:12
Honor your father and mother phrase
Isaiah 26:4
Trust in the LORD forever phrase
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd phrase
Matthew 22:39
Love your neighbor as yourself phrase
Matthew 28:20
I am with you always phrase
Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom phrase
1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth phrase
Colossians 3:13
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. phrase
Ecclesiastes 12:13
Fear God and keep His commandments phrase
Mark 10:27
All things are possible with God phrase
Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before men phrase
Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters phrase
Philippians 2:14
Do everything without complaining or arguing
Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times phrase
Proverbs 30:5
Every word of God is flawless phrase
1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.
Genesis 16:13
You are the God who sees me phrase
John 8:12
I am the light of the world phrase
Matthew 19:14
Let the little children come to Me phrase
Matthew 5:14
You are the light of the world. phrase
Psalm 143:8
Teach me the way I should walk phrase
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God phrase
Deuteronomy 31:6
He will never leave you nor forsake you phrase
Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you phrase
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above phrase
Numbers 6:24
May the LORD bless you and keep you
Psalm 138:1
I give You thanks with all my heart phrase
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation phrase
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God phrase
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, O God phrase
Psalm 62:8
Trust in Him at all times, O people phrase
Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you phrase
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. phrase
Psalm 145:3
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised phrase
Romans 5:8
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us phrase
John 14:6
I am the way and the truth and the life phrase
Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on Him phrase
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you phrase
Seasonal swaps: use Luke 2:11, “Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you” (a phrase from the verse), on the Sunday before Christmas, and Matthew 28:6, “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said!” (a phrase from the verse), on Easter.
Which verses suit which age
- Preschool and toddlers: the 46 cards of eight words or fewer. Start with “Jesus wept.” and “God is love.”
- Kindergarten to grade 2: most of the set, nine to 15 words.
- Grade 3 and up: the same cards, plus the 13 longer verses.
Want small Bible verses for little ones, a long memory verse for older kids, or the best place to start? The most important step is picking the right length for each age.
5 simple ways to help kids memorize
- Say it, then erase a word. Write the verse on a board, read it together, erase one word, and read it again until the board is empty.
- Add a motion. Give every few words a hand movement. Kids who will not recite will still do the motions.
- Draw it. Have each child sketch the verse instead of copying it.
- Cut it up and rebuild it. Cut a spare card into word strips and race to put the verse back in order.
- Play with a soft ball. Say the next word each time you catch it. Drop it, and start again.
Prefer the King James Version?
The same 100 short verses and 13 longer verses are also in the King James Version.
Bible Memory Verses for Children (video)
52 Bible Verses for Children | Kids’ Bible Memory Verses PDF – Bible verses for children and the importance of memorizing scripture for kids. The Bible gives comfort, hope, and direction. Verses can be easy to learn. Memorizing scripture helps children grow in their faith. God’s word is always there for us, and memorizing scripture helps kids develop a relationship with God.
Teach Kids to Love God’s Word: More Kids’ Bible Memory Verse Ideas
- Bible verses about kids
- ABC Bible verses (printable)
- Bible verses about parents and children
- 10 easy memory verses for children
What is a good first memory verse for kids?
Start with the shortest. John 11:35 is “Jesus wept.” and 1 John 4:8 is “God is love” (a phrase from the verse). Both are easy to say and easy to remember.
What are short Bible verses for kids?
They are verses of just a few words, like the ones above. Our free set has 100 of them, and the 52-week plan puts them in order, shortest first.
How many verses can a child memorize in a year?
One verse a week is 52 in a year. That is the pace of our free plan.
Why should children memorize the Bible?
With the focus on Christian character, church leaders should be planning now to include scripture memorization in their plans to encourage their congregations this year. Adult Sunday School departments can encourage one another to learn a new scripture quote each week. Leadership can plan simple activities like a “Bible Bee” as ways to encourage and focus the church to love and know God’s Word! Think of how much time we waste on technology reading the news every day. There are better options – adopt a simple scripture memory program and encourage one another to grow in Christian character and love of Jesus.
More Free Printables
Favorite Bible verse for children?
Our prayer for all Christians is to love Jesus and His Words. There is no better encouragement than hiding these simple scriptures close to your heart. Be sure to search our website for activities and planning help. Print this list for your church or Sunday School leadership and encourage them to adopt a planning effort for making God’s Word a focal point in your congregation!
Imagine how much you would know if you started 52 weeks ago.
Teaching these kids every week?
If you also need the lesson, we have free Sunday school lessons.
Scripture quoted from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain).
New Sunday School Curriculum: Our Bible lessons are designed to keep the kids’ attention and show how God's Word makes a difference. Every series is flexible enough for a wide-age group and affordable enough for small churches. Download a free Bible lesson in pdf or view our latest Sunday School curriculum for small churches.
Matthew 4:19 Jesus said, follow me and I will make you fishers of men. First verse I thought my 3 and 4 year old and they learned it pretty fast. It will be a great add!
Thank you very much for helping me I am a Sunday school teacher and I give my children every month a memory verse and your site helped me a lot thank you once again
I started printing out materials from this site in preparation for the children’s church this coming Saturday. This is a big help for us !
This is an answered prayer! Glory to God!
I am a Sunday School teacher, 4-5s, and I recently started giving my children new bible verses to memorize. We first started with “From the lips of Children and babes, you Lord, have called forth your praise.” Matthew 21:16
God bless you for the wonderful work. This site is a blessing. I work in a church based school in kwa njenga slums in Nairobi, Kenya and am finding the the site very helpful. Blessings.
Thanks much. I like to make my own greeting cards, and include a scripture. There are lots of children (great-grands) coming along with birthdays. Your list is just what I needed.
I am a sunday school teacher for my church in Ghana. I take care of children ages 7-12.
coming across this site has been very helpful to me in preparing my teaching material for my kids.
You are a blessing to us.
Thank you and God continue to strengthen you.
I’ve Learn a Lot in this Site. You are such a blessing to us, I am a new sunday School teacher of 3-9 old in DAS. Toledo City Cebu, Philippines.I keep on searching on how to help them learn more and more and then I found this Blog. Thank you so much. Its help me a Lot. God Bless and continue to bless the others.Have a Great day you all.
Regards,
chellterly
Already, you have been an inspiration to me, I
teach pre – school through 7or 8.
I love preparing for my students and seeing how excited they are to participate in class. I’m a retired educator, but I can’t stop teaching. I must do his will.
John 10:30, exodus 14:14, gen 1:3
i am a sunday school helper and we have quote-and-i-quote competition ahead of us….and i think with the help of God Almighty and ur site my ward will be the winner of the competition….THANKS 4 UR HELP. GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU ALL..
I wanted incorporate bible verses with a wall decor I was making for my niece. This was a great help., Thanks.
Thank you so much for laboring with this task. It will touch a multitude of children. It not only helps my grandchildren with memorization, but with their handwriting. You are a Blessing.
Thank you so much! Its a blessing! I look forward to use it with my son this year.
Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”. First verse we taught our 2.8yrs old son. It’s a part of his daily prayer now.
I teach a cooking class for an after-school inner city youth ministry. I wanted to provide the kids scripture cards they can take home each week. Thank you for your website!
God bless you team,
you have been of great help.i teach in a sunday school aged 7-12 yrs and you have been of much help may God bless you all.from KENYA
Thank You So much….
I teach in the sunday school and it’s very useful. God bless you
Thank you for your ministry to children and providing great resources. I am looking for short verses for my Sunday school children to memorize. I am going to have them say the verses antiphonally, one group says the first part, then the other group responds with the last part.
am greatful with this verses, am a sunday school teacher i work with Kanduyi PAG Church Bungoma and i know God is going to bless you very much. be blessed.
Psalm 119:11 Your word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Hello,
I am overwhelmed with the materials on this site. Your team is a great blessing to this generation. I do not need to rack my brain providing materials for my kids in Church having your material free of charge. The Lord will bless you abundantly. Nigeria.
God bless you more abundantly.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only beggoten son that who so ever believes in him shall have an internal life John 3:16
John:316 For god so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that who so ever believes in him shall not perish but have an internal life.
John3:16
Psalms 51:10 Create in me a pure heart oh Lord and renew a steadfast spirit within me. That could be added onto the list
Thanks for the Memory verses
I WOULD LIKE PASS THANKS TO ALL WHO THINK OF COMING UP THIS THING .FOR IT HAS HELP OUR CHILDREN GROW SPIRITUALY
The first verse my daughter learned was
GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS.
I am so glad I have became aware of this wonderful page and all its resources. I have 4 kids and I just started homeschooling. I really appreciate the step by step direction and even what to say to the children in the teaching the Lords prayer lesson. We will be doing that one first. Thank you for all you all do! God bless.
I was looking for materials for my deaf, mute handicapped sister thank you, she also only has the mind of a child thanks
How can we make Bible verses art so that they are attractive to the readers?