31 School Year Bible Verses (2022)

Every year as summer comes to a close, I feel a mix of excitement and nervousness about the new school year! 

Our kids have, for the most part, had great school experiences, but there’s always a bit of the fear of the unknown when they go back to school.

Maybe you’ve got that feeling too about your own kids. Perhaps they have gone through some really tough times, had a hard time getting good grades, or have struggled to make friends. Yet you know that sending your children to a school environment is the right thing for your family.

Maybe you’ve made new school decisions and want to commit them to prayer as your children face new things in a new year.

Can I suggest reading and committing to memory some Bible verses at the start of the school year with your kids? 

Scripture isn’t a “magic fix” for problems, but the Word of God is what speaks life over our kids, no matter what they go through. 

Plus, when we read and recite Scripture a few times over, we’re more apt to remember it later on when it’s needed in a tough circumstance.

God’s Word is always beneficial, whether your child is in preschool, elementary, middle school or high school!

With that in mind, I’d love to share with you 31 helpful and encouraging school year Bible verses. You can call them “back-to-school Bible verses” if you want but really you can use them anytime throughout the school year :)

These are great Bible verses that cover 31 topics that relate to your child’s school year. Read them leading up to the first day of school or use them at any time of year.

But first….three tips for learning Scripture with kids.

3 Best Practices for Reading Bible Verses with Your Kids

1. Read the verse in a variety of translations to get a deeper understanding of what the verse means. We like to use ESV, NLT, and sometimes the NKJV.
2. Ask “what does that verse teach us about God?” and “how does this verse make a difference in my life?”
3. Talk about any hard words or tough to understand phrases within the verse. It’s important to know what the Scripture writer is actually saying, not just memorizing it for the sake of knowing the words.
4. BONUS: Grab some Scripture music CDs, like Seeds Family Worship, to help lots of Scriptures stick in your child’s mind and heart! 

I listed the verses below, along with a character quality that they relate to, which is a great way to connect the scriptures to daily life. The verses are from the NLT but you can of course read them in your preferred translation! 

31 School Year Bible Verses to Read with Your Kids

Learn Well – Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. Proverbs 1:5

Seek Truth – I searched everywhere, determined to find wisdom and to understand the reason for things. Ecclesiastes 7:25

Be a Loving Friend – A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Be Humble  –  Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Romans 12:16

Have Courage – For the king trusts in the Lord. The unfailing love of the Most High will keep him from stumbling. Psalm 21:7

Take Joy –  Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17

Be Transformed (by the Renewing of Your Mind) – And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

I also like the NIV translation which says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Be Slow to Anger – Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19

Be Discerning – We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5

Stand Firm and Strong – I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalm 16:8

Look for Ways to Share Christ – Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Colossians 4:5

Speak Well – May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Rejoice – Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Show Truth in Action – Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 1 John 3:18

Obey Leaders – Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. Hebrews 13:17

Be God-Focused – Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Colossians 3:2

Listen to Advice – People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray. Proverbs 10:17

Rest in God’s Love – For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs. Zephaniah 3:17

Be Filled with the Spirit – But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Galatians 5:22-23

Trust in God to Help – Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day he carries us in his arms. Psalm 68:19

Be a Prayerful Student – Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

Be an Example – Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

Reflect God’s Glory – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Handle Stress and Anxiety – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Give Thanks to God – Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Psalm 136:1 ESV

Be in Awe of the Lord – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Know that God sees the Heart – For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 ESV

Trust God’s Plan – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Know God will Make Things Right – Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 1 Peter 5:6

Focus on What is Good – Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Know God is Working – For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:9-12

Seek God First – The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Matthew 13:44

These verses are a great way to start out this school season! Be sure to read them with your children!

Is there a verse in the Bible about school?

There is not a verse in the Bible that is specifically about school as we know it, although there is the example of Jesus learning in Luke 2:41-52. At age 12, He was listening to and being taught by the scribes and priests in the temple while his parents looked for him. 

I find that this word of truth from Luke has beneficial and powerful school Bible verses to use with my kids when we’re talking about the kind of learning we want them to experience during their school day.

The Bible says important things about our child’s education in this passage when it encourages them to:

• Humble learners, as Jesus was when He listened to the teachers in the temple (vs. 46 & 49).
• Curious learners, similar to when 12-year-old Jesus asked questions of the scribes and priests to better understand (vs. 46).
• Growing in wisdom, following the example of Christ in verse 47: “Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers.”
• Obedient to their teachers, as Jesus was to His parents (vs. 51).

Certainly, we want our children to live for God’s glory and not their own, but as young Christians, we also want them to pursue a strong education and have a teachable heart and willingness to grow and learn. 

Free Printable School Year Bible Verse Reading Plan

I thought it would be fun to create a printable with these 31 verses on a checklist so you can check them off as you read and talk about them with your kids (or they can do it on their own too!) 

>>>>>Scroll down to the bottom of this post to download the free printable checklist.

I hope these verses are helpful as your children go back to school! 

Want to intentionally pray over your kids for the new school year? 

Join our 10-Day Back to School Prayer Challenge by subscribing in the box below this post! 

By email, you’ll receive 10 school prayers with specific suggested words with corresponding verses so you can pray God’s Word over your children at the beginning of the school year.

Get the School Year Bible Reading Plan PDF here and then subscribe below for the Back to School Prayer Challenge to equip you as a Mom to remember to pray intentionally for your kids as they start school!