Introduction
A baby dedication is a joyful moment when parents thank God for their child and promise, before the church family, to raise that child in the faith. These 20 verses, quoted from the World English Bible, are grouped into five themes: a child is a gift from God, welcomed by Jesus, the parents' commitment, growing in wisdom and favor, and a blessing for the child. Use them for the dedication service, a card, a keepsake book or a prayer at home. Read them slowly, and let each one become a prayer for your child.
A Child Is a Gift from God
1. Psalm 127:3
"Behold, children are a heritage of Yahweh. The fruit of the womb is his reward."
Children are a heritage from the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward. A child is not an achievement but a gift. At a dedication, parents say thank you and acknowledge that this little one belongs first to God. Receive your child with open hands and a grateful heart. Read all of Psalm 127.
2. Psalm 139:13-14
"For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well."
You formed my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb, and I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your child is not an accident. God designed every detail with care. Pray this verse over your baby, and ask him to help your child grow to know how deeply he or she is loved. Read all of Psalm 139.
3. Jeremiah 1:5
"“Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”"
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you; before you were born, I sanctified you. God's knowledge of each person begins before birth. Every child has a calling and a purpose given by God. Ask the Lord to reveal that purpose over the years, and to help you nurture it. Read all of Jeremiah 1.
4. Psalm 139:16
"Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them."
Your eyes saw my body, and in your book were written the days ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them. God has a plan for the life of your child. Hold that thought on the hard nights: the same God who numbers the days will give you strength for them. Read all of Psalm 139.
Welcomed by Jesus
5. Matthew 19:14
"But Jesus said, “Allow the little children, and don’t forbid them to come to me; for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these.”"
Jesus said to allow the little children to come to him, and not to forbid them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to ones like these. A dedication is a way of bringing your child to Jesus. You are saying: we want this child close to you, Lord, now and always. Read all of Matthew 19.
6. Mark 9:36-37
"He took a little child, and set him in the middle of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn’t receive me, but him who sent me.”"
Jesus took a little child in his arms and said that whoever receives one such child in his name receives him. Imagine Jesus holding your baby. Every child is precious to him, and the church that welcomes children welcomes Christ. Thank your church family for their love. Read all of Mark 9.
7. Matthew 18:10
"See that you don’t despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven."
See that you don't despise one of these little ones, for their angels always see the face of the Father in heaven. Jesus affirms the great value of the smallest child. At a dedication, the church promises to value, protect and pray for the children among them, including yours. Read all of Matthew 18.
8. Luke 2:22-24
"When the days of their purification according to the law of Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.”"
Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. Even Jesus was dedicated as an infant. This is the model behind many dedication ceremonies. You are following a path walked by Jesus' own family. Present your child to the Lord with joy and trust. Read all of Luke 2.
The Parents' Commitment
9. 1 Samuel 1:28
"Therefore I have also given him to Yahweh. As long as he lives he is given to Yahweh.” He worshiped Yahweh there."
Hannah said, I have also given him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is given to the Lord. She gave her son back to God in worship. Dedication is a gesture of surrender: your child belongs to God, and you are the steward. Pray for grace to lead your child toward him. Read all of 1 Samuel 1.
10. Deuteronomy 6:5-7
"You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up."
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might, and teach his words diligently to your children, talking of them at home, on the road, at bedtime and when you rise. Parents are the first teachers of faith. Let your love for God overflow into daily life. Read all of Deuteronomy 6.
11. Psalm 78:5-7
"For he established a covenant in Jacob, and appointed a teaching in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children; that the generation to come might know, even the children who should be born; who should arise and tell their children, that they might set their hope in God, and not forget God’s deeds, but keep his commandments,"
God appointed a teaching in Israel, so that each generation would make it known to the next, setting their hope in God and not forgetting his deeds. When you dedicate your child, you join this long chain. Promise to tell your child what God has done, again and again. Read all of Psalm 78.
12. Acts 2:39
"For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”"
The promise is to you and to your children and to all whom the Lord calls. Peter's words at Pentecost include children in the covenant promise. Your baby is not too young to be loved by God. Pray that this promise would become your child's own faith in time. Read all of Acts 2.
Growing in Wisdom and Favor
13. Luke 2:52
"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."
Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. This verse describes growth in four ways: mind, body, relationship with God and relationship with people. Pray these four for your child, and trust that God cares about every part of their development. Read all of Luke 2.
14. Luke 2:40
"The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him."
The child was growing and becoming strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. Spiritual strength and wisdom are part of healthy growth. As your child develops, look for ways to nurture their faith as carefully as you nurture their body. Read all of Luke 2.
15. 1 Samuel 2:26
"The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh and also with men."
The child Samuel grew and increased in favor with the Lord and with people. Samuel was dedicated by his mother Hannah, and he grew into a prophet. Dedication is the beginning of a story. Pray that your child will grow up with a good name before God and others. Read all of 1 Samuel 2.
16. Psalm 71:5-6
"For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh, my confidence from my youth. I have relied on you from the womb. You are he who took me out of my mother’s womb. I will always praise you."
You are my hope, Lord, my confidence from my youth; I have relied on you from the womb. It is never too early to trust God. Many believers can trace their faith back to the earliest memories. Ask the Lord to make himself the hope of your child from the very beginning. Read all of Psalm 71.
A Blessing for the Child
17. Numbers 6:24-26
"‘Yahweh bless you, and keep you. Yahweh make his face to shine on you, and be gracious to you. Yahweh lift up his face toward you, and give you peace.’"
May the Lord bless you and keep you, make his face shine on you and be gracious to you, lift up his face toward you and give you peace. This beautiful priestly blessing is often spoken at dedications. Say it over your baby with your hand on his or her head. Read all of Numbers 6.
18. Isaiah 44:3
"For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your offspring:"
I will pour water on the thirsty and streams on dry ground, I will pour my Spirit on your descendants and my blessing on your offspring. God promises to pour out his Spirit on the next generation. Ask boldly that your child would know the Spirit's presence from a young age. Read all of Isaiah 44.
19. Psalm 91:11-12
"For he will put his angels in charge of you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone."
He will put his angels in charge of you to guard you in all your ways. Every parent worries about their baby's safety. This psalm reminds you that God watches over your child more closely than you can. Entrust your little one to him, and ask for peace for yourself as well. Read all of Psalm 91.
20. Ephesians 3:16-19
"that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Paul prays that you may be strengthened with power through the Spirit, that Christ may dwell in your hearts, and that you may be rooted and grounded in love. This is a great prayer for a child's whole life. Pray it for your baby, and for yourself as a parent. Read all of Ephesians 3.
Further reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good Bible verse for a baby dedication?
Psalm 127:3, children are a heritage from the Lord, is a favorite. Numbers 6:24-26 is often spoken as a blessing over the child, and Matthew 19:14 reminds everyone that Jesus welcomes little children.
What does the Bible say about dedicating a child to God?
Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord in 1 Samuel 1:28, and Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in Luke 2:22-24. The Bible also calls parents to teach their children about God, as in Deuteronomy 6:5-7.
Which Bible verse can I write in a baby dedication card?
Choose a short verse such as Psalm 139:14, Numbers 6:24-26 or Luke 2:52, then add a personal wish for the family. A card with a verse and a handwritten prayer becomes a keepsake for years to come.